French Antique Art Nouveau 18K Gold Sapphire Cabochon Ring

This stunning antique cluster ring was made in France and dates to around the mid 19th century, circa 1860. In the centre rests a smooth banded agate in an open back setting, encircled by a halo of rose cut diamonds in closed-back, cutdown silver settings with a combined approximate weight of 0.15 carats. The ring has a decorative pierced gallery in the form of crescents and a solid semi-circular shank. The shoulders are decorated with two applied fleur-de-lis, each set with rose cut diamonds in silver settings. The main colour of the milky agate is a creamy-brown hue with a darker brown band on one side. The diamonds are rose cut, the triangular facets of these cuts were very popular during the Georgian and Victorian periods as they glistened more beautifully in candlelight than any other cut. This elegant ring sits flat on the finger, the stones are secure in their settings and the ring is in superb condition despite its significant age, a truly rare find! UK size U / US size 10, 5.44g, French ’tête...

This incredibly ornate piece was made in Siam during the late Ayutthaya or early Rattanakosin Kingdom period. It dates to the late 18th and is a very rare example of a ceremonial ‘mondop’ or ‘pagoda’ ring. These rings were made for the monarchy and aristocratic class of Siam to be worn as part of the lavish adornment paraphernalia used in ceremonies. These elaborate rings were subsequently given as gifts to important visitors or other aristocratic families. A similar example is found in Musée National du Château de Fontainebleau and was originally presented to Napoléon-III by the ambassadors of King Mongkut of Siam (Rama IV) alongside hundreds of other lavish gifts in order to re-establish diplomatic relations between France and Siam in 1861. Among these gifts are old jewels from King Mongkut’s treasury, including the gold diamond mondop/pagoda ring (see photos). During this visit, the son of the Siamese ambassador, Khoumsombat, is photographed wearing a very similar tiered mondop ring with what also appears to be a ruby cabochon at the top (see photos). A ‘mondop’ is the tiered roof of a temple, for example that of Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok, and is designed to be in the shape of the image of Buddha. The top tier of this ring features a bezel set star ruby cabochon while the rest of the bezel is covered with diamonds. The two outermost tiers rotate and are connected to the main body of the ring with a bifurcated rivet visible on the closed-back underside of the bezel, typical ornamentation of 18th century layered cluster rings. The arched shoulders are equally as ornate with bezel set rub over diamonds, emeralds and rubies appearing between foliate motifs and protruding serpent-esque decoration. The underside and outershank display bright red and green floral enamelling often seen on naga rings...

A beautifully enamelled Royal monogram ‘cypher’ presentation ring of Prince Arthur William, Duke of Connaught and Strathern. It was made around 1905 and crafted in 18K gold. It would have started life as a royal presentation lapel pin and has since been converted into a ring. The cypher features crimson and ivory enamel and is placed below an intricate coronet with fleurs-de-lis and crosses pattée, the coronets used by children or grandchildren of the British sovereign...

A superb example of early 20th-century French jewellery, this Art Deco period ring truly embodies the elegance and subtle symbolism of the jewels from this era. Crafted in platinum t...