DATE: Georgian, c.1800

A superb Georgian solitaire ring dating from the early 19th century, circa 1800. It's set with a central purple paste gemstone in fluted dish backed setting and flanked by two white paste stones to either shoulder. The stones are foil backed, reflecting light back through them enhancing the colour and brilliance. Crafted in 15 karat gold with silver pie crust settings.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries paste gems could command as much (if not more) than natural gemstones, on account of the technology being so new and that the stones could be the "ideal" colour and completely clear and free from inclusions. The medium is usually a highly polished leaded glass, with minute amounts of certain metal oxides added to give colour (manganese for purple). In 1758 the Viennese goldsmith Joseph Strasser perfected the production of colourless paste gems with optical properties simulating the sparkle and fire of diamonds.

STONES 

Paste Gemstones

MEASUREMENTS 

Head: 8.5 x 7.4mm

Width of band: 2.1mm

WEIGHT 

2.0g

MARKS 

No marks present, tests as 15k gold and silver

CONDITION 

Very good, light wear to the stones visible under magnification