Bague au firmament

A rather splendid example of a bague au firmament ring, circa 1800. The high carat gold shank supports a plaque of vibrant cobalt blue enamel with star motifs set with a central old-cut diamond, within a surround of rose-cut diamonds and a further scattering of rose-cut diamonds. The central diamond cluster in 90 points in total. Such rings, made popular by Marie Antionette, were known as bagues au firmament [rings of the Heavens], as the celestial blue ground evoked the night sky and the diamonds twinkled like stars. The ring is size O [US 7] and the head of the ring measures 1 and 1/4 inches by 3/4 of an inch. Utterly gorgeous thing.

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