Antique Georgian (Regency era) ring in 18ct gold with a 200-year old inscription, dated 29 May 1821. This ring has beautiful hand-carved shoulders with foliage and flowers. It features a centre sapphire surrounded by small turquoise beads in a forget-me-not flower pattern. As the gold content of this ring is so high it should ideally not be worn next to other rings or on a daily basis, as it may wear away. It is in excellent condition and was clearly well looked after. UK size M-N. NOTES: Compare with similar style Georgian Ring.
Continental Europe's fascination with everything Egyptian occurred after Napoleon's conquest of Egypt and the subsequent defeat of the French Navy by Admiral Nelson at the Battle of the Nile (1798). The Egyptian Revival had a lasting effect on architecture and many other aspects of Continental live, including jewellery. The public's interest in the gold burial mask of Tutankhamun, with its inlaid turquoise, also contributed greatly to the popularity of the blue-green stone. Turquoise is the birthstone of December.