Estate platinum engagement ring with cabochon tanzanite 10.30 crt

Antique jewelry object group: engagement ring (or anniversary ring)

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

Country of origin: Portugal (Lisabon)

Style: Fifties (of the twentieth century)
  -  See also: Fifties (of the twentieth century) or more info on styles

Period: ca. 1950
  -  (events and facts in 1950)

Material: platinum
  -  (more info on precious metals)

Extra information: engagement ring - Especially in Western cultures, an engagement ring is a ring indicating the that the person wearing it is engaged to be married. In the United Kingdom, and North America, engagement rings are traditionally worn only by women, and rings can feature gemstones. In other cultures men and women usually wear matching rings, which can be plain. In some cultures, engagement rings are also used as wedding rings.

Conventionally, the woman's ring is presented as a betrothal gift by a man to his prospective spouse while he proposes marriage or directly after she accepts his marriage proposal. It represents a formal agreement to future marriage. Rings can be bought by the man, the couple together, or by each partner for the other.

In North America and the United Kingdom, it is worn on the left hand ring finger, while in Poland and Ukraine, it is customary for the ring to be worn on the right hand. In Germany, the ring is worn on the left hand while engaged, but moved to the right hand when married. 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".

Betrothal rings were used during Roman times, but weren't generally revived in the Western world until the 13th century. The first well-documented use of a diamond ring to signify engagement was by the Archduke Maximilian of Austria in imperial court of Vienna in 1477, upon his betrothal to Mary of Burgundy.

In the 20th century, if he could afford it, the typical Western groom privately selected and purchased an engagement ring, which he then presented to his desired bride when he proposed marriage. More recently, couples frequently select an engagement ring together. (from Wikipedia)

There is a very big chance that this tanzanite is not the original stone to the ring. Rings like this were specially made for big diamonds mostly. Somewhere in its lifespan the big diamond must have been taken out (not unlikely to bring fresh cash money to its owner) and the empty mounting has been filled with a stone just for decorative purposes. We are being stronger in this idea because the model of this ring tells us it's made in the Fifties, while tanzanite was only used since 1968.

Tanzanite somewhat resembles sapphire but is lighter and softer. Tanzanite was discovered in 1967 in Tanzania (the state formed in 1964 by the merging of Tanganyika and Zanzibar) through the aid of Henry B. Patt, of Tiffany & Co., and was so named by him; in 1968 it was introduced by Tiffany to the jewelry world.

Precious stones: One tanzanite with a weight of 10.30 crt
  -  (more info on precious stones)

Birthstones: Tanzanite is the birthstone (or month stone) for December .
  -  (more info on birthstones)

Hallmarks: Hallmarks for Lisabon, Portugal. In use since 1938.
  -  (more info on hallmarks)

Dimensions: Diameter of top of ring 1,30 cm (0,51 inch), height of top of ring 1,00 cm (0,39 inch)

Weight: 6.20 gram (3.99 dwt)

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

Resizing: Free resizing, but because of the the way the ring is made, we cannot guarantee to make it on every size; so please ask in advance (only for extreme resizing we have to charge).
  -  (more info on ring sizes)

Reference Nº: 09133-4286

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

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