Georgian Pearl Eternity Band

A lovely c. 1800-10 Georgian full eternity hoop ring, set with well matched natural split pearls within cut-down collets in a body of 15k gold. The pearls vary between 2.7 – 3 mm in diameter, and maintain a depth of body color and luster characteristic of natural non-nucleated pearls. A full eternity pearl hoop from this period is illustrated on p. 32 of “Georgian Jewellery: 1714-1830” by Ginny Redington Dawes with Olivia Collings. Two other hoops of similar form are illustrated in “Rings 1800-1910” by Verlaine Davies (fig. 8 & 332). Rings of this type emerged around 1800, during the second stage of Neoclassicism in Britain, when women’s fashion reached the height of minimalism and simplicity. Slim hoop rings, set with individual stones in cut-down collets, were sometimes worn as stacking rings, but also served an important function as guard or keeper rings. 19th century etiquette journals stressed that engagement rings should not be worn as a keeper to the wedding ring; instead a separate guard ring—often in the form of a hoop during the Regency era—was worn above the wedding ring to prevent loss. According to a 1807 print of the British Fashion magazine, La Belle Assemblée, “the hoop ring … takes place of the diamond, by way of guard to the wedding ring” (p. 284, November 1807).
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