Featured Surprise Jewellery Box Finds

I've had an interesting day. This morning I posted a Victorian ring I had researched for my mother... in my research I think I stumbled upon a couple of things in my own jewellery box.

The first one is what I am guessing to be an art deco piece, but there are no markings to speak of anywhere on it. When I was looking at various antique rings online I've seen similar ones called mourning rings. Dunno if that's what I have, I don't even know if it's actually art deco, it might be an imitation:

Art Deco Mourning Ring by B.Stirling posted Jul 16, 2025 at 7:29 PM

Art Deco Mourning Ring-top by B.Stirling posted Jul 16, 2025 at 7:29 PM

Art Deco Mourning Ring-side by B.Stirling posted Jul 16, 2025 at 7:29 PM

Art Deco Mourning Ring-under by B.Stirling posted Jul 16, 2025 at 7:29 PM

The second one is a complete accident, had no idea it was even an antique. I took it in to see about getting it resized, but confessed to the jeweller I knew nothing about it. When he was examining it he told me it was likely 1920s or earlier as the diamonds are older cut(but could not tell me what cut exactly only that they're not cut that way anymore) and told me that from what he could see of the heavily worn markings it was platinum. This was passed down from my mother-in-law when I gave birth to my son, but she didn't have a lot of info on it. I'm wondering if there are any clues as to what era it's actually from, it looks so standard and even modern. Any hints on what country the style is from?

Half Eternity1 by B.Stirling posted Jul 16, 2025 at 7:26 PM

Half Eternity2 by B.Stirling posted Jul 16, 2025 at 7:26 PM

Half Eternity underside by B.Stirling posted Jul 16, 2025 at 7:26 PM

Half Eternity Markings by B.Stirling posted Jul 16, 2025 at 7:26 PM

The markings on the last one are there if you squint, on the left but my camera wouldn't focus well, so might be pointless to post.

 

The second one looks like it was someone's wedding ring; I can see a flapper wearing that. It fits with the worn markings; platinum is tough stuff and wearing the markings off of the inside would take a bit. Mine-cut stones, maybe?

The first one isn't a mourning ring. I suspect it's Deco era; onyx was a hot stone then and there was often a diamond in the center.

 

A wedding ring would make sense for something to be passed down in the family, especially since my mother-in-law insists this goes to the next mother in the family when they have their first born son. When I took my jeweller's loop to the back side the bottom of the gems looked pointed. The tops looked tall like old miner's, but not enough facets or flatness for a brilliant cut(at least from what I've tried to look up). So maybe they're old European?

Good to know. I am going to have to look into what makes a mourning ring a mourning ring a little more. So many sites have so many different explanations.

 

Mourning pieces have a higher interest in them. People enjoy a curio, goths and alternative types think they work with their vibe, morbid fascination with a bygone practice, etc. So many sellers will call anything black a mourning piece to sell it, and less informed copy them.

Agreed this looks Deco. Mourning pieces were very, very out of fashion at this point. It's also just a standard fashionable ring type. There are tonssss of these. My favorite are the flip rings with a cameo on the other side.

 

yup...Deco....and a wedding band......

also called an eternity band ...when gifted for an occasion ...not the wedding

 

Diamond cut history...... https://www.langantiques.com/university/brilliant-cut/

 

Ditto

Ditto. Simply a very fashionable Art Deco stone, the stark contrast between black and white (diamond) is very Deco.
Mourning jewellery dates from another time and often includes a specific date, a lock of hair, or mourning symbols like skulls or weeping willows.
Hair in jewellery can also signify a sentimental piece, for a sweetheart for instance, so you have to take every detail into account.

(I never said studying jewellery is easy.)

 

I feel like this should have been obvious to me It's like one of those 'he/she will say anything to make a sale' and I know not all places or individuals who sell jewellery will do that, but yeah... time to scrutinize when I research a little harder, clearly.

Those sound absolutely amazing. I've never heard of a flip ring before, now I'm curious.

You're always awesome with your explanations Any Jewelry. It helps a lot for when I continue trying to research things, so thank you

 

Thank you for you kind words.

 

Mourning jewelry is a bit of a problem. The real kind is 19th century or even earlier. It was made of black materials and worn to commemorate a person, or maybe even an event. Queen Victoria made it more of a fashionable item, but it was still black and of the era. Your ring was a fashion item, meant for pretty. Onyx and diamond rings were still made into the 1970s, come to think.

Flip rings...are fun to look for but difficult to find. They do turn up.

 

Somebody buy me this one... ebay.com/itm/388514932742

I see the cameo/onyx fairly regular but they are usually both very overpriced and also the carvings are rubbed into oblivion/bad.

I want a memento mori skull/skeleton piece of jewelry but I might as well buy a lotto ticket and wish for a unicorn. Those are stupid expensive and sell instantly.

There's mourning jewelry that is specific in commemorating a passing...and the jewelry that was simply black and made to be worn during a dark dress mourning period (like whitby jet pieces), just to be clear for OP's research.

 

Yup on all three - the black jewelry and the odds of finding an old flip ring in good shape. I have one somewhere from the Dominican, but it's not old. Larimar on one side and amber on the other. True memento mori pieces are...hens teeth, crazy money, and...zipgone.

OTOH you can find one of those 1990s skeleton "ponytail girl" costume cameos for not a pile of money. They were purely made for fun.

 

That is absolutely stunning! I'm not usually one for cameo jewellery, but what's been done with that to make the diamond work in both places is so creative and beautiful.

Neat to learn about two different forms. I'm supposing one for the purpose of a funeral and beyond, and the other as a keep sake to wear and have the individual 'with you'. It's interesting about the mourning jewellery with personal commemoration, I had heard of it, but only in locket form where they did interesting designs with hair and whatnot, I didn't know it was done with rings, bracelet's, etc.. as well.

 

@mirana beautiful ring! I have always wanted one.

 

Well if you ever have several days to burn @Bronwen 's Cameo thread showcases some really amazing stunners and a lot of insight into the different materials, carvers, and styles. 19th century cameos aren't the same as 20th century, so if you like that one you're in for a treat.

This is my similar Deco one. 10K and the set of ring and pendant sold to me for $125. No flip action though! Only static! A girl can always want more...I have 10 fingers...

 

A truly perfect set. And a nice bargain too.