This impressive cluster ring has an 18k yellow gold shank and a silver setting, as was done traditionally. It is set with eighteen colourless paste stones of various shapes and sizes.
The term 'paste' is now generally used for a specific type of faceted glass gemstones that was developed by George Friedrich Strass in the 1720s. Glass material has been used in jewellery since glass was invented millennia ago, but Strass experimented with the lead content of the glass and was able to create a recipe that would give a material that, when faceted, would have a brilliance that replicated diamonds.
Paste became a big hit in the 18th Century. Paste gemstones were not only more afforable than diamonds, but also gave jewellery designers the chance to create far more elaborate designs than previously possible. When designing jewellery in the 18th Century, you always had to start with the number of natural diamonds at your disposal and work your design from there. With paste, however, you could create far more elaborate pieces, and have the stones cut to match your design. Antique paste jewellery is therefore often very outspoken and exuberant, and this large statement ring is a testament to this.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: US 6.5, UK M 1/2, circumference 53 mm.
Weight: 4.68 gram
Age: Late 18th Century, also known as the Georgian era, circa 1790s.
Material: The ring does not carry any hallmarks but has been acid tested as 18k gold and silver.
Condition: In good antique condition with some wear, consistent with its age. One of the paste stones has a large chip, which can be seen in the pictures on the bottom left, but is not very noticeable when worn.
Please note that the antique box is for display purposes only.