The setting of the ring is handmade of 15 karat yellow gold and hand engraved on the molded gold shoulders of the rings band. The natural hand cut gemstone is a Ruby of ½ carat with 6 natural ocean Seed Pearls surrounding the Ruby. The method of cutting gemstones by hand in this time period was an art form in itself since the artesian used a diamond to cut the gems for their settings.

History of Rubies:
The Ruby is corundum that occurs as a deep red to deep pink color of stone. Rubies are a hardness of a 9 (a diamond being a 10 with is the hardest gemstone). Historically, Ruby is associated with royalty and the power of Life and Death. Rubies in this Victorian time period were mined in Ceylon, Burma and Siam but historically were rarely seen before the 16th Century.

The ring was from a family in upstate Maryland and is in excellent condition and fine to wear. The ring size is a 5 3/4 but could be resized if need. The ring was probably a wedding ring in 1855, it has a wonderful Victorian look.