Antique Demantoid Garnet and Diamond Dragonfly Brooch

Dating from the late 19th century, this dragonfly brooch is composed of diamonds, demantoid garnets and silver-topped gold. The naturalistic form with lower wings mounted en tremblent is set throughout with circular, oval, and cushion-cut demantoid garnets, and old mine, European, and rose-cut diamonds, silver-topped gold mount. Animated by gentle movement, this vividly-colored brooch evokes the dragonfly's hovering flight, delicacy, and special iridescence.

Country: England
Circa: 1890's
Dimensions: 2.625" length, 3" width.
Materials: 138 old mine, old European, and rose-cut diamonds (approximate total weight 3.06 carats); 34 round, oval and cushion-cut demantoid garnets (approximate total weight 3.08 carats); 2 round-cut rubies (approximate total weight 0.40 carat); Silver-topped gold

Demantoid garnets were beloved as accent stones in the late 19th century. Their intense spring green, enhanced by their elevated brilliance and dispersion factors, lent a lively and life-like feeling to the beetles, bugs, and butterflies that favored as gem-set brooches and scarf pins during this period.