Featured Saphiret sapphirine Yay or Nay?

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by KSW, Jan 23, 2020.

  1. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Confused by this Saphiret Sapphirine is it or isn’t it malarkey and what the excitement is over it :sour:.
    Yay or nay?
    Thankyou :)
    51B2C835-34BC-42BB-AF54-EC00325B9B3B.jpeg 517F1618-00C6-4DF1-AD30-FF0DA9532047.jpeg
     
  2. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Although I've never seen faceted saphiret, it looks like saphiret to me, albeit in a strange setting and chain. But let's wait for the others.
     
  3. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    Hm. There's a "costume" version of saphiret which does get cut. Given that chain, I don't think it's the real thing.
     
  4. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    I've just realised the photo of the back hasn't loaded!:banghead: It's now sulking.
    It's marked De luxe NYC A'dam. I've just done some googling and it looks like an 80s designer that used vintage stones etc in more modern settings. It's facets are at the back not the front.
     
  5. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    Yay! Saphiret with caracteristic red brown/clear blue hue!
    Saphiret was costume jewellery back then;)
    Czech glass which is no more in production, "recipe" seems to have been lost:bucktooth:.
    Old dragon's breath too, modern ones are more red and the blue veil floating in it is far les subtle :cyclops:
     
  6. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Here we go- it’s paddy is over.
    6541D4A4-07BC-4144-AE1D-582D5B957A86.jpeg
     
  7. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Ah, hence it’s popularity!
     
  8. necollectors

    necollectors Well-Known Member

    CZECHOSLOVAKIAN SAPHIRET GLASS
    by Diane DeMango
    ©2009





    I have sold many pieces of jewelry with saphiret and sappharine stones over the last 3 years, most of them go to Japan where, apparently, they never go out of style. There is not much information out there regarding these stones. I have been trying to learn as much as I can about them. I am writing this article to share what I have learned. If anyone out there feels this information is wrong in any way, please contact me, so I can make corrections.



    Saphiret glass was made in Gablonz, Czechoslovakia in the mid-19th century by mixing melted gold into sapphire-colored glass. The result was a glass which looked brick red or brown, but reflected blue on the surface. Because they are glass, these stones are rarely found in precious metal findings. All the pieces I’ve owned are brass or gold-filled. Occasionally, you will see a faceted saphiret stone in a gold Victorian ring.



    I was told that production of this glass was stopped shortly after the turn of the century, because it was no longer cost-effective as gold had increased in value. Thus, pieces of jewelry containing saphirets are either Victorian, Edwardian, or Arts and Crafts. I have never seen Deco pieces set with them, and have only, on one occasion, seen saphiret glass stones set in modern pieces. Those pieces were by the Sadie Green Co. Photos of that set will be shown later in this article.



    Sappharine stones are manufactured in Germany. These stones were made to mimic the earlier saphirets. I don’t know when they started manufacturing them but Weiss, Regency and Florenza used them in many of their 1950s jewelry designs – so perhaps that’s when they were first produced.



    People who collect the early saphiret jewelry usually make the distinction between saphiret and sappharine stones. When I list an old piece on the net, I use the word saphiret in the title. When I list a sappharine piece, I use both words in the title, to let folks know it is the newer German stone. Inevitably, I will still get a hardcore collector lecturing me about how real saphirets are no longer made and how I shouldn’t be using the word. Based on my experience, Japanese buyers make no distinction – and call both types of stones saphirets.



    People often ask me what the difference is between the 2 stones. Compared to saphirets, sappharines look faded. The contrast between the brown and blue is much more pronounced in saphirets. Sappharines can appear light tan or mauve. However, both stones change color and contrast in different light – which is why I always try to photograph them with and without a flash. Also, sappharines are fairly consistent in color, whereas saphirets have a wide range of clarity and density to them based on the ratio of melted gold to blue glass. Stones that reflect vivid blue had less gold added in.



    I started getting requests for saphiret/sappharine jewelry in 2005, about the time major fashion houses were reviving that chocolate brown/aqua blue color combination from the early 1970s. These colors were huge in Japan – hence the popularity of not only saphiret jewelry but butterfly wing jewelry as well (which reflects blue and brown).



    While doing my net searches, I turned up several stones mistakenly called saphirets. One site had butterfly wing jewelry – the stones were called saphiret. I have also seen Mexican fire opals (also called “dragon’s breath”) – as well as moonstones referred to as saphirets. In all the years I have been in the CJ business, I have only met 4 people who knew what saphirets were when I asked if they had any. I now keep saphiret cufflinks in my pocket when shopping – it saves so much time. Instead of trying to describe the stone, I just pull them out and ask – “do you have jewelry with stones that look like this?”



