Georgian Era Dated 1789 Cigar Band Mourning Ring White Enamel 14k Gold Engraved "Died at Semlin" Historical Militaria Military Significance

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 sentimental jewelry and jewelry with words. This one has a poignant message and dated provenance.
The outside appears as sort of a shadow box with the cutout letters and numbers floating against the cigar band background reading "J C AET 31" and then inside, the piece is engraved "Died at Semlin, October 23, 1789."

So this one has its own built in history. With white enamel lines on the north south edges, usually indicating that the person was unmarried. It represented purity, innocence, and virtue, distinguishing the deceased from married individuals, who were typically mourned with black enamel.

The overlapping AET is from the Latin aetatis suae for "of the age" 31.

This was almost certainly fabricated with a panel of braided hair in the recesses behind the lettering which floated above it, but it came to me this way and I loved the look of the cutout initials above the background. I love historic jewelry. Mourning pieces are indeed sad, and this one relating to the battle of Semlin especially so, but they are truly artifacts worthy of preserving and the piece is beautiful to wear. This one could belong in a museum some day. It's striking to wear and I enjoyed stacking it with other pieces.

I purchased it in France but I am not sure where it was made with the English engraving.

No hallmarks remain but tests at least 14k, possibly 15k as it holds an 18k test without dissolving completely. The gold has a beautiful rosy hue with a buttery glow from the recesses.

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 7 1/4 to the center. The band is 8.5mm north to south all the way around. It weighs a little over 3 grams.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

Very legible and so endearing. And 237 years old so the condition is quite impressive considering how it is has held up and is still so legible and well formed. Some nicks and loss to the enamel but overall the lines are still complete. There is some buildup and patina in the recesses and one dark discolored spot to the left of the "31", either just age related deterioration or perhaps done in the fabrication as a solder point.

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.

Box#@c.326