DATE: Victorian, c.1890

An unusual and alluring antique garnet ring dating from the late Victorian period, circa 1890. The stone is an octagonal faceted pyrope garnet, a particularly bright blood-red example, collet set in an 18 karat gold ring mount. The band features unusually asymmetrical split shoulders and tulip-shaped pierced segment suggesting the merest hint of Art Nouveau influence. Pyrope garnet, one of the rarest naturally occurring members of the garnet family and the only one to manifest red in colour, has been used in jewellery for Millenia, taking its name from the Greek for fire, "pir", and eye, "ops".

STONES

Garnet

MEASUREMENTS 

Head: 8.7 x 7.8mm

Width of band: 1.9mm

WEIGHT 

4.0g

MARKS 

Stamped 18ct

CONDITION 

Good, some light wear to the stone and fine gold patina