Description
An amazing original piece of renaissance jewellery, a hat badge, nearly 500 years old.  Set with three table cut natural diamonds and three table cut natural rubies set in 22 carat gold. The largest table cut diamond measures 3.5 mm x 2.5 mm and weighs about  20 points. The two smaller table cut diamonds weigh around 10 points each. The largest ruby measures 10 mm x 5.5 mm, and weighs around 1.6 carats. The two smaller rubies measure 6 mm x 4 mm and is around 3/4 of a carat and 5 mm x 4mm making it around 0.65 of a carat.
Crafted from 22k gold, this hat badge measures 1 3/4″ long and 1 3/8″ at its widest point. The front of the pendant is set with three large natural rubies and three table cut diamonds. The largest ruby measures 10 mm x 5.5 mm, and weighs approx. 1.6 carats. The two smaller rubies measure 6 mm x 4 mm (approx. 3/4 ct.) and 5 mm x 4mm (approx. 65 points) respectively. There are no hall marks but has been fully tested as have the diamonds and rubies.
A pendant bail was added some ten years ago and is in 22ct gold, this was to enable the piece to be worn. The existing loop which attached the badge to the hat was used as a vehicle for attachment so no change has occurred to the original piece.
The enamelling is exquisite and has design of vines and bluebells the vines are  champleve-enameled in green, and the bluebells  are in light and dark blue.
The reverse is brightly enameled with three flowers in green, light blue and red  set against a background of royal blue. Along the left side of the pendant is an inscription in black-letter Cyrillic, this inscription is 16 letters long.
This pendant has suffered only minor losses over the centuries with the enamel to the vines on the front is about 55% present and the back has 90% present.
The pendant is 8.0 grams of solid 22k gold, All of the rubies and diamonds are intact, and show only minimal wear to the facets.
This museum quality piece was originally obtained from a Florida USA estate and then found its way to Australia, it was last sold in America over ten years ago for around AUD $20,000.
