Featured Has anyone ever seen a clasp on a pin like this?

Hi all,
Was lucky enough to snag this beauty before it went to be melted! Would have been a pity. Anywho, I think it reads 16k and not sure what the other mark is. Would these pearls be natural and saltwater? They are not uniform at all. I think the c clasp means 1800’s or later but doesn’t the other end mean late 1800’s to early 1900’s? This tests in the spinel range It appears to be of a decent quality. Was wondering if anything on it points to possible origin It can also be worn as a pendant. The pretzel looking lock on the pin is so interesting. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Any help is very much appreciated

Thank you and happy hump day

 

I have seen safety mechanisms that may differ somewhat in design but that work on the same principle. They seem to go with high quality pieces from around the turn of 20th century, very early 1900s/late 1800s.

 

I like the stone for stone, too. Does not look like glass to me; the vertices look crisp & undamaged. Freshwater pearls, I should think.

 

D'as nice !!...really classy !
Looks all hand made, & no doubt someone put their mark on it !!
nice find !!!

 

I love it! Its a real quality piece.
The clasp is one of the earliest forms of a 'secure' lock, because ordinary c-clasps tend to sometimes fall open, this mechanism adds security to it.
I believe I have some brooches with a similar clasp. Works like a charm.

 

I tested the stone on the presidium. Initially thought it was citrine for obvious reasons and then, BOOM! Is there a name for the mechanism or lock?

 

What is this? An 18K repair on the bezel?

 

who would think to melt that ????

it's making me melt !!

 

I know. So much of these older pieces are lost to melt for $$.

I’ll inspect it closer to see if it’s been repaired Ty

 

Lovely piece; love the little pearls!

 

It is gorgeous, gauntlett. And as the others said, it is an early safety clasp, ca 1900, works perfectly.

So it's not citrine but boom?

 

Had the same question! Inquiring minds want to know what the "BOOM" suggested... or did that mean it WAS citrine??

Very cool piece by the way, excellent work saving it from meltdown.

 

these folks would melt down the world, i mean I've had some great luck picking from dum..or should I say 'clueless' folks-but please.

 

Who the hell MELTS that!

 

It's really fabulous!!!

 

I'm posting an Ad on Craigslist-'Calling All Dipshi#*/Joolrie Stuff Wanted !'

 

Aaahh!

 

I can see where the lines intersect for the 4 and believe it is 14k.
It looks fairly recently made, no idea who made the clasp.

 

It looks like 14 to me too.

Gold brooches often look brand new. I do wonder if the pearls are replacements though.

This type early safety clasp was usually made by the same person who made the rest of the brooch.