Metal: High Karat Gold (22K tests throughout)

Stone: Table Cut Diamond (Est. 1.1ctw)

Size: 7

Face Size: 7.2mm x 7.6mm

Era: 1550 - 1620

What You Should Know: Diamond is in a closed back setting. Band is slightly worn on back due to age. Diamond and ring in great condition, no evidence of repair or resizing.

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

When we found this incredibly rare diamond ring dating back to the Renaissance, we knew we were holding a piece of history. This piece undoubtedly has a heavily storied past as it’s at least four centuries old. Having survived multiple wars, industrial advancements, monarchies, and presumably owners, the biography of such an important ring is both long and fascinating. Reminiscent of ones found in museums, this antique ring is an impeccable example of Renaissance craftsmanship and style. A table cut diamond sits in a high carat gold rubbed over closed back setting on a simple matching shank.

Table cut diamonds were one of the first innovations in the stone cutting trade. In the 15th century, it was discovered that you could shape a diamond with diamond dust, and soon after point cuts were cleaved in half to create the original table cuts. This was the introduction into understanding how cut affected light refraction and therefore the foundation of all modern cutting techniques. The table cut was the primary cut in rings throughout the Renaissance, replaced by the rose cut in the 1700s. Both men and women wore rings (Henry VIII was a big fan) during the 16th century, often one on each finger. We mostly learn of these rings through paintings; to acquire one that has survived, especially in a magnificent condition such as this, is phenomenal. A truly timeless classic diamond solitaire.