HARMONY Rare Ancient Roman "OMONOIA" Byzantine Wedding Ring 22k High Carat Gold Black Enamel Cross 7th-9th Century

ABOUT:

Incredibly romantic, rare and wonderful Ancient Roman ring with circular disk ring face inlaid with enamel depicting a cross and reading "Omonoia" which is Greek for "Harmony" (or also Consensus, Concord, Togetherness, Joined as One, etc.) The piece is in high carat gold with the circular flat face connected to a glowing and buttery donut band.

The Egyptians were the first known to exchange rings of affection but it is believed that the Romans were the first to connect rings to marriage. The earliest known betrothal rings were linked to Rome 2,000 years ago during the reign of the Roman Empire. Information about rings in antiquity comes from ancient Roman authors such as Pliny. In the 7th century, Isidore of Seville wrote: "The ring is given by the espouser to the espoused either as a sign of mutual fidelity... therefore the ring is placed on the fourth finger because a certain vein, it is said, flows thence to the heart."

I purchased this from a high end dealer in Paris who was selling a small collection of ancient Roman rings, one of which I kept in my person collection : ). Their on site experts dated this Byzantine ring to the 7th to 9th century. Other examples of similar pieces can be found in the New York's Metropolitan Museum and the Victorian and Albert Museum in London.

Antique box not included. Please note the measurements as I have small hands and it can be difficult to decipher scale from photos.

SIZE & MEASUREMENTS:

Currently a size 6 1/2 on my ring sizer mandrel.
The ring face is 11mm in diameter.

The Ring weighs 4.5g.

CONDITION NOTES:

Original patina with darker areas on the ring face. I did not attempt to clean or polish it as most of my buyers prefer original condition on their antiques. The gold has a rich buttery patina and the shank especially glows. Some nicks and small areas of loss to the enamel but still very legible. Under magnification some pitting from age to the outside rim and the hand wrought shank. All things we would expect to see on a piece of this age.

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:
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