{"product_id":"antique-victorian-paste-ring-in-18ct-gold-birmingham-1899","title":"Antique Victorian Paste Ring in 18ct Gold, Birmingham 1905","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome antique jewellery survives because it was cherished. Other pieces survive despite the odds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis elegant late Victorian ring was hallmarked in Birmingham in 1905 and crafted in solid 18ct gold. At its centre sits a rich ruby-coloured paste stone, framed by bright white paste accents within a beautifully detailed openwork setting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo modern eyes, the combination of 18ct gold and paste may seem surprising. Yet, as jewellery historian and antique jewellery dealer Charlotte Sayers notes, paste was often “admired not just as a substitute, but as an elegant medium in its own right.” Expertly cut paste stones offered remarkable brilliance and were widely appreciated for their beauty, particularly under the candlelight and gaslight of the Victorian era.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat makes this ring especially appealing today is its survival. During the twentieth century, countless Victorian gold rings were dismantled and melted for their bullion value as fashions changed and gold prices rose. This example escaped that fate. Its original setting, hallmarks and stones remain intact almost 125 years after it left the jeweller’s bench.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToday, surviving examples are increasingly sought after not simply for their intrinsic value, but for what they represent: authentic craftsmanship, period design and a tangible connection to another age.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA beautiful Victorian survivor that continues to sparkle exactly as it was intended to.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDetails\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBirmingham assay office hallmarks\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDated 1905\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSolid 18ct gold\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRuby-coloured paste centre stone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhite paste accent stones\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOpenwork Victorian setting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLate Victorian period\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of a kind\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVery good antique condition with age-appropriate wear consistent with more than a century of careful use. Original stones and hallmarks remain present and well preserved.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRefine \u0026amp; Bloom Vintage Jewellery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCarefully curated antique and vintage jewellery chosen for its beauty, craftsmanship and history. Every piece is unique, and once sold cannot be replaced.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Refine \u0026 Bloom Vintage Jewellery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44403400409130,"sku":null,"price":1795.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/8137\/8346\/files\/Antique_Victorian_Paste_Ring_in_18ct_Gold_Birmingham_1905_pic_1.jpg?v=1779884980","url":"https:\/\/refinebloom.com\/products\/antique-victorian-paste-ring-in-18ct-gold-birmingham-1899","provider":"Refine \u0026 Bloom Vintage Jewellery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}