Dark & Handsome : Victorian Garnet Ring with Wide Engraved Band

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I adore a handsome ring – something that will look equally at home on the hand of a gentleman or a lady, and this ring suits that description perfectly. It is stately, understated, curious and genteel. It is discreetly arresting – a perfect finishing note for understated elegance.

I believe that this was originally a man’s pinky ring, and has been sized down to fit the finger of a lady sometime in the last 150 years. During that time it has been loved and well worn by many hands. I was enchanted by the deep red stone along with all the signs of long and adventurous life. I have a soft spot for garnets, for wide gold bands and for engraving – this ring has all three, making it irresistible!

When it came to me the garnet was deeply worn with it’s facets almost smooth from daily wear. I had the stone re-cut and re-set in a brand new bezel to give it a new lease on life and to allow the full rich colour that deep glowing fire to shine through.

The ring is made of 9ct yellow gold and has well worn decorative engravings to the side and at the top and bottom of the stone is a series of golden scallops. There are some unreadable hallmarks inside the ring that have suffered through a resizing. I have had the gold content verified by XRF test. The stone is set in silver which is in keeping for the age of the ring – other white metals were not used in jewellery until several decades later.

This ring has been a much loved part of my personal collection for many years, but has been languishing in my jewel box for the last little while. I think it must be time for its next new adventure.

The natural garnet measures approximately 8.5mm x 7mm. It has been recently re-cut and has no chips or scratches.
The face of the ring measures 10.8mm north-south and 7.5mm east-west. The ring sits 4.2mm high on the finger.
The band is 7.8mm wide at the shoulders, tapering to 3mm wide at the back. It has been well worn and is 0.2mm thick at the thinnest point. This makes it exceptionally comfortable to wear.
Weighs 2.6 grams

Size J or a snug 5 and fits true to size because of the tapered band.
Resizing is not recommended.

You can see a video of this ring being worn on my Instagram @secret_histories or online here.

Description

A most unusual and stylish ring suitable for a man or woman and dating to the mid Victorian Era, circa 1870. A large seep red natural garnet is bezel set in silver into a 9ct yellow gold wide stirrup ring. The shoulders are engraved and at the top and bottom of the stone is a series of golden scallops.

The natural garnet measures approximately 8.5mm x 7mm. It has been recently re-cut and has no chips or scratches.
The face of the ring measures 10.8mm north-south and 7.5mm east-west. The ring sits 4.2mm high on the finger.
The band is 7.8mm wide at the shoulders, tapering to 3mm wide at the back. It has been well worn and is 0.2mm thick at the thinnest point. This makes it exceptionally comfortable to wear.
Weighs 2.6 grams

Size J or a snug 5 and fits true to size because of the tapered band.
Resizing is not recommended.