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A fine and increasingly scarce early 18th century seven-stone diamond ring, dating to circa 1700 and likely produced in Western Europe, probably Germany. Executed in high karat gold and silver, the ring is a particularly strong example of late Baroque jewellery design, retaining the sculptural domed profile and dramatic raised collet settings associated with the period.The arrangement follows the classic seven-stone “bow” formation popular from the late 17th century onwards. During the Baroque era, ribbon bows became an essential decorative motif in aristocratic dress and jewellery, inspiring a wide range of ornaments including Sévigné brooches and bow-shaped rings such as this example.The central table-cut diamond is mounted within a raised silver collet with delicate pie-crust edging and engraved decoration, surrounded by six rose cut diamonds in bulbous conical settings. All stones are closed-back and foil-backed, a characteristic Georgian and pre-Georgian technique intended to maximise brilliance under candlelight. The use of silver over gold for diamond settings reflects changing tastes around 1700, when jewellers increasingly believed white metal best enhanced the appearance of diamonds.The ring tests as approximately 18K gold with silver settings. Later French import hallmarks indicate the ring entered France at a later date. Ring size N 1/2 (US size 7). Weight: 3 grams. Head measures approximately 14 x 8mm. Side stones approximately 2mm diameter.Condition is good overall for age, with evidence of historic resizing to the reverse of the shank. The diamonds retain lively scintillation and the ring remains highly wearable.Comparable examples may be found in the British Museum collections (AF.1590, AF.1444, AF.1574), and the Rijksmuseum collections (BK-NM-5751, 5752, 5755).
A fine and increasingly scarce early 18th century seven-stone diamond ring, dating to circa 1700 and likely produced in Western Europe, probably Germany. Executed in high karat gold and silver, the ring is a particularly strong example of late Baroque jewellery design, retaining the sculptural domed profile and dramatic raised collet settings associated with the period.
The arrangement follows the classic seven-stone “bow” formation popular from the late 17th century onwards. During the Baroque era, ribbon bows became an essential decorative motif in aristocratic dress and jewellery, inspiring a wide range of ornaments including Sévigné brooches and bow-shaped rings such as this example.
The central table-cut diamond is mounted within a raised silver collet with delicate pie-crust edging and engraved decoration, surrounded by six rose cut diamonds in bulbous conical settings. All stones are closed-back and foil-backed, a characteristic Georgian and pre-Georgian technique intended to maximise brilliance under candlelight. The use of silver over gold for diamond settings reflects changing tastes around 1700, when jewellers increasingly believed white metal best enhanced the appearance of diamonds.
The ring tests as approximately 18K gold with silver settings. Later French import hallmarks indicate the ring entered France at a later date. Ring size N 1/2 (US size 7). Weight: 3 grams. Head measures approximately 14 x 8mm. Side stones approximately 2mm diameter.
Condition is good overall for age, with evidence of historic resizing to the reverse of the shank. The diamonds retain lively scintillation and the ring remains highly wearable.
Comparable examples may be found in the British Museum collections (AF.1590, AF.1444, AF.1574), and the Rijksmuseum collections (BK-NM-5751, 5752, 5755).
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