It is well accepted that the hobbies and passions held by HRH Queen Victoria became the “must-do” and “must-have” of the 19th century. Her penchant for Scotland created a new niche in the market place for all things Scottish. Ever industrious and pennywise, Scottish jewelers used the natural resources common to the land in the manufacture of jewelry. Stones and minerals native to the rivers and mountains of Scotland became what are referred to as “pebble jewelry”.Cairngorm or smoky quartz comes from the eastern highlands and has been used in traditional Celtic jewelry as it is prized for its warm and transparent smoky orange-brown color. Here it has been transformed into a beautiful heart pendant and crowned with a coronet of yellow gold.
Embellished with the symbolic details of the fleur-de-lys and the saltire cross of St. Andrew we find a curious connection with Mary Stuart or as she is more commonly known, Mary Queen of Scots. The fleur-de-lys is a heraldic device long identified with the history of France and the “saltire” cross on the Scottish flag is the symbol for St. Andrew, the patron saint of the Kingdom of Scotland. A marriage was arranged by Henry II (King of France) and James V (King of Scotland) between the 4 year old son, Francis (Dauphin) and 5 year old Mary, Queen of Scots. This effectively created an alliance between France and Scotland and gave Francis claim to the English throne.
Measures 1-3/4 inches (4.5 cm) in length including the ¾ of an inch (1.9 cm) crown and top ring by more than 7/8 of an inch (2.4 cm) at the widest. Measures 3/8 of an inch (1 cm) in thickness and has a weight of 11.3 grams. In very good condition; of the three tiny gold beads in vertical, one has a dent and the other has a minute hole. The front and back beads at the bottom are left open. Circa 1850 – 1860 and is English in origin.
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