Late 18th Century cameo gem-set ring depicting Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The layered agate cameo is engraved with the to the right looking profiles of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. The hard stone cameo is surrounded by rose cut diamonds and the top of the cameo has a diamond and ruby set crown.

Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette got married in 1770, reigned between 1774 and 1789, the year when the French Revolution started. They got executed on the guillotine in 1793. During their reign, they got frequently portrayed in miniatures, ceramics and hardstone cameos. As in our days one would receive a signed photograph of a famous person, in those days works with their faces on would be given to their friends, political and diplomatic allies and courtiers. Most of the portraits were just of either the king or queen and double portraits of this kind are therefore rare.

Some experts claim that rings like this (we know of the world-wide existence of three similar rings) were made specially with the birth of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette's eldest child Marie Thérèse of France in 1778. Another factor that could have influenced the scarcity of such rings is that after the Revolution possession of such jewelry would have been regarded as evidence of treason.

Details:

Period: ca. 1774

Condition: excellent condition

Material: 18k yellow gold and silver

Diamonds: 46 rose cut diamonds and senailles. The rose cuts are set on foil. This is a special technique that was used to bring the lustre of the diamonds to its best quality.

Precious stones: Eight rubies and one agate cameo

Dimensions: top of ring 1,64 cm (0,65 inch) x 2,73 cm (1,07 inch)

Weight: 5,30 gram

Ring size Continental: 54 & 17¼ , Size US 6¾ , Size UK: N

Resizing: Resizing is possible but because of the age of the ring we prefer to leave it untouched. We could make an additional inner ring so the ring itself is not harmed, for this work we have to charge. We cannot guarantee to make it on every size; so please ask in advance. Return policy on this ring is not valid anymore once this work has been done.

Antique and Vintage Jewelry
Antique Jewelry