Antique English c. 1890s "Keeper" Ring

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This antique Victorian "keeper" ring is crafted in over eight grams of 18K yellow gold, the crispness of the design rubbed to a delightful patina after over 120 years of wear. It shows evidence of previous resizing, but the lovely hallmarks have remained entirely intact. The stamps on the inside of the band indicate that this ring was manufactured in London, England, in the year 1898.

This intricate design of ring is known informally as a "keeper ring", though why it has been named as such is a matter of some debate. For the most part, jewellery enthusiasts have agreed that the knot-work pattern is meant to represent fidelity, commitment, and love, and was often worn as a wedding band to keep an engagement ring in place. Though this is mostly speculation, we do know that we began to see "keeper rings" in jewellery design as early as the 18th century.