A cool gold family crest intaglio signet ring. It was crafted in 21K gold and dates to the early 20th century. The oval bezel is intricately engraved with a crest depicting a palm tree. The rope/twisted fabric underneath the palm tree is known as a ‘torse’ and it indicates that this palm tree represents a heraldic crest, not just a regular palm tree decorated onto the ring. The ‘crest’ motif forms the uppermost part of a family coat of arms, and it was common to show the family crest alone on smaller pieces of jewellery.

According to Fairbairn’s book of crests, several families employ a palm tree on their crest; namely the Bellasis, Blagrove, Cairns, Dyxton and Fleming families. However, the most notable coat of arms with a palm tree in the crest belonged to Arthur James Balfour of Whittingehame who was Prime Minister of the UK between 1902 and 1905, and later became the 1st Earl of Balfour.

UK size O 1/2, US size 7.5

The ring weighs 10.19 grams of solid 21K gold. The face measures 13mm north to south and the band measures 3mm across at the back. The ring is unmarked but tests as 21K gold.

The Edwardian era of jewellery, named after King Edward VII, spanned from 1901 to 1910, although stylistically it is often extended through to 1914. Edwardian jewellery was characterised by a move away from the large and ostentatious jewellery pieces of the Victorian era towards smaller and more refined pieces. Delicate and feminine designs were popular, featuring lace-like filigree work and floral motifs. Platinum became increasingly popular as a metal of choice and the use of colour in jewellery decreased, with the focus on the brilliance of diamonds and the elegance of pearls. The pieces were light, intricate, and eminently elegant, and are perfect for anyone looking for a touch of refined glamour.

DELIVERY

We are pleased to offer free worldwide shipping on all our orders. We dispatch all items via a secure and trackable delivery service providing full insurance for your item. You will receive a shipping confirmation email after purchase with your tracking number so that you know your order is on its way. We aim to dispatch all items within 1-2 working days after payment has been received.

For UK delivery, we send with Royal Mail Special Delivery, arriving by the next working day. For International orders over £1000 we use DHL Express International, and for orders under £1000 we use Royal Mail International Tracked and Signed. All items are sent fully insured.

You can find more information about our shipping policy here.

RETURNS

We understand that purchasing antique jewellery online can be a daunting task, which is why we offer an easy, no-hassle returns policy. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, simply get in touch within 14 days of receipt for a full refund, no questions asked. We want our customers to feel confident when buying from us, and our returns policy is just one way we ensure this.

Conditions: Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. All items are to be returned in their original condition and packaging. Buyer damaged items and items bought on layaway are ineligible for returns. Items over £2500 can be returned for store credit only.

You can find more information about our returns policy here.