Large Ring in a Historic Style with Sapphires and Diamonds, ca. 1985

The world at the turn of the century was a world of glamour, luxury, and beautiful appearances. On the boulevards of the major cities, in the cafés and cabarets, the studios and galleries, the concert halls and salons, the bourgeoisie and the nobility, bohemians, and all those who, at some point during the turn of the century, had decided to devote themselves to pleasure from then on, gathered together. Until the outbreak of the war, this torrent of celebrations, light, and entertainment continued, sweeping through all of Europe—from London to St. Petersburg, from Copenhagen to Rome. The design of this vintage ring follows the typical style of jewellery from that era. Everything about it is elegant, tasteful, and at the same time light and artful. The precision with which this piece of jewellery was crafted is particularly evident in the details. It begins with three dark blue cabochon-cut sapphires. They are set in high-karat gold and arranged perpendicular to the finger, aligned with the ring band. Running parallel to the finger, intertwined bands of diamonds set in silver lie beneath the sapphires: they form an endless, intertwined band—a grand “love knot” in the tradition of the turn of the century. Despite its impressive size, the ring face is flat, making the ring comfortable to wear. All parts are handcrafted, just as with turn-of-the-century jewellery. However, some details reveal that the ring must have been created later. C. 1900, 8/8 cuts were still uncommon as the sole setting for a piece of jewellery, and the airy design of the lower setting would have looked slightly different during the Belle Époque—more dense and with smaller details. We discovered this ring here in Berlin. It was most likely made in the 1980s, when jewellery in historical styles was once again all the rage.

Estimate:$2,122.39

View all items fromHofer AntikschmuckorJewelry & Gems