Rings had a very early birth. They were woven of twigs or vines, became carved, then cast in metal. The rings we now appreciate began to be formed in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Many people would wear several on one hand, or wear rings in multiples. Rings could memorialize a loved one, act as an invitation to a marriage or a an affair or they could even tell their own story as in Victorian times they would use certain stones to spell out words like regard.
It wasn’t until after World War II that what we now know as the traditional engagement ring, primarily a diamond, became the absolute-only acceptable way to become engaged. As diamonds became more plentiful, and as more people began to have sufficient funds to buy a ring, it was not so much dependent upon the size of the stone, but the symbolic nature of the ring. It’s a continuing evolution of rings in being both traditional and morphing into much more contemporary jewelry — as a type of signature for various artisans, such as Elsa Peretti of Tiffany.
Top Image - This gorgeous piece of Shakudo combines the top and bottom of the usual forms in matched sequence, and highlights extremely well the cold relief. This is made from 18th century pieces of Shakudo, and is stunning and dramatic in its scale of workmanship. Price Group C