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This very rare and unusual ring was made in Poland and dates from the early 20th century, circa 1920. It is crafted in gold and iron and set with a sapphire intaglio. The sapphire has been masterfully engraved to depict the ‘Jastrzębiec’ coat of arms - one of Polands oldest ‘Szlachta’ families dating back to the 10th century.
A Szlachta family refers to members of the Polish nobility in the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. These families had special privileges, such as owning land, holding government positions, and being exempt from taxes. Szlachta were often knights, landowners, or officials, and they played a key role in politics and society.
This signet ring is rather extraordinary based on the peculiar pairing of an exquisite 7ct sapphire and heavy gold with the seemingly inferior metal iron casing. The reason for this marriage is a particularly symbolic one which relates to the unique history of the noble Jastrzębiec clan.
The family coat of arms is decorated with a horseshoe and cross, and there is a fascinating and relevant story behind the origin of this design.
The story goes back to the year 999AD, in the era of King Bolesław the Brave. It is said that a siege took place atop a steep mountain, in which a group of Christian soldiers were not able to climb it to fight the pagan foes residing inside the fortress, due to the difficult and slippery terrain. The pagans mockingly challenged them to “send forth one from among you who is willing to fight for Christ, in a challenge against one of our men". Moved by the fervour of faith and the praise of God, Jastrzebczyk, a knightly member of the Jastrzebiec clan, bravely accepted the challenge. According to the legend, he had just invented the first horseshoe, and after having equipped his horse with its iron hooves, he forced his way up the mountain where he was able to defeat the pagan champion. He then equipped all the other hooves of the cavalry and they were able to take over the fortress. Following the battle, the King bestowed on him this coat of arms, with the horseshoe and cross symbol you see engraved onto the sapphire.
Today, the iron horseshoe is central to the Jastrzębiec identity, and symbolises strength and resilience. Therefore, the use of an iron casing for this gold signet ring pays homage to the roots and history of the ancient house.
Interestingly, iron jewelry is typically associated with Prussian culture, particularly during the early 19th century. Prussian iron jewelry became popular during the Napoleonic Wars as a patriotic response to encourage citizens to donate precious metals to fund the war effort. In exchange for gold, you would receive iron jewellery as a symbol of sacrifice and loyalty to the state. However the age of this ring, in addition to Poland’s complex relationship with Prussia (and later Germany) makes it very unlikely that this is a patriotic Prussian ring, especially since the Jastrzębiec family, like many Polish nobles, would have been more aligned with Polish nationalism.
The signet ring is set with a large sapphire, engraved with the noble Jastrzębiec arms. Blue sapphires have long been associated with aristocracy, wisdom, and protection, making it a fitting choice to represent this Szlachta family lineage. This carved sapphire intaglio would have been used to make wax seals for important deeds and letters regarding family affairs. The sapphire is probably a ‘verneuil’ sapphire and it weighs approximately 7cts. The word ‘verneuil’ comes from the Parisian chemist Auguste Verneuil who developed the flame fusion process to create synthetic sapphires in 1909. During the period in which this signet ring was made, lab-grown sapphires were a relatively new phenomenon, and only recently made available commercially. Therefore this ring was somewhat of a novelty in its day, not to mention that in this period lab sapphires cost more than their mined counterparts!
The ring would have been made just after World War I and the re-establishment of Poland’s independence in 1918, a period when there was a strong resurgence in Polish national pride. The ring’s iron casing reflecting this newfound nationalism and the desire to reconnect with Poland’s noble past.
UK ring size K, US size 5.25
The ring weighs a good 14.31 grams, the gold interior tests as 14K gold. The octagonal bezel measures 15mm x 12mm. The ring face measures 18mm north to south at the front, and the band is 8mm across at the back. The ring remains in great condition, the sapphire is securely set with no visible surface scratches.
This very rare and unusual ring was made in Poland and dates from the early 20th century, circa 1920. It is crafted in gold and iron and set with a sapphire intaglio. The sapphire has been masterfully engraved to depict the ‘Jastrzębiec’ coat of arms - one of Polands oldest ‘Szlachta’ families dating back to the 10th century.
A Szlachta family refers to members of the Polish nobility in the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. These families had special privileges, such as owning land, holding government positions, and being exempt from taxes. Szlachta were often knights, landowners, or officials, and they played a key role in politics and society.
This signet ring is rather extraordinary based on the peculiar pairing of an exquisite 7ct sapphire and heavy gold with the seemingly inferior metal iron casing. The reason for this marriage is a particularly symbolic one which relates to the unique history of the noble Jastrzębiec clan.
The family coat of arms is decorated with a horseshoe and cross, and there is a fascinating and relevant story behind the origin of this design.
The story goes back to the year 999AD, in the era of King Bolesław the Brave. It is said that a siege took place atop a steep mountain, in which a group of Christian soldiers were not able to climb it to fight the pagan foes residing inside the fortress, due to the difficult and slippery terrain. The pagans mockingly challenged them to “send forth one from among you who is willing to fight for Christ, in a challenge against one of our men". Moved by the fervour of faith and the praise of God, Jastrzebczyk, a knightly member of the Jastrzebiec clan, bravely accepted the challenge. According to the legend, he had just invented the first horseshoe, and after having equipped his horse with its iron hooves, he forced his way up the mountain where he was able to defeat the pagan champion. He then equipped all the other hooves of the cavalry and they were able to take over the fortress. Following the battle, the King bestowed on him this coat of arms, with the horseshoe and cross symbol you see engraved onto the sapphire.
Today, the iron horseshoe is central to the Jastrzębiec identity, and symbolises strength and resilience. Therefore, the use of an iron casing for this gold signet ring pays homage to the roots and history of the ancient house.
Interestingly, iron jewelry is typically associated with Prussian culture, particularly during the early 19th century. Prussian iron jewelry became popular during the Napoleonic Wars as a patriotic response to encourage citizens to donate precious metals to fund the war effort. In exchange for gold, you would receive iron jewellery as a symbol of sacrifice and loyalty to the state. However the age of this ring, in addition to Poland’s complex relationship with Prussia (and later Germany) makes it very unlikely that this is a patriotic Prussian ring, especially since the Jastrzębiec family, like many Polish nobles, would have been more aligned with Polish nationalism.
The signet ring is set with a large sapphire, engraved with the noble Jastrzębiec arms. Blue sapphires have long been associated with aristocracy, wisdom, and protection, making it a fitting choice to represent this Szlachta family lineage. This carved sapphire intaglio would have been used to make wax seals for important deeds and letters regarding family affairs. The sapphire is probably a ‘verneuil’ sapphire and it weighs approximately 7cts. The word ‘verneuil’ comes from the Parisian chemist Auguste Verneuil who developed the flame fusion process to create synthetic sapphires in 1909. During the period in which this signet ring was made, lab-grown sapphires were a relatively new phenomenon, and only recently made available commercially. Therefore this ring was somewhat of a novelty in its day, not to mention that in this period lab sapphires cost more than their mined counterparts!
The ring would have been made just after World War I and the re-establishment of Poland’s independence in 1918, a period when there was a strong resurgence in Polish national pride. The ring’s iron casing reflecting this newfound nationalism and the desire to reconnect with Poland’s noble past.
UK ring size K, US size 5.25
The ring weighs a good 14.31 grams, the gold interior tests as 14K gold. The octagonal bezel measures 15mm x 12mm. The ring face measures 18mm north to south at the front, and the band is 8mm across at the back. The ring remains in great condition, the sapphire is securely set with no visible surface scratches.
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