Classic - Vintage Sterling Silver Sapphire Glass & Cubic Zirconia Cluster Ring (VR1099)

Classic - Vintage Sterling Silver Sapphire Glass & Cubic Zirconia Cluster Ring. This eye-catching ring is crafted from sterling silver, hallmarked CZ 925, for sterling silver, and made in Vietnam. This ring features one oval shaped faceted glass gemstone, 14 round cut cubic zirconia gemstones, vintage classic styling, and quality craftsmanship. This ring is comprised of an expertly claw-set royal blue glass sapphire gemstone, which is enhanced by a sparkling CZ surround. The ring features tapered shoulders, which lead to a polished and smooth shank. The smooth shank allows for a comfortable fit , and easy sizing. This vintage ring looks wonderful when worn, and is truly a real eye-catching piece. 

Comments: A wonderful ring made to resemble Princess Diana's engagement ring, which is now worn by Kate Middleton. 

History: Glass gemstones, or "paste" jewelry, have a rich history spanning over 4,000 years, originating around 3500-2500 BCEin Mesopotamia and Egypt, where they were first created as, and used to imitate, valuable gems like lapis lazuli and turquoise. Early glass, often described as "the stone that flows", was cast into beads and amulets. Later, Roman, Venetian, and 18th-century European craftsmen developed sophisticated techniques to create high-quality, brilliant, and often foiled, glass jewelry. 

Cubic zirconia was first discovered by German mineralogists in 1937. The gemstone was dismissed for years until it was rediscovered by Soviet-era scientists. It was hoped that the stone could be used as a diamond-like, indestructible substance. There were also theories that it may be used in place of rubies in lasers. 

Cubic zirconia was invented in Russia in the 1970s, as a diamond alternative for use in laser technology. Later, the jewelry industry starty using CZ because of its sparkle and brilliance that is similar to diamonds. Now, CZ is used in almost all kinds of jewelry – necklace, rings, engagement rings, earrings and more.

The story of silver mining began about 5,000 years ago. Silver was first mined around 3,000 BCE in Anatolia, now located in modern-day Turkey. The precious metal helped early civilizations in the Near East, Ancient Greece to flourish.

The term sterling silver denotes any silver alloy in which pure silver makes up at least 92.5 percent of the content. One theory is that the word sterling comes from the name Easterlings—coiners from east German states brought to England during the reign of Henry II (1154–89) to improve the quality of the coinage.

Measurements: Face of the Ring 20.00 mm x 18.00 mm 

Stone Size: Sapphire Glass (Simulated Sapphire) 6.00 carats        Cubic Zirconia 1.40 carats 

Weight: 6.80 grams 

Ring Size: 9

Condition: Excellent       Note: Pristine 

Origin: Vietnam 

Date: Circa 1990