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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Jewelry & Gems / Beautiful Vintage Ring with 0.45 ct Diamond Solitaire in White Gold
The year 1999 promised a fresh start and optimism. London was preparing for a new millennium. The city was undergoing a transformation; the Millennium Bridge and the new Tate Modern were about to open, and the British capital was marked by an atmosphere in which tradition and the future were equally present. At the same time, Prince’s anthem 1999 was playing everywhere, providing the turn of the year with its unmistakable soundtrack. This solitaire diamond ring stems from that era, yet it does not rely on fleeting trends but rather on a design that transcends the moment. Today, the solitaire diamond ring is considered the classic engagement ring. According to tradition, its origins date back to 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring as an engagement gift. In fact, however, a wide variety of engagement and wedding rings were worn over the centuries. The “fede” ring, featuring two hands reaching toward each other, was already common in antiquity and remained popular well into the early modern era. In 1839, Queen Victoria received a ring from Prince Albert in the shape of a snake, whose body winding around her finger was considered a symbol of eternity. It was not until the late 19th century that the image of the modern solitaire ring emerged. In 1886, Charles Lewis Tiffany developed the famous Tiffany setting, in which the diamond hovers high above the ring band and can capture light from all sides. This principle continues to define the appearance of the classic engagement ring to this day. Since its design has remained virtually unchanged for more than a century, dating is usually based on technical details such as the alloys used, the hallmarks, or the execution of the brilliant cut. This ring also follows this timeless design. A simple ring band made of high-karat white gold features a finely crafted prong setting in the shape of a stylized flower calyx. It lifts the central brilliant-cut diamond—weighing approximately 0.45 carats—above the finger, allowing light to penetrate the stone almost unimpeded. The deliberate absence of additional decorative elements draws the eye entirely to the diamond. It is precisely this design restraint that has made the solitaire ring a symbol of lasting commitment for generations and explains why its form has lost none of its allure, even well beyond the year 1999.
Estimate:$1,695.28
To the auctionView all items fromHofer AntikschmuckorJewelry & Gems
Estimate:
$1,695.28
JOHN HENRY WYNN, AN EARLY 20TH CENTURY GOLD SNAKE RING
07/16/2026
$511.06
Est: $796.71
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