About this Piece
| Size: | 7 |
| Length: | Just under 3/4” |
| Width: | Just over 1/2” |
| Material: | Tests for gold-filled, glass |
| Weight: | 5.1 grams |
| Mark: | No mark |
| Era: | Victorian |
Why You’ll Love It
Dark, bold, and timeless. The edgy look of this Victorian ring has the unique organic-looking patterning of natural bloodstone, yet it is glass. The skillful and intentional craftsmanship of the glass makes this piece an eye-catching find. Set in gold filled with a rosy hue and split shank details to the band, this piece's subtle yet sophisticated craftsmanship comes alive and is ready for your favorite ring finger.
Condition and Quality
| ● | Bright patina with minimal surface wear to the setting. No dents. |
| ● | Fresh sheen, with a few tiny chips along the edge of the glass. |
| ● | Secure, original band. The band was resized at some point and is not original. |
On Glass Made to Emulate Gemstones. Glass has long been used by jewelers to simulate natural gemstones. For instance, during the Georgian era, black dot paste is a term that refers to a style of glass that was made to simulate the sparkle of natural diamonds. But in the 1940s, the use of glass to simulate gemstones ramped up more than ever before. World War II constrained both fine materials and pocketbooks, so more and more designers (including high-end designers) focused on glass to re-create the distinctive properties of different gems. High-end designers thus began making costume glass jewelry - but with the same attention to detail, high craftsmanship, and design skill that was applied to fine jewelry.
On Victorian. A young Queen Victoria assumed her role in 1837 and her taste in jewelry quickly became culturally influential, within England and beyond. Her relationship to jewelry was enmeshed with her husband, Prince Albert, who gifted the Queen for their engagement, a snake ring, embedded with an emerald (her birthstone) in its head. Continuing from the Georgian era and intensified by Queen Victoria’s taste, sentimental and figural jewelry was a major trend throughout the Victorian era. When certain ideas and words were deemed too forward or improper to be spoken, jewelry and symbolic meaning was used to communicate what was left unsaid.