Unusual hinged ring- anyone want to play a game?

Here is what hinged rings of today look like. They can even do it to your own ring!
I love this idea!

 

Would a stone that size and that much metal - fall right off of a scarf?

 

Sin of omission?

That's a definite objection & may have been a problem. There is a style of shawl pin I have seen repeatedly, including in gold, while I have never come across one like OP before, & it's the sort of thing some sellers would describe using word 'cameo', so apt to turn up in my usual searches. As I mentioned earlier, it may not have been a very successful product.

There is just no way this one was meant for wear on the finger (or a toe). Maybe the limitations of my imagination that I can't think of another way to wear it, or use in any other way, unless it's some weird napkin treatment, other than to gather & hold fabric in place. Because it would only stay put if the contents were exerting a fair degree of outward pressure, I picture it as being used on something heavier, such as a shawl. Obviously not suited for lace, which is what I think my gadget may have been used for.

Anyone know if it might have formed part of a Victorian gent's attire? Doesn't quite seem geared to appeal to the ladies.

 

YUP! Thank you so much for your work on this interesting piece, Bronwen.

If the interior fastener part had not been broken off, perhaps it could have stayed shut on it's own. We may never know what the interior used to look like. Yes, I still think it's a man's ring.

In closer inspection, the rod on the outside has such a nicely finished appearance to it, by comparison to the interior, it appears a bit of the interior rod that would have, possibly, had some sort of a fastener - has been broken off.

If the fastener was a small and slightly hooked design, it broke off long ago and now the ring would not be practical, neither for a man's finger, nor for a napkin. I think it was never meant for a scarf, way too heavy.

I actually never thought about a hinged ring before, but I searched and found plenty online when searching for "hinged ring" - with a ton of varied designs. I see I forgot to include the link for it above. ::le sigh::