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Morning Glory Collects...
things we love to buy, wear and share
Dating Rings, Victorian to 1930s
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Late 1700s to
1840s
It is always fun when a ring is inscribed with a
date, taking the guess work out of circa dating. Although jewelry is
sometimes seen with a much later inscription, that is not the norm.
Rings from the early 1800s that are not dated may also have features
that help identify them. Stones were often set in a close-backed mounting, and sometimes
foiled as well. Stones in the rings could also be set in a silver head
with a karat gold band with rose cut diamonds, both typical of this time
period. Hair and memorial rings were worn by both men and women the
styles of this jewelry seem to continue for decades.
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VICTORIAN 18 carat yellow gold early
1800s
ring with central diamond, four pearls and black enamel, size 7-3/4.
View
View #V32118 |
GEORGIAN memorial hair ring
with pearl surround and blonde hair. Size 7-1/4 and engraved, "
Joseph Dixon died 16th Jan.y 1815 aged 50".
Engraving #V15165
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GEORGIAN 18k yellow gold
and banded agate memorial ring, hallmarked London, engraved "Michael Simpson
died 12 July 1835 Age 40 Years" and dated 1835, size 7-1/4, as is.
View
View #K29309 |
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GEORGIAN Stuart crystal
ring with gold wire cyper on the inside, size 9-1/2, stone is 1/2" by 1/2".
The crystal is a faceted octagon with a tiny layer of hair under the bottom
and a dash of rose pink coloring.
View
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View #V33264 |
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Circa 1860 to
1890
Jewelry catalogues came into vogue along with the
mass production of jewelry. Looking at the illustrations and written
descriptions is a definitive way to date pieces. Hair jewelry was still
popular and could be fashioned as a home craft or ordered from
catalogues. Taille
d'epargne enamel work became very popular, as did mosaic and Mizpah rings.
Jewelry of this era can be a bit heavier and more somber that later
jewelry.
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VICTORIAN memorial ring in gold with black enameling marked "SH
Chamberlaine Ob 23AUG1866" around the outside and engraved inside, size
7-1/2. See "Warman's Jewelry, 3rd Ed, page 36. Another ring
similar to this can be seen in "Jewels & Jewelry" by Clare Phillips on page
140-3 and in Becker's "Antique & Twentieth Century Jewelry" on page 54,. View
View
View
View #V25015 |
VICTORIAN 14k ring with woven
hair inside, size 7-1/4. See Bell's "Collector's Encyclopedia of Hairwork
Jewelry" page 185.
View #V15458
View Victorian
hair ring as shown in the A. Bernhard
&
Co. Catalogue, 1870 |
VICTORIAN hair ring with
shield front, size 9-1/4. #V21550 |
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VICTORIAN taille
d'epargne black enamel and seed pearl ring,
rectangular shape with seed pearl, circa 1870. View
#V3495 |
VICTORIAN 18k yellow gold micro mosaic doves
ring, 3/4" front, size 7.
View #V27582
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VICTORIAN 10k yellow gold
garnet and seed pearl ring in original box, size 6, 1/2" at front,
circa 1880.
View
View
View
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View
View #G29710 |
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VICTORIAN 14k white and yellow
gold pierced square topped ring with diamond chips and center ruby.
View #G25981 |
VICTORIAN ring with
an emerald, a sapphire and a diamond, circa 1880, very faint remains of
engraved date and initials inside the band.
View
View #G22937 |
VICTORIAN 18k
yellow gold ring with .59ct total weight rubies and .35ct total weight diamonds,
size 7.
View #G28479 |
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VICTORIAN sterling silver Mizpah ring
hallmarked Birmingham 1882-3, size 7-1/4, 1/4" across front and gently
tapering back to 3-16" at back.
View #V31541 |
VICTORIAN sterling silver
hand made mizpah ring, hallmarked "P&T", Birmingham, 1862, size 8, 1/4" wide
at front and 1/8" wide at back.
View
View #V31337 |
PEARL cross-over ring,
circa 1910. #Gco |
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RING 9k
and black enameled ring initial "J", circa 1890, size 6-3/4.
#G21551 |
"Fine solid gold and stone rings".
