Recently Sold (VICR072)

Jewels Of Rarity - Victorian 14K Red Spinel, Alexandrite & Pearl Ring.  This rare ring is crafted from 14K yellow gold, tested and confirmed.  Featuring a natural round cut red spinel, 2 natural round cut alexandrite gemstones, 4 natural freshwater seed pearls, Victorian styling and quality gold work.  This ring is simple in design ( a characteristic of late Victorian and turn of the 20th century jewelry.  The gallery is also simple, this was done for a reason,  which was to house an extraordinary collection of rare jewels. The centre gemstone features a vibrant natural red spinel( a gem which is rarer than a ruby) flanked by beautiful colour changing alexandrite (most likely from Russia) displaying colour which changes from a blue /green to mauve.  The pearls are white with a slight grey overtone, showcasing a lovely lustre.  This ring is dainty, however still solid and in pristine condition.  The Victorian era ring is a rare treasure, since it has such a collection of scarce jewels.  Truly a piece to be cherished and enjoyed for many years to come. 

Note: Red Spinel is most famous for its deep red colour that resembles a ruby. The two gemstones can be very difficult to distinguish. Until the 19th century there was no distinction made between Ruby and Red Spinel, as they look identical and in the same localities. Many famous old rubies were discovered to be in fact spinel. For example, the enormous ruby that forms the centerpiece of the royal crown of England (the Black Prince's Ruby) was actually determined to be spinel.  

Alexandrite is an extremely rare gemstone, and fairly new compared to many other gems.  It does not share the ancient history and lore of most other gemstones due to the fact that it was first discovered in the 19th century. The name Alexandrite comes from the fact that the gemstone was first discovered in the emerald mines near the Tokovaya River in Russia's Ural Mountains in 1830, on the day of Prince Alexander ll of Russia's birthday. The story told, was that emerald miners found the alexandrite thinking that the stones were emeralds since they were green. The gems turned red by the campfire light and then green again in the morning, they then realized that they had found a new mysterious gem. 

When the gems were thought to be headed to extinction, even larger deposits were found in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, the island south of India. Later on, Brazil became another contributor to the world supply of the stone. 

Since the discovery of alexandrite, the gem has been thought to bring good luck, good fortune and love. It is believed to bring balance in the interaction between the physical manifest world and the unmanifest spiritual, or astral world. It opens the crown chakra, bringing one access to the warm, healing energy and love of the universe. It also strengthens intuition,creativity, and imagination. Alexandrite encourages romance, It is also said that through the stone, joy enters the lives of people with to much discipline. The stone reminds us of our purpose in life and our origin. It gives hope to those who are in despair about their lives. It brings strength and constantly reminds them of the light, With it's changing colour, it is a reminder that life is not only what it seems to be. 

Many alexandrite are said to aid physical ailments. They are recommended for those recovering from surgery or prolonged illness.  They are also know to be useful for ones emotional well being. 

Alexandrites is rated excellent for everyday wear, however one must still use caution and protect from harsh chemicals, extreme temperature and scratches. The best way to clean alexandrite is with a mild dish soap and warm water, using a soft toothbrush. 

Natural Pearls are officially the world's oldest gem. We know that they have been worn as a form of adornment thanks to a fragment of pearl jewelry found in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess that dates back to 420 BC, which is now on display at the Louvre in Paris. 

The Persian Gulf had some of the cleanest waters in the world which produced some of the most beautiful pearls ever seen. 

Today natural pearls are among the rarest of gems and their almost entirely depleted supply means they are found very infrequently only in the seas off Bahrain and Australia. 

Kokichi Mikimoto, the son of a Japanese noodle maker created the first cultured pearl in 1893 by manually introducing an irritant into the oysters stimulate it to form a pearl. The introduction of cultured pearls in the early 1900s turned the whole pearl industry on its head and caused the value of natural pearls to plummet.  Mikimoto's pearls were controversial in the fact that accusations were made that his pearls were fake. However scientific evidence spoke to the contrary that cultivated pearls had the exact same properties as those formed in the deep sea beds, the only difference is that they had a helping hand at getting the natural process started. 

The natural pearls in this ring would have been formed in a mullosk in a river. Although small they are a rare precious treasures adding beauty and rarity to this Victorian ring. 

Note: Appraisal included with the ring.  This ring is a rare find. 

Measurements: Face of ring 13mm x 9mm 

Stone Size: Red Spinel .50 carat      Alexandrite .36 carat   Natural Pearls 2mm each 

Weight: 1.70 grams 

Ring Size: 6 

Condition: Excellent   Note: Pristine 

Origin: America 

Date: Circa 1900