Le Moyen Age - Sapphire Ring of 15th C

For ages it was believed that gems possessed healing and magical properties. Dame Joan Evans, the famed jewelry historian has written an entire tome on the subject entitled “Magical Jewels of the Middle Ages and Renaissance Particularly in England”. From stones associated with the stars, birth signs and the zodiac, to those assigned male and female properties, gems and stones have an aura unlike other earthly materials.

Sapphires through the centuries have been imbued with such properties as healing from injury, rheumy eyes, preventing poverty (from a French text in the 13th century). One text referred to the sapphire color as "raising men's souls to the contemplation of the heavenly kingdom".*

Typical of the medieval period, this 14th or 15th century ring has the band or shank of a simple gold circlet. Atop is a scalloped dome form of pure 22k yellow gold. It is convex in configuration and at its apex, a cabochon sapphire.

Cabochons were one of the earliest forms of gem cuts, with a flat bottom and rounded polished top, they can be seen in the oldest of bodily adornments to the most modern of jewelry. Deep in color and with hints of teal, this treasure is also characteristic of many rings of the period with having only one central stone.

Measurements: ½ of an inch (1.2 cm) in length and width by ¼ of an inch (0.6 cm) in height. Weight of 7.9 grams (5.1 dwt).

Ring Size: US 9 (UK R, Euro 19, 60 mm) and may be sized. Please contact us.

Condition: Excellent. Some tiny pitting to the gold from the original casting; some patina in the crevices of the ridges, slight wear to the sapphire; light scratches and wear to the gold.

Date: Circa 14th to 15th century.

* From "Magical Jewels" by Joan Evans. 1922.

Note: Le Moyen Age is refers to The Middle Ages in French.