LIBELLULE Dragonfly in 18k (750 thousandths) yellow gold and silver set with rose-cut and faceted diamonds, two round emeralds and two round rubies. A pear-cut ruby in the centre weighs approx. 0.70 ct. This dragonfly appears to be from the late 19th century, but dates from the late 1930s. The hallmark of the workshop of Bruno Sandi, who created it, was registered in Padua in 1935. While the technique for this type of dragonfly brooch seems identical to that used in the Belle Époque, on closer inspection the diamond setting is more precise and more solid, making this brooch much safer to wear than the models made some forty years earlier. The cultured pearl is very beautiful, with a high quality lustre. Dimensions: 5.2 x 5.5 cm. Gross weight: 11.7 g. Dragonfly brooches have been an integral part of jewellery themes since the 19th century. Until the mid-twentieth century, they were most often decorated with facetted diamond flakes on their wings, to give them transparency and a light appearance. The only exception was during the Art Nouveau period, when transparency was achieved using the plique-à-jour enamelling technique. Today, dragonflies are being reinvented, notably by Van Cleef & Arpels and its Fontaine aux Oiseaux automaton dragonfly, which won the Mechanical Clock prize at the 2022 Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix.