A scarce antique Indian talismanic gold Navaratna ring dating from the late 19th to early 20th century.

A navratna is composed of nine gems that represent the nine cosmic influences from the Hindu system of astrology. This combination of nine gems has been regarded as sacred and royal in many Asian countries since ancient times. The ruby at the centre represents the sun, surrounded by diamond (or in this case, quartz) as Venus, pearl as the moon, red coral as Mars, hessonite as Ragu (the ascending lunar node), sapphire as Saturn, cat's eye chrysoberyl as Ketu (the descending lunar node), yellow sapphire as Jupiter and emerald as Mercury.

The floral gem-set cluster sits flat and curves around the finger nicely. In this example, the precious gemstones are set in closed-back bezel settings. The ring band is crafted in solid high-karat gold whilst the bezel is hollow, crafted from sheets of gold of the same fineness.

UK size K 1/2, US size 5.5

The ring weighs 7.36 grams, and tests as 20K gold. The ring is in wearable condition and all the stones are securely set, however the craftsmanship is somewhat crudely done which gives the ring its humble and unassuming appearance. It is clear that the ring was made for an ordinary person without the means to purchase the finest quality stones.

The face measures 28mm north to south, and 23mm east to west. The largest stone, the ruby in the centre, measures 7mm by 4mm on its longest axes. The yellow gold has a beautiful and warm patina.

According to Oppi Untracht in his book ‘Traditional Jewelry of India’ (1997), the proper construction of a navaratna ring can take a very long time, ‘before commissioning such a ring from a goldsmith, one first brings the selected stones to a priest, who blesses them. At an auspicious time, they are then given to a goldsmith who will set thing in high-karat gold. According to orthodox practice, when the gold setting is ready, each of the stones corresponding to a planet is set in the correct order of priority and position, at a time auspicious for the planet. If this procedure is followed, the process might take more than a year to complete.

The Victorian era was a period of great change and innovation in the world of jewellery. Spanning from 1837 to 1901, the era witnessed an explosion of styles from romantic and sentimental to Gothic and grotesque. The use of jet, onyx, and coral in mourning jewellery became popular after the death of Prince Albert in 1861. The discovery of diamond mines in South Africa in 1867 led to an increase in the use of diamonds in jewellery, as well as the popularity of more elaborate gemstone cuts such as the cushion, rose, and old mine cuts.

Victorian jewellery was also notable for its use of complex symbolism, such as snake motifs that represented eternal love or the use of flowers to convey hidden meanings. The jewellery made in this era featured the finest materials and was made by highly skilled craftsmen, making it some of the most desirable antique jewellery for its unique charm and fine quality.

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.