DESCRIPTION

- A beautiful antique Victorian red leather ring box from R.L. Christie lined with cream-coloured silk and velvet (R.L. Christie is one of the longest-established names in silver and jewellery within Scotland, operating since 1821). It opens and closes with a small brass hook and eye closure. This ring box (estimated circa the mid-late 1800s) would complement an engagement or wedding ring beautifully.

MARKS

On the interior, in black lettering:

“R.L.CHRISTIE,

17.18.19&20.BANK S^T.

EDINBURGH.”

Some relevant dates:

- The company founded by John McKenzie in 1821 in the heart of Edinburgh as jewellers and hardware merchants

- It was passed down to his daughter and her husband, Robert Livingstone Christie, by 1853. They re-branded as “R.L. Christie Watchmaker & Jewellers” and moved to the iconic gallery and workshop at 17 - 20 Bank Street

MEASUREMENTS

- Diameter: Approx. 30.6 mm

- Height: Approx. 33.5 mm

- The ring slot can accommodate a ring with a narrow to medium-width band (up to approx. 4.1 mm) 

CONDITION 

- Overall, the ring box is in excellent antique condition and still enjoyable for many more years to come. It bears signs of wear commensurate with age and use. Surfaces have marks and scratches that one would expect in a piece of this age. These ‘imperfections’ add character to the piece rather than take away from it

- There is minor wear to the leather

- The interior is clean and does not have any unpleasant scent

- The hinge, eye and hook closure are all intact. The ring box opens and closes well 

- There is minor tarnishing on the brass hardware

- All of the above are shown in the photos provided. The condition of this ring box has been taken into consideration and reflected in the listed price

- There is no visible evidence of a previous repair or restoration 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

- Antique handcrafted jewelry boxes are highly desirable and sought after. They are becoming more scarce, which means they are very likely to increase in value. They can vary in price with some ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars 

- Much like antique/vintage jewelry, jewelry boxes also require some extra care to maintain their beauty and longevity. Some helpful tips:

   - Always handle boxes with clean and dry hands, as oil, dirt, and sweat can leave marks or damage the leather/silk/velvet, etc.

   - Avoid storing your boxes in direct sunlight as it can cause materials (such as leather) to dry and crack, fade in colour, etc.

- All props, including jewelry and other jewelry boxes, are for styling purposes only. They are not included in the listing unless specifically stated otherwise

- The item's condition is subjective. Please take your time to look through the photos, as they further inform the condition and form part of the extended description

- Please refer to the listed dimensions for an accurate sense of the item’s size, as zoomed images can disproportionately represent the size of an item

- All images are taken in natural light and are not edited. However, actual colours may vary slightly from your monitor. This is due to computer monitors displaying colours differently and everyone can see these colours differently