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Victorian 10k rose gold & pearl ring. This very pretty Victorian ring is made of 10k solid rose gold (tested). The ring has a makers hallmark with an A and star symbol. Beautiful scrolling rose gold setting with 3 creamy white lustrous pearls, one in the centre being the larger of the 3, and flanking the centre pearls are 2 smaller pearls. The pearls are expertly claw set, and the setting is uniquely angled. The shoulders are stunning with the beautiful scroll work. This ring is a lovely example of a Victorian pearl ring.
Note: Pearls were most likely discovered thousands of years ago by people searching for food along the seashore. Thanks to their fabulous shinmmering iridescence, this organic gem has been prized ever since. In one legend, Cleopatra is said to have dissolved a pearl in a glass of wine before drinking it, simply to win a wager with Marc Antony that she could consume the wealth of an entire country in just one meal. In a variation of that tale, the dissolved pearl was intended to help her seduce Antony. In ancient Rome, the pearl was the ultimate symbol of wealth and social standing, while the ancient Greeks associated the pearl with love and marriage, and unrivalled beauty. The Greeks also believed the pearl would promote marital harmony and prevent newlyweds brides from crying.
During the middle ages, knights wore pearls on the battlefield, believing they had the magic to protect them from harm. During the Renaissance, pearls were so highly regarded that several European countries passed laws forbidding anyone outside the nobility from wearing them. During European expansion in the New World, discovery of pearls in Central American waters meant that pearls, like gold added to the wealth of Europe. In the early 1900s, the advent of culturing pearls brought pieces down to mainstream levels. However even today, pearls are still worn by royalty, especially at weddings. Queen Elizabeth II wore them at her wedding in 1947, as did Sara Ferguson. In the United States, Jacqueline Bouvier wore a strand of pearls the day she became Mrs. Kennedy.
Measurements: face 12mm x 5mm
Stone Size: Centre pearl 5mm Smaller pearls 3mm each
Weight: 1.8 grams
Ring Size: 4 3/4
Condition: Excellent
Origin: American
Date: Circa 1880