E.V. Roddin Catalogue,
1887-1889 |
VICTORIAN 14k yellow gold amethyst ring with inset rose and diamond,
size 7-1/4. View
#G28037
"Real amethyst, diamond inlaid". |
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VICTORIAN Masonic Knights Templar "In Hoc Signo Vinces" (In this sign
conquer) ring marked inside, "Princes, Patn Aug-26-90". Size
7-3/4.
View #G21484 |
VICTORIAN 14k yellow gold ring with purple stone and seed pearls,
size 8.
View #G27827 |
RING 14 yellow gold ring,
long-ways mounted garnet with seed pearls, engraved inside "George to Lilly
G., 8-1878", size 6-1/4 and measures 1/2" across the front.
View
View #K31783
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Circa 1890 to
1910
Just like fashion, jewelry of this era becomes
lighter and more delicate. Cabochons, Bohemian garnets, buckle motifs,
signet rings, embossed bands and somewhat more delicate settings can be
seen in the catalogues.
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RING Victorian 14k tested
yellow gold, diamond and ruby buckle motif ring, size 11-1/2, 1/8" to 1/4"
wide. #G50997 |
VICTORIAN 9ct buckle ring dated 1898. See
Luthi's Sentimental Jewelry page 32.
View #G24203 |
VICTORIAN ring, 14k yellow gold
band with rubies and diamonds, size 6-3/4, 1-3" wide.
View #G25959 |
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VICTORIAN 14k
red and green cabochons ring, embossed design, circa 1900, size 8-1/4.
View #G20897 |
Men's seal, garnet and opal rings.
14k birth month rings, all real stones. Priced in the catalogue from $1.60 to
$18.00 each.
Daniel Low
& Co., 1901 |
GARNET
cabochon pinky ring with embossed sides, circa 1890.
View #G22930 |
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18k YELLOW GOLD
band with gypsy set diamond, engraved inside "AJK" for my
grandmother, Agnes Jeanette King", circa 1910.
View
View
#Gajk |
VICTORIAN
signet ring
with the initials "JHC", circa 1900.
View
View #G22936 |
14 K yellow gold heavy signet ring engraved
"D/C/G ?", size 9, measures 11/16" across the face, circa
1890.
View #G23362
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BOHEMIAN garnets ring, 14k
yellow gold band and oval cabochon with surrounding rose cut garnets set in
brass top, ring size 5, 3/4" long at the front. Wonderful color.
View
View #G32166 |
BOHEMIAN garnets set in 10k
yellow gold pinkie ring, illegible hallmark inside, size 3-3/4.
View #G31380 |
RING of Bohemian garnets in
gilt setting, size 7-1/2.
View
View #G29424 |
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RING yellow gold, opals,
diamonds and seed pearl ring, size 8 .
View #G29423 |
RING 14k tested yellow gold and
opal ring, three oval stones, circa 1900, size 7-1/2, opal portion 1/4" by
1/2". View
#G50991/5 |
14K yellow gold Edwardian ring with opals and mine cut
diamonds, size 7-1/8. View
#G28762
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Girls rings, boys rings, baby rings.
Signet rings, highly carved and plain designs. Priced in the catalogue
from $ .75 to $16.00 each.
Daniel Low
& Co., 1901 |
SIGNET 14k
yellow gold ring with medical "Caducaus" entwined snake, size 5-3/4.
View #K23878 |
10k "Solid gold" finger rings. Priced in the catalogue from $1.50 to
$25.00 each.
Daniel Low
& Co., 1901 |
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RING
14k gold morning glory embossed size 3-3/4 ring.
View #K24930 |
FINE solid gold 10k plump engraved band rings.
All rings with the letter "A" prefixed to number are 8K fine.
A.C. Becken Catalogue, 1902 |
VICTORIAN 10k yellow gold
wedding band size 8-1/2. #G23204 |
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EDWARDIAN 14k
yellow gold amethyst and seed pearl ring, circa 1910, size 5-1/2.
View #G26297 |
EDWARDIAN 14k yellow gold ruby and diamond ring, circa 1910, size 7-3/4.
View #G26295 |
EDWARDIAN 14k yellow gold sapphire and seed pearl ring, circa 1910, size 7-1/2.
View #G26299 |
Circa 1910-1930
The popularity of platinum and white gold, and
with it filigree work, set the tone for this era. Also popular were
unusually-shaped stones, rubies and sapphires as well as diamonds.
