Recently Sold (ADR253)

Mediterranean Blue - Art Deco 14K White & Yellow Gold Blue Spinel & Natural Seed Pearl Enamel Ring. This rare ring is crafted from 14K white and yellow gold, hallmarked 14K. The ring features one oval faceted cut synthetic blue spinel, 24 natural seed pearls, Art Deco era styling, and high quality craftsmanship. This amazing ring is expertly set with a beautiful blue spinel, framed by a lustrous pearl surround and exquisite enamel work. The pearls are handed-wired on gold (a characteristic often seen in ancient jewelry dating back to thousands of years ago) displaying a beautiful white/silvery color. The gallery is also comprised of a lovely yellow gold twisted rope design, and, a milgrain decorated bezel. The ring also exhibits fantastic enameled shoulders, whilst the shank is smooth and polished, which allows for a comfortable fit and easy sizing.  This superb Art Deco era ring is a very rare example in very fine condition. 

Comments: Beautiful rare example, set with a vibrant blue spinel. Many of these formulas for antique synthetic stones can not be duplicated due to formulas being lost, patented, or too costly. Wonderful condition. 

Note: Contemporary appraisals do not reflect the value of antique jewelry.  It is recommended that this Art Deco 14K white & yellow gold pink sapphire (synthetic) & natural pearl filigree ring be insured for $4500.00 (Tax Excluded)

History: The history of synthesizing gem materials dates back to the early 19th century when scientists and jewellers began experimenting with various chemical and physical processes. One of the earliest successful attempts was the synthesis of ruby, which was achieved by French chemist Auguste Verneuil.

Pearls were presented as gifts to Chinese royalty as early as 2300 BC, while in ancient Rome, pearl jewellery was considered the ultimate status symbol. So precious were the spherical gems that in the 1st century BC, Julius Caesar passed a law limiting the wearing of pearls only to the ruling classes.

Gold was generally used for a couple thousand years solely to create things such as jewelry and idols for worship. This was until around 1500 BC when the ancient empire of Egypt, which benefited greatly from its gold-bearing region, Nubia, made gold the first official medium of exchange for international trade.

White gold has been around since the turn of the 19th century, but it wasn't until the 1920s when it really started gaining popularity. At the time, platinum had been the preferred precious metal for jewellery. But it quickly became scarce as World War II raged on, and countries began to stockpile it for military use.

Enamel jewelry can be traced back to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Greeks, who mixed crushed glass with color agents such as cobalt or copper, then applying it to metals in painstaking details before permanently fusing it with heat.

Art Deco was an international decorative style than ran from 1919 to 1939. Known initially as "le style moderne" or "Jazz Moderne," the style received its current name in 1968, during a period of scholarly reappraisal.

Measurements: Face of the Ring 21.00 mm x 14.00 mm 

Stone Size: Blue Spinel (Synthetic) 6.00 carats    See Pearls 1.00 mm each 

Weight: 4.80 grams 

Ring Size: 8 

Condition: Excellent

Origin: America 

Date: Circa 1920