Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Brooch/Enhancer

• Bombe Design in Jewellery - In the early 18th century, during the reign of Louis XIV, French court jewellers developed a new style of jewellery called "bombé" because of its bulging, curved shape.
  
  The bombe design can be found in various styles of jewellery, from Georgian, Victorian, Art nouveau, to Art Deco and Retro eras, with the materials and techniques reflecting the era the jewellery was made.
  
  The design is used for rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings, where a curved or rounded shape is emphasized, giving an organic look to the piece, with the piece often made of gold and set with precious stones, such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. The bombe design was also paired with other design elements such as engraving, enamelling, or gemstones
• Claw Set Jewellery - The description "claw set" in jewellery refers to a setting where the gemstone is held in place by metal prongs that resemble claws. These prongs are bent over the edges of the gemstone to secure it in the setting. This type of setting is commonly used for diamonds and other precious stones.
  
  

• Quatrefoil - A stylised four-circle design, itself contained within a larger circle, with Gothic origins and often seen as window designs in ecclesiastical architecture. The use of the motif was popular in Gothic Revival furniture of the 19th century.
• Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• necklaces, gold - gold with diamonds 2,054
• necklaces, style or type - bombe design 10
• Van Cleef & Arpels (France)
  • jewellery 11
  • necklaces, designers 30