Antique French 18k Gold Fleur-de-Lis Brooch Watch Hanger Pin White Enamel Rose-Cut Diamonds, c. 1870 snake jewelry while a constellation of sparkling

while a constellation of sparkling marcasites forms a glittering halo around its edges

it is further marked with ’15’ and ‘625’ for the 15 karat gold content

a testament to the skilled hands of an accomplished artist

more than a century on

Antique French 18k Gold Fleur-de-Lis Brooch Watch Hanger Pin White Enamel Rose-Cut Diamonds, c. 1870 snake jewelry while a constellation of sparklingIt begins with a flash of white, cool, luminous, and unexpectedly serene; shaped into the centuries old emblem of French royalty. You can almost imagine it pinned to the lapel of someone stealing away from a winter ball in 1870, breath rising like fog in the gaslight, the fleur de lis glowing softly against velvet, a small, intricate watch hanging below. Its surface curves like silk caught in a breeze, the white enamel smooth and untroubled, while a