A beautiful platinum and eighteen carat gold ruby and diamond stick pin in the form of an  Épée   sword.  The sword is miniature replica of the dueling sword seen in 17th to 18th century in Europe that was an adaptation of the rapier.  These swords were used in duels where speed and accuracy were required, as opposed to the need to bludgeon and kill. To win was to draw first blood to exposed areas of the body.  This eventually led to the sport of fencing, where this type of weapon makes up one of the three sword categories.  The pin itself is hand engraved all along the triangular shaped blade, all the way up to the cup guard.  The handle is made in eighteen carat yellow gold and channel set, with pierced back, with seven, square cut, rubies totaling approximately just under one quarter of a carat.  This is topped by an .06 carat old mine cut diamond of good colour.  A unique piece, European in origin, unmarked, dating circa 1880.