Portuguese aquamarine ring

An object of Portuguese lusciousness, a fine quality aquamarine ring, circa 1780. In the 18th century the Portuguese colony of Brazil was the source of many precious gemstones. These gems cast their spell, inspiring a distinctively national jewellery of richness and charm which reached an apogee in the 18th century. This navette ring is typical of the best late 18th century Portuguese jewellery, the gold trifurcated curved shank supporting a head of foiled aquamarines closely set in silver to refract light. The head of the ring has the gold bead detail typical of Portuguese jewellery from this era. The ring is size N [US 6 and 1/2] and the navette head measures 1 and 1/8 inches by 3/4 of an inch. Glorious colour, immaculate condition. For similar rings see d’Orey’s Five Centuries of Jewellery in the National Museum of Ancient Art, Lisbon.

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