Retro Diamond & Ruby Ring

Dating to circa 1940, this 18KT gold Retro-era ring features a 1.01-carat old European-cut diamond, graded VS2 clarity and I color, held in a four-prong platinum setting. Twenty-two channel-set natural rubies, weighing approximately .88 carats in total, were individually cut to follow the setting's curves. The accent diamonds weigh approximately .21 carats in total, with VS1-VS2 clarity and G-H color.

The metal choice deserves attention too. The old European-cut center diamond sits in platinum, visually separating it from the yellow gold and letting the white metal recede around the stone. The surrounding rubies, meanwhile, belong entirely to the ring's gold architecture.

Calibré-cut gemstones are individually shaped to fit closely together within a specific design, often with little or no visible space between them. Here, the rubies aren't simply decoration applied to the ring. Their graduated shapes let the gemstone channels bend around the diamond. The cutting makes the curve possible.

Appraised Value:  $12,300