Silver and vintage sapphire heavy hammered ring

Handmade silver ring with a dark blue antique sapphire. The ring is a heavy hammered silver band giving it a modern and contemporary look with a small single sapphire. The sapphire is part of a parcel I bought from an antique dealer in the 1990s and hoarded ever since. The parcel was part of an estate he purchased and to his knowledge they were from a family member, possible back a far as the Victorian era that cut gemstones and this parcel of sapphires had never been used. More than 150 years later it’s time they saw the light of day and finally became the jewels they were always meant to be.

This ring is part of my 52 ring project. Towards the end of last year, I found the 2 boxes of gemstones in the most atrocious jumbled mess still waiting to be unpacked since we moved to Dorset nearly three years ago. Some of them I’m very sure I can date to sitting in my collection for fifteen years. A meticulous evening was spent sorting each stone into a binder organised into colour, variety and size. This may sound boring to most but for a gem nerd like me, sorting lots of tiny sparkly things into stone type, size and colour with a bottle of red on the side and a supply of snacks and I’m as happy as a pig in mud.

Now what to do with them? I can’t continue to let them gather dust so an idea formulated. I would pick a stone from each page in the binder in turn and make a ring for it. A new ring for each week of the year, 52 rings in total. Why? Because I know me and if I don’t set myself a task they will linger again and they are too beautiful to remain hidden any longer. They need to be worn and loved.