Exotic Millgrain-set Diamonds and Pearls Pendant

Amazing Diamonds and Pearls Pendant. Photo courtesy: Sothebys

Extremely beautiful Diamonds and Pearls Pendant mounted on an open work annular design. The pendant is millgrain-set with old mine Diamonds and five, natural, principal Pearls.

Do you know what is Millgrain setting?

The use of Milgrain decoration is believed to have started appearing in jewelry originating from Southeast Asia dating back to 5000 BC. This decoration is frequently found on antique jewellery but becoming increasingly common in contemporary designs.

Milgrain (also spelled millgrain) literally means a thousand grains. Milgrain decoration are strings of tiny bead shapes coined right at the edges of a jewel. Milgrain can usually be found surrounding set stones or on the edges of a ring or other piece of jewelry.

Milgrain decoration is created with a special engraver's knurling tool. First, the jeweler uses a graining tool to lower the center of the jewel leaving thin raised rims. Then, he uses this milgrain tool to shape the raised edges into tiny rounded bumps.

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Calla pendant exhibiting Millgrain setting. Photo courtesy: Pricescope