Description: Ok there's a lot to say here, so strap in! Firstly, the lady we bought this from swore it had been in her family since Elizabethan times! Or at lease some elements of the ring. That obviously doesn't check out but it is a very old ring with possibly a chequered history! Starting with the shank, it has nice clear hallmarks for Birmingham 1791 and the use of 12ct and the hand chasing fits this date. Next the setting - The diamonds are old, rose cuts so that checks out, however, in the UK opals were rare to the point of being non-existent until the 1880s so either the opals are a later replacement for something else...or the setting and the shank are a marriage. Looking with a loupe we think this is what has happened, the 1791 ring had a different setting which wore out and a jeweller, probably a Victorian one used another setting, possibly to deceive but giving the benefit of the doubt, he was just recycling old parts which is acceptable in jewellery in our opinion. It is a pretty, pretty ring and we're selling it honestly rather than claiming its an opal Regency ring. If you do ever see a piece of "Georgian" or "Regency" jewellery and it has either opals or a 15ct hallmark - it ain't Georgian! Neither were used at the time.
Age: Please see above, 1791 shank, later setting.
Size and weight: 1.11g size 5.75 or L
Materials: 12ct gold, opal, diamond.
Condition: Good condition commensurate with age, please read notes above. Some claws missing but stones secure. A little rough when viewed under magnification but a pretty, pretty ring.
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