Diamond Fluted 18K Gold Teardrop Earrings, Circa 1960s

Deep parallel flutes sweep upward in a curved, flame-like taper, each ridge catching light along its length as the gold narrows toward a point. Set into the base of that sweep, a teardrop of pavé diamonds breaks the ribbed gold with a bright, compact burst of white, twenty-two round brilliants set closely enough to read as continuous sparkle. The asymmetric, wing-like silhouette and deep ribbing are characteristic of 1960s goldwork, when jewelers pushed surface texture and sculptural line over flatter, more traditional forms. Fronts are worked in 18K yellow gold with 14K gold backs, a common construction choice of the era that kept the visible face richly colored while lightening the finished piece. Clip backs hold the earring snug against the ear, letting the curved silhouette sit forward and catch light as it moves. The diamonds total approximately 0.50 ct., F-G color and VS-2 clarity, set in 18K yellow gold with 14K gold backs, weighing 18 grams total.