Antique Dated 1820 French Restoration Loyalty Ring Pink Topaz Quartz 18k Gold Engraved Charles Ferdinand Duke Historical Significance Militaria

Time for Mouse to clean out her jewelry house (box)! Working on some personal collection releases so I hope you like what I like! : )
Meanwhile... Sorrows, tears, sorrows, tears... - I still love each and every one of these, but I just don't get around to wearing them all enough and we have other needs right now so I'm hoping to re-home them where they can be loved and enjoyed. : )
I also try to keep my PC pretty humble so as I add things throughout the years, every so often I do a clear out and these are some of my all time faves - pieces with provenance or dates, all have meaning to me so they will be sent to the buyer with all my love and joy and happy memories : )

ABOUT:
As many of you know I love historical jewelry, pieces dated and with words. I also love and have a small collection of historic French jewelry as their antiques are among my favorite in the world and have become a huge passion of mine.

This ring is from the French Restoration period and is referred to as a Loyalty Ring. This one has historical significance in that it commemorates Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry. The shank is engraved with his name and title and the date February 13, 1820, (all in French of course). The date being the day he was mortally wounded while leaving the opera house in Paris. He was the son of Charles X who would become king of France in 1824. These were worn as tributes to the royal cause. There is much to be read with an Internet search about these loyalty rings, and about the life and family of Charles Ferdinand. There is a pair of loyalty rings from the period without gem settings listed for 12k as an example, so if you are history buff, you'll enjoy researching pieces like this one.

We don't usually see these gemset. This one has a cluster of foiled gemstones appearing like pink topaz, although much of the foil is tinted so it may also be quartz, I did remove the gems for accurate testing. The cluster is a typical Georgian period construction with the trapezoid cut gemstones and foil backing. I wonder if it may have been a button that was affixed to the ring face after. Definitely still in the antique period and all components are antique. The engraved shank is comfort fit, feels wonderful to slide off and on, and has little fleur de lis details at each shoulder.

I wish I knew the stories this piece could tell. This is also one that could belong in a museum some day.

I purchased it in Paris.
No hallmarks remain but tests at 18k gold.

Antique box not included. Please note the detailed measurements that I always provide, as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures where I am required to show zoomed in detail.

MEASUREMENTS:
Size 8 1/4. The ring face is 14.3mm north south and 6.9mm tall off the finger. It weighs a little over 6.5 grams.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

Very interesting piece considering age of over 200 years. The engraving is legible under magnification but is quite worn and difficult to make out, although the small fleur de lis and the evidence of the engraving is certainly eye visible. I can only make out the date with the help of magnification, so worn is the gold from years of wear which adds to its story and authenticity. The gems have a fabulous coloring and antique look and also a lovely sparkle with their custom hand cut trapezoidal shapes surrounding the center stone. Some discoloration and spotting, cloudiness and deterioration from age to the foil.

The back of the shank is rippled so I think that portion is hollow, which was a customary fabrication. The piece is very sturdy and wearable even, although this is truly a collector's piece. The silver cupped face holding the gems has a ding on each side and a crease / crack at one shoulder but again a super sturdy and stable hand feel. These old settings with closed backs and foil should not get wet however. Other than that it is certainly stable and wearable.

The gems are all complete in overall shape and fill the setting but one has shards of loss to the top surface on the inside edge leaving an unpolished area. One other gem has a much smaller flake of loss to one corner. The other stones have facet abrasions as well but they still have polished surfaces and a nice sheen overall with reflectivity.

Again a historically significant collectible but I find it beautiful to wear as well. Beautiful color and antique look to antique gemstones like these.

Please note that all my pieces are pre-owned and in estate condition. They will have patina, surface wear, a few small nicks. These pieces may also have evidence of a sizing, some build up around the stones and / or inclusions seen under magnification, typical for antique pieces. I have mentioned any noticeable issues above and they are all still wearable and eager to be loved and accepted for many years to come, (the preservation of antique jewelry, even those with signs of their age and history, is important to me. : )
But - Please note due to age, this piece is not in mint condition. Pictures also serve as part of the description and condition report so please utilize the zoom feature which will magnify any wear significantly more than what is visible to the eye while wearing : )

SOCIAL:
Please feel free watch @mouseshouseantiques on Instagram for inventory drops, sneak peaks and previews! And check out my website www.MousesHouseAntiques.com as I can add more pics there so you can get extra looks : )

All items hand picked by me, one at a time from all over the world. All listings individually written by me, and not AI, after studying each piece to discuss its beauties and its ; ) eccentricities (which I am picky to point out).

Many of my listings include group shots – I find the comparisons between pieces help show scale, diamond hues, etc. All items in group shots are inventory, but refer to the website to see what items have sold out and to watch for new listings from the grouping to appear on the home page.

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