Victorian Sapphire Carved Half-Hoop

Victorian Sapphire Carved Half-HoopStunning Victorian carved half hoop ring, circa 1880. It's set with 3 beautiful blue sapphires, with rows of old cut diamonds either side each gem (6 diamonds total). It features a beautifully engraved scrollwork gallery and is crafted in 18 carat yellow gold throughout. These rings have been made and engraved by hand in Hatton Garden, London's famous jewellery district, for well over 150 years, the technique having been passed down generations of

With brass fittings

it's a naturalistic take on the common housefly

Head: 6mm by 5mm

inspiring jewellers (notably Castellani) to produce replicas of these ancient treasures in the archaeological revival style - often as commissions from European royalty

) natural star ruby (origin opinion: Burma) and two 6pt brilliant cut diamonds

Head size: 18mm by 16mm

bursting with rainbow colours and incorporating parts of the ironstone rock matrix

Marks: Stamped 14k AK

cut into perfect elongated teardrops

Incidentally

representing beauty and fertility

known as ‘forty-niners’