This is a marvelous and rare example of late Georgian to early Victorian mourning jewelry, specifically a mourning ring crafted in 15-carat yellow gold.

SUPER RARE FIND ! This is a marvelous and rare example of late Georgian to early Victorian mourning jewelry, specifically a mourning ring crafted in 15-carat yellow gold, which was a popular gold standard in Britain prior to 1932.

The ring is designed with a rich, ornate foliate motif, featuring finely worked leaves and naturalistic forms. This kind of organic detailing is typical of the transitional period from the late Georgian era (circa 1820s-1830s) into the early Victorian period (1837-1850s), when Romanticism heavily influenced jewelry design. The ring embraces nature-inspired symbolism, suggesting themes of life's fragility and the eternal cycle of life and death.

At its heart, the ring features:
*A fancy-cut almandine garnet (deep wine-red with purplish undertones), prong-set on one side.
*A small seed pearl, representing purity, tears, and mourning, set adjacent to the garnet.

Traditionally, garnet symbolizes eternal love and remembrance. In mourning jewelry, it often signified undying affection and the bloodline, tying to the idea of lineage and legacy.

Pearls were widely used in mourning pieces to represent tears shed for the deceased.
Leaves often symbolized rebirth or the changing seasons, reinforcing themes of the natural cycle of life and death.

Turning the ring reveals its most poignant feature: a hidden locket compartment under a small oval glass panel on the inner side of the ring’s bezel. Inside, it holds a lock of hair — an incredibly intimate token of remembrance in mourning culture.

Hairwork was a sentimental gesture in Georgian and Victorian mourning jewelry, as hair was thought to physically carry the essence or "spirit" of a loved one.

Note : There is a small crack in the glass of the hair locket. This is consistent with the expected wear of such antique pieces but does not detract from the ring’s historical and collectible value. Given its age (circa 1830-1850), its survival in this condition is remarkable!!!!!

Measurements :The ring measures as a size M as per ring measure stick.The pearl measures 4.30mm in diameter.The fancy cut garnet measures 5.39mm x 3.79mm.The ring with a weight of 2.2 grams