Catalog: Estate Jewelry (52)

Impressive Georgian diamond cluster ring with nineteen diamonds in set in a silver setting with an 18K delicately incised and unusually shaped gold band dating to c. 1780. The pictures speak for themselves. The ring is oriented radially around a large central Georgian diamond and surrounded by 12 smaller Georgian diamonds with three diamonds are fitted into the remaining space around each side in a perfectly symmetrical form. The ring is a size 7.25 and sizeable.

18K Late Victorian five stone diamond ring, also known as half hoops, set a jour, with no foiling and open in the back to reflect light and air. The five stone was a classic late 19th century pattern, for good reason; it was great design then and still is today. The generous amount of gold means it can be worn next to other rings without fear of damage to the stones...

We love the patina of this antique delicate carved amethyst intaglio depicting a charming bird perched on solid ground, beak pointed upward mounted in a later, retro hammered 24K gold band. The ring is substantial at .38 inch high but not overwhelmingly large. At almost 14 grams and 24K (stamped), this ring is solid gold yet feels surprisingly light. This modern looking signet ring is easy to wear and marries beautifully with other rings. Not to be missed. The ring fits a size 9-9.5 finger.

A most interesting mourning ring style of the period; the two sided mourning ring with a swivel bezel. One side has a lock of hair under crystal and is bordered with pearls, representing tears, in a pinched gold setting. The other side is a black enamel rectangle inscribed with Mark Hodgson ESQ died 12 July 1810 aged 52 in gold letters...

A renaissance era poesy ring (spelled posy, posie, or posey), the outer ring of our posy has a chequerboard pattern with the darkly romantic inscription "Yours till death". The u in the letter Yours is written as a V because it is based off the Latin alphabet which used the letter V to represent both letters. Posey rings were popular in France and England between the 1400's and 1700's and were often given as gifts between lovers...

15K Rare Georgian diamond cluster ring consisting of 6 large stones cut en cabochon (no facets and polished smooth) and set in a radial pattern around a large center diamond. 6 smaller stones are set along the border. The border is crimped, a feature of hand wrought gold-work of this period. The diamonds are set in silver. There is nary a claw in sight as the Georgians believed claws detracted from the beauty of the diamonds...

"Died by the hand of an assassin" mourning ring for Spencer Perceval, British statesman and barrister who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Our 18 carat hoop ring is engraved with the following inscription to the interior: Rt Hon Spencer Perceval Ob. May 11 1812 Aet 49 and further inscribed with the words "Died by the hand of an assassin". It has British hallmarks for 1812 and maker's mark for Samuel Glover, goldsmith of Foster Lane, London...

This Georgian diamond solitaire ring is set in 15K gold and has lovely engraved shoulders (also referred to as chased). The old mine cut diamond, chased shoulders and smooth polished gold back (beautiful in its own right) make this ring classically Georgian. There is not a prong visible on this diamond as a Georgian era goldsmith only wanted the diamond to be visible...

This is a spectacular one of a kind cameo portrait signet ring collector's item made of an sardonyx, a variety of banded onyx and a form of chalcedony quartz of reddish brown. Portrait cameos were often commissioned by those who had amassed enough wealth to leave their mark on society. The wearer of such a ring would demonstrate admiration for a particular philosopher, writer or popular figure in society...

This spectacular mourning band is of black enamel with accents of white enamel and bordered in gold accents. With its breathtaking miniature painting of a young girl, this ring is a fine example of the neoclassical influences of the Georgian period on mourning jewelry. The heavy graphic representations of death so prevalent before this time no longer suited the lightness of the Georgian era...

C1770 Silver gilt ring with Glass Tassie cameo portrait of an 18th century gentleman, thought to be young Prince William Henry Duke of Gloucester, younger brother of King George III. Rings set with portrait miniatures of sovereign figures were quite popular and widely distributed. A "Tassie" is a paste or glass copy of a cameo or intaglio...

Queen Anne period (1740) large beautifully faceted octagon cut amethyst solitaire ring in a later 18K gold band. This style of jewelry has been historically misnamed for Queen Anne, who reigned from 1695 to 1714, as so called Queen Anne jewelry dates to the mid 18th century. Among other details, we love this ring for its eighteenth century octagonal shape, the quality of the amethyst and the crimped collet gold setting...

Our C1790 ring is an 18th century glass intaglio of an ancient signed gem depicting the head of a laughing satyr, or faun (a young satyr). Such carvings were called Tassies (explained further down). "Gems" in this case refers not to precious stones, but to ancient classical Greek carvings, highly valued miniature works of art. Our glass intaglio is signed in Greek for Ammonioy, meaning "by Ammonios"...

A late Medieval signet ring of silver engraved with strong cross cultural references of the pelican in her piety and navigation symbols of the moon and stars. During the medieval period many were illiterate and pictorial signet rings served the practical purpose of bearing a mark that when impressed upon clay would authenticate documents. The Pelican in her piety refers to the medieval fable of the pelican drawing blood from her breast to feed her chicks. The Pelican thus is a strong symbol ...

Our poesy ring (spelled posy, posie, or posey) has the deep color of a 22carat ring along with a textured pattern and an interesting inscription "Seale up Secrets" that is both biblical and romantic in substance. The term "seale up secrets" with its Gothic spelling of seale, refers to the biblical phrase "seal up". In the Bible, the phrase "seal up" is often used to refer to something being kept secure until a specific time. The phrase in essence means secrets (between the wearer and the giv...