Russian Imperial-era Enamel and Diamond Gold Man’s Ring, 1855

A rare Russian mid-19th century gentleman’s ring from the Romanov era, period of Tsar Nicholas I, set with an old-mine-cut diamond surrounded by eight smaller full cut diamonds on silver, the gold ring enhanced with cobalt blue enamel scrolls and raised gold shell and foliate motifs typical of Russian jewelry from Moscow from this early period.

With Russian hallmarks for 1855, stamped 56, maker’s mark Cyrillic GO. Size 10 1/2.

9.4 grams gross weight. Ring tests 18k and 14k gold.

The era of the Russian Emperor Nicholas (1825-55), himself a great patron of the arts, brought with it a renewed interest in historicism and naturalism. Craftsmen did not necessarily strive for strict verisimilitude with Europe. Few jewels from this earlier Romanov era survive.