Object of the Day: An Exceptional Ruby Stickpin

This is the height of mid-Victorian jewelry design for gentlemen. As jewelers developed more refined methods of assembling pieces and creating brighter cuts for gemstones, delicate designs became all the more fashionable.


A man of refinement would take great care on selecting the stickpin which would secure his cravat. It should not only match his attire, but be appropriate for the activities of the day. Here, we see a flower-head design of bright rubies with a slight magenta fire surrounding a neatly-faceted Old European-Cut diamond. Perfect in daylight or the elegant flicker of candlelight, this is a stickpin that communicated impeccable taste.