Victorian rose cut diamond engagement ring with tourmaline

Antique jewelry object group: rings and engagement rings

Country of origin: Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe this to be of Belgian origin.

Style: Victorian
(more info on styles)

Period: ca. 1870
(events and facts in 1870)

Material: 18k red gold and silver, see also: The silver on gold technique
(more info on precious metals)

Technique: Gold-backed silver or the silver on gold technique. This technique finds its origin centuries ago, when jewelers believed that only a silver mounting could render the true beauty of a diamond. Backing the silver jewel with a (thin) layer of gold was a practical precaution taken to avoid the silver jewelry leaving black stains on clothing or skin. Over the years, with the recognition (and thus use) of platinum as precious metal and the development of white gold the practical necessity to use bi-colored material became obsolete. The argument to use bi-colored metals became more an estetic then a practical one.

Extra information: engagement ring - In Western tradition, an engagement ring is a ring, of no generally accepted form, worn by a woman indicating her engagement to be married. Conventionally, the ring is presented as a betrothal gift by a man to his prospective bride while he proposes marriage or directly after she accepts his marriage proposal. It represents a formal agreement to future marriage.

In recent years such rings have normally been set with a gemstone, usually a diamond, as a solitaire, of varying sizes, cuts, styles, and cost, but in the 19th century some were set with a pearl. In the same century the custom arose in England of separate engagement ring and wedding ring, and in very recent years such rings have sometimes been made en suite as a matching pair of similar style. In recent years, antique gemstone engagement rings are rapidly gaining in popularity.

In some countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, it is worn on the left-hand ring finger, while in other countries, such as Poland and Ukraine, it is customary for the ring to be worn on the right-hand. Similar traditions purportedly date to classical times, dating back from an early usage reportedly referring to the fourth finger of the left hand as containing the vena amoris or "vein of love". In the United States and Canada today it is becoming more common, but still quite rare, that a woman will also buy her partner an engagement ring (also called a pre-engagement ring, promise ring, or 'mangagement' ring) at the time of the engagement.

Diamonds: 15 rose cut diamonds. We do not have the weight of the diamonds which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cuts.

Precious stones: One tourmaline with an approximate weight of 1.75 crt
(more info on precious stones)

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April and tourmaline for October.
(more info on birthstones)

Hallmarks: No trace.
(more info on hallmarks)

Condition: excellent condition
(more info on our condition scale)

Dimensions: top of ring 1.18 cm (0.46 inch) x 1.36 cm (0.54 inch)

Weight: 3.40 gram (2.19 dwt)

Ring size Continental: 55 & 17½ , Size US 7¼ , Size UK: O

Resizing: Free resizing (only for extreme resizing we have to charge).
(more info on ring sizes)

Reference Nº: 09306-4339

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

See also our:
victorian rings, engagement rings, all our rings, Victorian victorian jewelry, 19th century, antique rings, vintage rings, estate rings, silver on gold jewelry, red gold jewelry, jewelry with rose cut diamonds, jewelry with tourmaline, latest acquisitions,
antique jewelry, estate jewelry, vintage jewelry or modern jewelry

Jewelry with birthstones (or month stones) for:
January - February - March - April - May - June - July
August - September - October - November or December.


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