    The following photo gallery has comparison photos of jewelry with early saphiret stones and modern sappharine stones. Hopefully, this will help folks identify them. I will start with photos of jewelry containing antique saphirets.



    Here are 3 dainty Victorian/Edwardian pins with saphiret stones. The first has wonderful faceted heart-shaped stones. I bought this “as found” with one stone missing and a smooth white frosted stone in its’ place.



    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Next is a fabulous brass belt, c1880, with round faceted saphirets bezel-set in every other link.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    This hatpin was found in a consignment shop – where someone had made up new hatpins from large, antique glass beads. Notice how dense the color is on the saphiret bead.

    [​IMG]
    On rare occasions, you can find early saphiret glass with molded images on them. This set was made by the Sadie Green Co., founded c1970 here in Mass. They make antique reproduction jewelry using new stamped brass findings and antique glass. This set was a real find – and proof that they do, indeed, use antique glass. These cameo-style saphiret pieces are from the turn of the century.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    The following pieces contain sappharine stones – the modern version of saphirets. Here is a beautiful large Regency pin with sappharine stones. The first photo was taken in available light, the other with a flash. Notice the color change in the sappharines, from light brown to brick red.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Weiss made beautiful jewelry with sappharine stones. Here is a pin/earring set with sappharine navettes.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    These Weiss clips have teardrop-shaped sappharine stones.

    [​IMG]
    The following earrings are by Whiting and Davis. They are part of a full parure made by W&D which uses large oval sappharine cabochons. I have owned all the pieces at one time or another – but, alas, never the whole set at once. This set can be found in both gold and silvertone.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Finally, here is an unsigned pin with a big sappharine center stone.

    [​IMG]
    This wraps up my article on 19th century saphiret glass and its’ modern “cousin”, sappharine . I do not consider myself an expert but, if anyone has questions or would like me to confirm whether something they have is saphiret or sappharine, feel free to contact me – I am always happy to help. Contact me at bantiques@earthlink.net.




    Researching Costume Jewelry — Home
     
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  9. necollectors

    necollectors Well-Known Member

    So after reading the above article...(very informative) I think you have a Saphiret. It more than likely was part of a necklace in a former life. Because is was considered glass, that would account for the "costume" chain, as they were most always considered costume.
     
    judy, i need help, Aquitaine and 4 others like this.
  10. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    Thanks for posting this! Excellent documentation!
     
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  11. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Thankyou @necollectors . That's a great article and very helpful!.
     
  12. necollectors

    necollectors Well-Known Member

    I hope everyone didn't mind...it is long...but sooo much good info! Her website is a treasure trove!
     
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  13. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    How exciting!.I may use it as a pendant centrepiece when I find a vintage necklace with some lovely beads that deserve it.
     
  14. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Mind? It was a brilliant article and answered so many questions so I'm very happy.
    I'm still wading through all 4 hundred and sixty something pages of an article @Any Jewelry posted that made my elderly iPad wish it was in a retirement home so this one is a mere whippersnapper in comparison!
     
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  15. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    :hilarious:
    To be fair, mine was only a link, not the full text in a post.:D
     
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  16. necollectors

    necollectors Well-Known Member

    I am sorry Any Jewelry...I looked back I didn't see a link! But KSW1 says it is 460 pages! Must be a ton of info...can you relist the link...Thanks

    A round of applause for Any Jewelry...To be fair!
     
  17. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    judy likes this.
  18. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    How did I miss this thread? I'm gaga for Saphirets. :woot:

    Great article, pictures, and links, all. Love it!

    Yes, KSW, it's a Saphiret -- the more vintage kind, but still collectible. :):)

    Since a bit of show and tell, my all time score was this cushion cut Saphiret cross, which was the old kind of Saphiret. Long since sold to Japan (of course) but I kept a photo as it was one of my all time favorite finds, and began my OBSESSION with finding other Saphiret pieces. I did find two vintage pieces, but so far no luck stumbling onto other old ones. Plenty available online, but $$. Maybe one day again...

    aas5.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2020
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  19. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    That is a stunner, Lucille.:jawdrop::happy:
     
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  20. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Wow that’s amazing! We will all keep looking :)
     
    judy, Lucille.b and Any Jewelry like this.
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