Vintage 1970s "Big Three" Flower Vine Brooch in 18k Gold

This is a flower spray brooch in 18k gold as a gathered cluster of blossoms rising from a single tied stem. The flower heads are a mix of four and five petal blooms, each petal pavé set with round brilliant diamonds in white gold, centering either an oval blue sapphire cabochon or a round faceted sapphire in a star-point collet, so the heads alternate between cabochon and faceted centers across the spray. The stems and slender leaves sweeping up through the bouquet are pavé set with round brilliant emeralds following the curve of the metalwork, and the whole arrangement is drawn together at the base into a polished yellow gold ribbon tie that finishes in trailing tendril ends. The contrast of bright pavé diamond flowers, deep blue sapphire centers, and green emerald foliage turn the piece into a full, three-dimensional naturalistic real life flower.

The reverse shows open gallery work behind each flower head for light return, with the sapphire and emerald settings visible from the back, and the bouquet is secured by a double-pin stem with a single locking catch, a heavier mount intended to support the weight and balance the design upright on a lapel or shoulder. Workmanship is hand-finished throughout, with textured gold on the stems and ribbon set against the smooth pavé fields. This piece is a truly beautiful piece, with the deep blue cabochons as the nucleus of the flower, surrounded by dense pavé-set diamonds in white gold with a textured handfinish gold border. There are even little brush strokes of yellow gold radiating from the sapphires to help the structure, while adding a beautiful touch of detail and color to the leaves. Throughout the piece is there these little details that make the bouquet come to life, like the various types of brushed gold of the branches and leaves surrounding the rich emerald green stem.