A rare and beautiful antique Georgian marquise ring crafted in sterling silver set with a large curved baguette of vibrant purple foiled glass that is decorated in a forget-me-not pearl motif and framed in a halo of pearls.
Known as "amethyst glass" the paste stone has a deep and distinctive hue and it is a colour favoured in 18th century mourning jewellery. The presence of pearls in the design hint at tears shed for the deceased.
The ring is large and imposing, it covers the full front of the finger from the base to middle knuckle and it is a large finger size too which is unusual for rings of this age. Given age, at over 240 years old, the ring is in very good antique condition showing expected wear and signs of advanced age. Cosmetically to the eye the ring is just beautiful with all the pearls present. There are a few surface chips here and there to the glass and a crack at one corner which is stable and shouldn't come loose.
MATERIALS: sterling silver, acid tested
GEMSTONES: amethyst glass cabochon measuring 1-1/8" (2.8cm) tall, 5/8" (1.6cm) wide. Natural seed pearls approx. 1.5mm diameter
MEASUREMENTS: ring size UK-Q, US 8, EU-56.5. The face of the ring measures 1-1/4" (3.2cm) tall by 3/4" (2cm) wide
HALLMARKS: None
WEIGHT: 7.4 grams
DATE: Georgian, circa 1780