Nephrite Jade Ring, Baden Foss, circa 1950s

A large oval cabochon of translucent seafoam green jadeite jade is surrounded by 16 luminous natural pearls in this ever-stylish 14K white gold halo ring from the early 1950s. The jade stone is natural and untreated and displays a high degree of translucency. Which is why this jade ring looks spectacular whether it is in direct sunshine, or just barely illuminated by the waning light of a nearby window. The luminous jade stone changes its appearance throughout the day, as the light changes. The jade cabochon measures 14.5mm x 9.19mm Seafoam green was pointedly on-trend in the 1950s when this ring was hand-fabricated. The pearls surrounding the jade are at least partially drilled —possibly they are drilled all the way through; I can't tell because of how they are set in the mounting. At least one and probably all of the pearls are natural, un-cultured saltwater pearls. They are older than the ring itself. It's not unusual to encounter repurposed jewelry...

Perfectly unisex and exceedingly rare, this is an original Gump's San Francisco jade ring featuring an oval cabochon of natural and untreated white jadeite jade set into a hand-crafted 18k yellow gold mounting. The original Gump's of San Francisco was an iconic retailer known worldwide for their spectacular and always, always untreated natural jade jewelry...