Rosiest of Roses : Wide Rose Gold Cigar Band Ring circa 1874
♥SOLD♥
Hello handsome!
Wide and plump and deliciously rosy, this is the very definition of a classic cigar band. Fashionable for its unisex appeal, this ring is just as contemporary looking now as it was when it was made over 140 years ago.
This ring features a full set of English hallmarks to the inside of the convex band, which led me on a lovely little jewel sleuthing session. I had assumed that this was circa 1920 because cigar bands were very popular at that time, a little research has revealed that it’s actually much older! Please let me explain… first I have to mention that at some point in time this ring was sliced right through the assay mark, and then joined back together again as seamlessly as possible. In fact, the only place in which the cut hasn’t completely disappeared is in the hallmark. It is still possible to tell that the mark is for Birmingham, so far, so good. The makers mark is nice and crisp H.A, a dead match for the one registered by Henry Hyde Aston who traded in Regent Place, Birmingham from 1862 and was known to produce gold rings, among other treasures. The date letter is the letter Z, and unfortunately a lot of the Z hallmarks look very similar (the one for 1924, for example), but it is a dead match for the mark for 1874!
Ta da!
This ring has been professionally polished and gleams like new, its gently convex surface is wonderful for reflections and catches the light beautifully.
This ring is a size L or 5.75, but because it is so very wide you will want it to be a full size or size and a half larger than you usually wear.