At face value, this is a mourning ring for Napoléon Bonaparte complete with a lock of his hair(!) under glass. On the back, it's engraved for the date of his death. Could it be? I imagine many rings were given out to loyalists, but without DNA testing the hair, we don't know for certain. At the very least, it's a nice 18k ring from the early 1800s, but it could be a historic treasure. The new owner can take the research a step further if they like.
thedetails
- Materials
18k gold (tests), blue enamel, turquoise cabochons, glass, hair, gold wire cipher
- Age
engraved 5th May 1821
- Condition
Very good - underside of the head is engraved “Napoleon 1st 5th May 1821”; some minor loss/small pits to the enamel and scuffs on the glass lens; one of the turquoise cabochons is a replacement
- Size
4.75, resizing not recommended; 17.9mm x 12.1mm head, 2mm shank
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Aboutthe
GeorgianEra
1714 — 1837
please note:Terms of Sale
Antiques can be returned unworn and in original condition within 10 days of delivery for an exchange or refund minus the cost of shipping. Once a piece has been altered, including ring re-sizing, it is FINAL SALE.