Description

Pietra Dura Onyx and Hardstone Ring (Vintage)

c. 1900-1940

We talk about jewelry being a work of art all the time. And we’re not afraid to say that we think much of it is. Especially the old stuff. But sometimes there’s a work of art and then there’s A WORK OF ART. As in it took a true artist to create it. We feel that when it comes to Pietra Dura pieces, they are all works of art. What is Pietra Dura, you ask? It’s a type of inlay technique using different types and colors of highly polished gemstones. Each piece is cut with precision, so that it aligns neatly with the pieces next to it, often almost indiscernibly so. This 14kt hard stone ring, composed of black onyx, green malachite, red jasper and shell is pretty example.

What We Love About It:

The workmanship on this is superb! You can hardly tell where one piece of stone stops and the other starts. Some of the individual pieces are so teeny tiny it’s amazing anyone could cut them to fit so perfectly.

The Deets:

The ring is bezel set in 14kt yellow gold (stamped and tested) and depicts a half-opened rosebud and tiny lilies (our interpretation) consisting of black onyx, malachite, jasper and shell. It’s currently a size 7.5 US but could easily be sized up or down by our jeweler (see options in this post) or by yours. The ring head measures .75″ x 1.0″ and the ring weighs 5.75g.

We may not all be able to own a Picasso, van Gogh or Monet, but we CAN all own a work of art.