Circa 1940s Retro Tank-Style Diamond Ring

Dating to the 1940s, this 14KT yellow gold and platinum-topped diamond ring reflects the bold, architectural character associated with Retro Tank jewelry. Broad planes of polished gold, stepped shoulders, and contrasting curved and linear diamond-set sections create a substantial, asymmetrical composition.

Five round single-cut diamonds, weighing approximately .07 carats in total, form a straight vertical line within a platinum-topped section finished with milgrain. Beside them, five rose-cut diamonds weighing approximately .05 carats follow a curved platinum-topped section that sweeps inward toward the center of the ring. Together, the diamonds weigh approximately .12 carats.

Tank jewelry emerged during the late 1930s and 1940s with a distinctly architectural vocabulary: substantial gold, stepped forms, strong geometry, and mechanical-looking elements. The name evokes the industrial character of these designs rather than indicating that a jewel was literally modeled after a military tank. Here, that influence appears in the ring's broad gold surfaces, dimensional construction, and juxtaposition of rigid and curved forms.

Appraised Value:  $3,700