This beautiful and feminine Georgian gold "forget-me-not" ring has a glass locket compartment behind the face that contains a tiny weave of hair. A memorial ring, but not necessarily mourning the demise of a loved one, some of these sweetly sentimental rings containing human hair were given as pledges of love and fidelity.
Dating to around 1800, the ring is crafted in 18ct rich yellow gold in a feminine rococo design with carved gold flourishes and roses decorating the shoulders. The face is set in a halo of creamy white oval pearls with a tiny vivid pink ruby nestling in the centre.
A ribbed slender gold band completes this delicate and dainty ring that would have perfectly suited the fashionable lightweight floral silk gowns of the romantic Regency era.
A fabulous rare find and only becoming rarer as Georgian rings in excellent condition are becoming increasingly hard to find.
MATERIALS: 18ct gold
GEMSTONES: Presidium tested, natural ruby approx. 1.5mm (0.15ct), 5 natural pearls roughly 3mm diameter
RING SIZE: UK L, US 5-1/4
MEASUREMENTS: face, 8.7mm diameter, shoulders 3.5mm wide, band 2.2mm
WEIGHT: 2.3 grams
HALLMARKS: None, as is typical for the era, acid tested and verified 18ct gold
DATE: Georgian, circa 1800
CONDITION: in excellent antique condition with light wear and no noted flaws. Please excuse the tiny stray dark thread that showed up on the first photo, the pearls are blemish free.