A Victorian-era, three-band, harem ring, set with natural, old cut, blue sapphires, glinty rose cut diamonds and creamy, natural pearls. This ring’s three, separate, gem-set bands are bound by a thick strap at the base of the shank. These slender bands, and the charming crimped bezels that hold the ring's four sapphires, are modeled in 15k rose gold. The little rose cut diamonds (sixteen) are set in silver, as was the custom at the time. The fabrication of these small settings is meticulous and beautiful— all parts of this ring were hand-built, and you can see evidence of the smith's files, here and there, with the aid of a loupe. This is a fine old example of this style, which we usually see imitated in later, revival periods.
The Victorians were fascinated by machines, and by jewelry with mechanical parts . . . so this ring's three bands flip apart for the sake of "curiosity," and to (discreetly) keep a ring stack orderly, but this design element also makes a visually-wide band very comfortable to wear.
Materials
15k gold
Silver
Sapphire
Diamond
Pearl
Age
1890 - 1900
Size
US 6 1/2
Dimensions
Ring face measures approx 7.9 mm; ring measures approx 4.9 mm at the shoulder and tapers to approx 2.9 mm at the base; strap at base measures approx 4.7 mm; sapphires (4) measure approx 3.1 x 3.3 mm; diamonds (16) measure approx 1.3 mm; pearls (3) average about 2.55 mm.
