SECRET Hidden Key SIGNET Ring Heraldic Coat of Arms HEAVY 12g 18k Gold Unisex Wax Seal Historic Rare Stacker Ram Benner Crest

ABOUT:
Another regretful personal collection release. I had been looking for one of these for yeeeeears! Finally found one and got emotionally attached instantly : ) But we have other needs now so this one is looking for a new home.

Signet rings are fun, interesting and valuable on their own, especially chunky and heavy ones like this, but this one has a special secret. When taken off the finger, out flips a key from behind / within the ring face. The hidden key would have been used to open a dressing table or jewelry box, writing desk, important documents box or even a travel case. What better way to keep the key safe than wearing it on the body?

Crafted in 18k gold. It's surprisingly comfortable too, not really felt against the finger while wearing except for the incredibly sturdy and heavy hand feel of the piece. Intentionally created for daily wear and still up to the task today! Unisex in size and design, I wore it as a power pointer.

The Victorians certainly loved clever and quirky jewelry and these Bramah key rings are no exception. What a novelty! The name comes from the inventor Joseph Bramah, who created the lock in 1784 as a way for the well to do to protect their valuables, but especially useful for folks like me who tend to misplace things. "I put that tiny key in the safest of safe places... now where was that again...???"

Sadly I do not have the box that it opens, I wonder if it is out there still, somewhere in the world. But I did show a picture of it in an old oak chest just to complete the imagery : ) I actually thought about seeing if some lock could be made that I could then insert into an antique box but I didn't know where to start finding a locksmith who specializes in small antique boxes out here in rural Minnesota.

Another thing that makes this one so super fab is the design detail! Ornate designs at the shoulders of the ring and around the thick ring face which is incised with a crest / coat of arms and beveled at the edges. This was yet another useful thing about rings like these, in that the ring face was often designed to be used as a wax seal to stamp correspondence. This one has a striped banner with a clover and two heraldic roses. Above that is a ram in a rampant pose, I am guessing ram because it has horns. Would be interesting to learn the family it came from.

I am not certain how old this one is. Clearly has signs of age and wear including wax remnants in the recesses of the design so it is certainly vintage period and older. The place I purchased it from in France did believe it was from the 1800s. It has a partial / worn hallmark to the back outside of the shank but it is not recognizable to me / does not look like the French marks I have seen thousands of times, but certainly from somewhere in Europe. Sold to me as 18k and tested to confirm. It has some rosy areas on the high areas of wear with a buttery glow from the recesses - delicious!

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:

It is a size 7 3/4, allllllllmost an 8 but doesn't quite reach. It weighs a sturdy 12.2 grams so an excellent hand feel.
The ring face is 15.2x11mm rectangle with wide shoulders that taper to a thinner shank at the back.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

White wax in the recesses which adds to its charm imho but could always be cleaned. Some wear to the design details but Certainly very legible. The key doesn't latch or snug in to the back of the ring face when off the finger. It kinda flips open on its own but of course once on the finger, that's a non issue as the finger holds it in place to the back of the ring face. The hinge is a bit wobbly too, normal considering age and doesn't seem in any danger of snapping off, it is a sturdy piece. Back of the shank is a bit thin, 1.2 to 1.7mm so that would be something to discuss with your local jeweler for their opinion and comfort level on sizing. Shank is slightly out of round not seen while wearing.

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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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.