Victorian Opal & Diamond Bow Ring

Circa 1870, this handmade Victorian ring features a remarkable 2.20-carat oval white opal cabochon, alive with shifting flashes of green, blue, yellow, and rose. A halo of old European-cut diamonds with VS2-SI1 clarity and H-I color accent the opal. The diamonds weigh .45 carats in total.

Crafted in 18KT yellow gold and silver, the ring is crowned by a diamond-set bow, an unmistakably Victorian expression of sentiment and ornament. The silver setting surrounding the diamonds allows the white metal to visually recede, while the richly engraved yellow gold shoulders add warmth and another layer of hand-finished detail.

Opals were especially admired during the Victorian era for their mysterious play of color. Bows are more than decoration in Victorian jewelry. Their ribbons literally bind and tie, which made them natural symbols of affection, attachment, and remembrance. Together, the motifs give this ring a distinctly romantic character. The combination of silver-set diamonds and yellow gold is equally characteristic of nineteenth-century craftsmanship, predating the widespread use of platinum in fine jewelry.

Handmade nearly 160 years ago, this ring rewards a closer look from every angle, from the shifting color within its opal to the old-cut diamonds, sculptural bow, and engraved goldwork that reveal the hand of its Victorian maker.

Appraised Value: $16,260