Offered by London-based jewellery dealer Humphrey Butler, although this piece epitomizes Victorian style, it is also strangely contemporary. It looks like a lot of the silver jewellery made by David Yurman and others who design in a similar vein, with its heavy twisted rope body, and diamond set finials.

The site describes the piece this way: antique garnet and diamond-set bangle, the twisted hinged bangle of crossover design set at each terminal with a pear-shaped cabochon garnet with rose-cut diamond detail.

Although the gold content is not specified, it has the buttery look of high karat, at least 18k, I would think. The matte finish in the photograph looks like the gold might be bloomed, or that could just be a profile softened by age. Which happens to the best of us.

Price available upon request.