Vintage Chinese 5 Stone Diamond Ring Carved 20k
1900s Straits Chinese gold ring set with Old European Cut diamonds weighing 0.5ctw in 20k gold.
5-stone rings were a spin-off from English/Victorian jewelry.
These rings took on a distinct Far Eastern style, their stones were always pushed out further (more so than original Victorian 5-stone rings), with a boxier centrepiece reminiscent of room screens used in Chinese or Japanese rooms.
The boxy centrepiece means these rings have a very lovely profile, with an angularity somewhat like a key ring.
The centrepiece will also hint at decorum. Many were carved with intricate Asian curlicues (this ring) or display ‘bridge’ work (another ring) under their very solid gold bezels.
There were once many of these rings in this region, but many have been melted down and whatever left feels too little.
Because the diamonds are set tall and held high, the diamonds always look bigger than their actual size for any 5-stone ring.
That is ideal, but more so the bohemian immediacy in sporting one such ring.
The OEC diamonds are very white and clean.
