PANSY Signet Ornate Initial Monogram Delicious Floral French Art NOUVEAU Antique Belle Epoque 18k Gold Ring Former Secret Locket Poison Band

Sold out... to Grandma Mouse (my mom) hahaha.  Pansies are our thing.  She wants to wear it for awhile but this one may come back around again : )

ABOUT:

Well this ring may have a secret that we may never know about!
The ring face is a locket compartment but it has been soldered shut : / at some point in its history.

At first I thought, wow, someone must have really wanted to seal something in there, but after studying it some more, it looks like the hinge likely broke, and the person must have found that to be unrepairable in their area so they decided to just affix it on there. So it may be empty inside, I guess we'll never know! As removing the solder to open it would likely destroy so many of the wonderful details on the ring, so I am selling it as is.

Stop me if you've heard this before : "this was supposed to be in my personal collection but...." (tee hee).

My mom and I love pansies and their little smiling faces, so when I saw this gorgeous signet with the amazing pansy details on each side, I just fell in love. I've been wearing it but I'm trying to be careful with my funds having a few inventory sourcing trips yet this year so she is up for grabs.

Nowhere is the pansy more representative of love, thought, and remembrance than in France, considering that their very name is derived from the French word "pensée" (meaning "thought"). So this piece being French and a pansy - swoon.

Next mystery - what exactly are those initials? Any guesses? I just can't say with certainty what the overlapping letters represent but they are beautifully done.

A very fine example of French antique Belle Epoque jewelry, the 18k gold with a satin texture in the recesses contrasting with the high shine areas, just beautiful fabrication. The design and that delicious gold work just has me swooning.

No hallmarks remain which is actually common for French pieces as they are marked in the back and often lost during a sizing or from wear as was the case for this one I believe. It does still have its original goldsmith stamp! But sold to me from a reputable source in France where the standard is 18k and tested to confirm.

Antique box is not included. Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures.

MEASUREMENTS:
Size: 6 1/4, slightly over.
Weight: a sturdy 5.75 grams

Ring face 11x8mm and 3.2mm deep / tall.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

As mentioned the locket is soldered shut and it does have a difference in hue with more silvery solder tone around the base of the oval locket. This is not very apparent while wearing as it faces up all gold but when you study it from the side around the base of the locket you can see it in the recesses there. I personally am blinded by the pansy and I don't find it anything less than wonderful but something to look for in pics. It's one of the best signets I had to my personal taste. Very very slight evidence of a sizing to the back. Very legible. Very special setting.

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 : )

Box#m.6@5