Antique Gold Ring with Australian Opals & Diamonds, England c. 1900

England, the country on the English Channel, was known as "Albion" on our side of the sea for many centuries. It is not entirely clear where this word comes from. It could be Celtic, or it could go back to the Latin "albus", meaning "white". After all, it is the bright chalk cliffs of Dover that herald the land across the water from France. But perhaps it is also the fog, which so often lies over the green hills of England as the original British weather, enticing and at the same time concealing, that gave the country its name. As a half-transparent, half-opaque veil, it drapes over the small villages, castles and manor houses like a long robe that only occasionally allows a glimpse into a strange world. This magnificent ring, which was created in England around 1900, features three large, high-quality Australian precious opals at its center. The stones, cut into cabochons, are misty and colorful, as one would expect from opals. They flash with blue, green and red sparks, the famous opal light for which the stones are so famous. Four small rose-cut diamonds are set between and next to the opals, enhancing the opals' play of colors with small highlights. The goldsmith has succeeded in making the ring face with the large opals beautifully compact so that the ring is comfortable to wear. A wonderful piece of jewelry from Queen Victoria's reign that still brings a smile to the face today. We discovered the ring in London, where it was probably made.

Estimate:£5,414

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