Product Detail

Antique 18th-century bracelet with two pear-shaped no-heat Burmese rubies haloed by old mine-cut diamonds, platinum-topped 18K gold

Bracelets and Bangles

Antique No-Heat Burmese Ruby & Diamond Bracelet, 18th Century — Property from the Perry-Belmont Family

A refined 18th-century bracelet of lyrical asymmetry, designed as two graduating pear-shaped rubies—both certified Burmese and unheated—each framed by a halo of old mine-cut diamonds and joined by foliate diamond scrolls. The bracelet is executed in platinum-topped gold, hinged and fitted with a side clasp, the diamonds set in silver-white heads to heighten brilliance, the underside in warm gold as customary for the period. The rubies display vivid, saturated crimson with lively internal reflections consistent with fine material from Burma (Myanmar). From the distinguished Perry-Belmont Family of New York and formerly the property of Caroline Slidell Perry Belmont (1829–1892)—celebrated in her day as “Queen of Society”—this jewel unites rarity of origin, noble American provenance, and period craftsmanship. Accompanied by AGL, 2021, Report No. 1116725 A and B, stating Natural Corundum, Ruby, Burma (Myanmar), No Heat. The bracelet’s construction and materials test as 18-karat gold with platinum overlay, presenting in well-kept condition commensurate with age. A museum-worthy survivor of the American Gilded Age milieu, poised for both connoisseurship and collection.

Design: Bangle-6

Enquire

Antique No-Heat Burmese Ruby & Diamond Bracelet, 18th Century — Property from the Perry-Belmont Family

Metal - Platinum-topped gold; electronic test indicates 18-karat gold & platinum
GemStones / Diamonds - Two pear-shaped rubies, approx. 9.50 × 5.70 × 5.10 mm and 9.30 × 6.00 × 4.70 mm; numerous old mine-cut diamonds
Inner/Outer Circumference - Inner circumference 6 3/4 in. (approx.)
Period - 18th Century
Certification - AGL (2021) Report No. 1116725 A & B — Ruby, Burma (Myanmar), No Heat
Mechanism - Hinged with side clasp
Provenance - Property from the Perry-Belmont Family, Brooklyn, New York; owned by Caroline Slidell Perry Belmont
Overall Condition - Very good antique condition

Caroline Slidell Perry Belmont 1829-1892 The 1849 marriage of August Belmont I and Caroline Slidell Perry united two prominent American families, creating a legacy that spanned finance, politics, and society. August Belmont, a German Jewish immigrant from Alzey, arrived in the United States in 1837 as an agent for the Rothschild banking offices. Following the Panic of 1837, he established his financial firm, August Belmont & Co., amassing great wealth and becoming a defining figure of America's Golden Age. Belmont was a financier, diplomat, political leader, and patron of the arts, and he founded the Belmont Stakes, one of America’s most prestigious horse races. Caroline Slidell Perry, the daughter of Commodore Matthew C. Perry, brought her illustrious heritage to the union. Commodore Perry played a pivotal role in opening Japan to Western trade through the Convention of Kanagawa and contributed to the development of the U.S. Naval Academy. Her family’s lineage traced back to the Mayflower and the founding of Rhode Island. Their November 7, 1849 wedding was widely celebrated as the most fashionable event of the year in New York. The couple lived a lavish lifestyle, with residences that included a mansion on Fifth Avenue, a farm on Long Island, and an Italianate summer home, By-the- Sea, in Newport, Rhode Island. Renowned for her elegance and exquisite jewels, Caroline became known as "Queen of Society" during the mid-1860s, while their grand entertainments set the standard for New York’s elite. The Belmonts had six children, many of whom carried on the family’s influential legacy. Their third son, Oliver Belmont, built Newport's famed Belcourt Castle, which he later bequeathed to his wife, Alva Vanderbilt. Their second son, August Belmont II, succeeded as head of August Belmont & Co., financing major projects such as New York City’s first subway line, the IRT, ad Belmont Park. He was married first to Elizabeth Hamilton Morgan, a descendant of Alexander Hamilton, and later to Eleanor Robson, a distinguished actress and philanthropist who helped save the Metropolitan Opera by founding the Metropolitan Opera Guild. Throughout their lives, Caroline and August navigated the worlds of finance, politics, and high society with influence and style. While August was deeply engaged in national politics, serving as chairman of the Democratic National Committee and as a diplomat to Holland, Caroline found the rigors of diplomatic life less appealing, preferring the comforts and vibrancy of New York. Together, they left an indelible mark on American history, shaping the cultural and social fabric of their era.