A fine quality 15ct gold bangle that was made circa 1900-1910. It has been set with three green garnets and two bright white diamonds within star settings with a gold rope border. The proper name for a green garnet is a demantoid garnet. Although garnets have been known since ancient times, the demantoid variety was not discovered until 1868 in Russia’s western central Ural Mountains. Miners were immediately stunned by the highly refractive nature of the gem material. They began comparing it to diamond and referred to it as “demantoid”, from the French “demant” meaning diamond. The reason is obvious, with its high brilliance and dispersion. These bright apple green stones are comparatively rare and very expensive and were popular during the Edwardian period. This bangle is a good example of the contrast between the apple green garnets and the diamonds.
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