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FILIGREE 19k white gold
filigree ring with approximately 1/3 ct diamond center, broken sapphire
sides, size 6-1/2. View #V31478 |
14k DIAMOND
white gold filigree approximately .25 ct diamond ring, size 5-1/4.
View #G23958 |
EDWARDIAN platinum
tested 1-1/6" wide band set all around with tiny single cut diamonds, size 7-1/2. #V31479 |
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FILIGREE 14k white gold
filigree ring with rubies and a small diamond, circa 1910, size 6-1/2,
measures 7/8" across front.
View #G32342 |
EDWARDIAN 14k white gold filigree ring with keystone shaped rubies,
marked "14k" inside the band, circa 1910, size 5-1/4, measures 3/4"
across front. View
#G26300 |
DECO 14k white gold ring
with rubies and diamonds ring, size 6-1/2. Hallmarked "ECI" inside
the band.
View #G28480
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14k GOLD signet ring with nude lady
on each side, initials engraved on top.
View |
"Signet rings in 10k and 14k gold."
JR Wood & Sons, 1919 Catalogue,
Page 119 |
VICTORIAN
14k gold ring with three gypsy-set diamonds, size 9-3/4.
View #G21499
SIGNET RING Gold shell (gold filled) with shield shaped front, not
engraved. It is a size 10-1/4, and has scrolls designs on the shank.
#G6246
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Cameo and
Intaglio Rings
Dating cameo rings can be facilitated by both the
setting and the carving of the pieces. Classic faces, harking back to
Greek and Roman mythology, characterize many rings of this period.
Comparing the settings with other Victorian rings also helps determine
age.
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VICTORIAN 14k yellow gold
hard stone cameo ring (one side with tiny chip) with diamonds, size 8-1/4.
View #K28038 |
"Real stone cameo" ring. |
VICTORIAN 14k yellow gold
black and white cameo ring, size 8-1/2.
View #K28039 |
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CAMEO ring,
a family piece brought back from Italy after WWI. This classic style goes
back to Victorian times.
View
View #G22928 |
CORAL 10k
yellow gold ring with coral cameo, 1-1/8" by 1/2" front, circa
1900. A ring like this can be seen on page 65 of Romero's Warman's
Jewelry, Ed. 3 on page 65.
View #G50651 |
VICTORIAN large and unusual shell cameo
of a lady holding a torch set in 10k yellow gold (tested) ring, marked inside "JHW 901 __
core", size
6-1/2.
View
View #G29636 |
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10K
yellow gold purple intaglio ring, size 8-1/2.
View #G25980 |
"Fine solid gold and stone rings."
Onyx, Intaglio, Cameo, Amethyst, Blood Stone, Tiger Eye
Note the wide decorated shanks and heavier look of these rings.
E.V. Roddin Catalogue,
1887-1889 |
14K
yellow gold oval intaglio Edwardian ring, circa 1910, size 7.
View #G50474 |
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RING 14k yellow gold and carnelian intaglio
ring depicting "Justice" holding her scales, an unusual motif, size 8-1/4
it is 3/4"
at the widest point on the front.
View #G31973 |
VICTORIAN karat gold and
intaglio signet ring, size 6-3/4, 1/2" front.
View #V29841 |
CAMEO ring, plastic cameo and marcasites set in silver tone jeweler's metal,
circa 1930. View #Y60640 |
Modern Rings in
Vintage Styles
Both the rings below are 1960-1990 settings, and
both have older centerpieces. The Japanese "kashira" and the Old
European cut diamond date to the 1800s. With the popularity of vintage
styles, many new rings are available with the older stones and
settings.... filigrees, older diamond cuts and even all-out
reproductions. Here is where the privilege of handling many older pieces
many be the best way to determine dates as some of the copies are very
convincing. There is of course nothing wrong with buying vintage style
rings... the diamond below belonged to my grandmother and I wanted it
set with a period flair... but it is good to know which is genuinely old
and which modern.
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JAPANESE 10k yellow gold shank
and base ring with Japanese Samuri sword kashira with gilt carved dragon
motif, ring size 7-1/2. The kashira which is probably comprised of copper and a
small amount of gold, measures 1-1/3" by 2/3"wide.
View
View #G29510 |
14k GOLD and
approximately 1 ct. Old European cut diamond ring in antique style 14k yellow and white gold setting.
Diamond is circa 1900, setting is a contemporary one in a vintage style.
View
View View
#Glkh |
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