Antique 1890s Late Victorian Almandite Garnet, Seed Pearl, and 9k Yellow Gold, Pearl Halo Ring Size 6.5

Crafted during the Victorian era's Aesthetic Period, this stunning ring features a 1.10-carat oval-cut almandite garnet prong-set in 9K yellow gold and surrounded by 12 radiant natural and imitation seed pearls. The open back of the garnet allows light to shine through, enhancing the stone's inner glow that garnets are known for. A lovely antique ring for January birthdays!

The name garnet derives from the Latin word granatum, which means pomegranate. Garnet is the stone of fire, Mars, and Scorpio. The vibrant red hues of garnet associated it with blood in Medieval times and were thought to cure many circulatory ailments and aid the liver in expelling toxins. Garnet‘s virtues are true friendship, passion, success, self-esteem, and fidelity, making it a famous stone for betrothal in past eras. They promoted confidence, making them a favorite gemstone among ancient warriors. Some even believe pyrope garnets are inside the Ark of the Covenant.

To learn more about the jewelry of the late-Victorian era, read our blog post here.

The ring is in very good antique condition with minor signs of wear. The garnet‘s surface shows a few tiny pits from years of wear, but nothing noticeable or distracting. All but one of the seed pearls are replacements and imitation pearls. There are a few small areas of glue peeking out from behind the pearls. The gold shows fine lines, and one dark mark on the shank‘s inside is from a previous acid test. The ring is not stamped or marked.

The ring is a size 6.5 and could be sized. The almandite garnet measures 7.2 mm x 5.8 mm x 3.2 mm and weighs 2.49 grams. The box is for display only.