Metal: 22K Gold (tests throughout)

Stone: Agate 

Size: 6

Era: 1550 - 1620

What You Should Know: Inscribed with "Memento Mori" around center stone.

*This ring is resizable, but we do not suggest resizing as it is a museum quality piece. 

Often the age old phrase “They don’t make them like they used to” can be aptly applied. When thinking about how jewelry was made throughout history, while simultaneously considering the lack of modern technology and education, it’s pretty amazing how beautiful antique pieces can be. It is a true artform that takes a creator with extreme attention to detail and a specific skill set. Even more so during the Renaissance Period when jewelers had to forge every step by hand.

In the 1500’s there was a gold-smithing technique that is sadly considered a lost art in our current age. Gold was placed into a melting pot made out of charcoal and heated until it was transformed into granules. It would then be applied to gold and formed and molded into the desired shape. Molten gold could have also been dripped onto a marble slab and shaped there. While this doesn’t seem like a very sophisticated method, the degree to which some melting pot pieces aesthetically stun us pale in comparison to other approaches. These artisans were far more skilled than many modern craftsmen, while having very little resources available. The melting pot granule approach was one of the first metalsmithing methods, and has it’s own unique beauty.

This remarkable gold and agate ring hails from circa 1600. The sunny high karat gold is the richest pieces of gold we’ve come across. The melting pot used to fashion this incredible piece has an extraordinary mark of history and while the gold has a uniform and impressive shape, it does have a special handmade and molded feel. A multi colored banded agate is set into the gold, with a white stripe through the center perfecting the look of this 400 year old adornment. The words “Memento Mori” are carved around the stone, which translates from Latin to “remembrance that we must die”. Most memento mori pieces on the market today come from periods much later than when this ring was made simply adding more appeal to the rareness of this work of art. A jaw dropping piece if we do say so ourselves.