Victorian Onyx Pearl Diamond Mourning Ring

A large and bold c. 1800s 14k gold Victorian mourning ring, with a marquise-shaped onyx ring face with sleek beveled edges and inlay of pearls and diamond in a stylized floral arrangement. The setting is further augmented with detailed milgrain and rope-like accents. The back of the ring contains a still functional keepsake compartment with a glass-paneled cover that can be opened and closed.

Given the large size of the ring face, it is likely this ring was converted from a mourning brooch or pin. However, upon examination, I do not find the back of the ring face to contain enough space for a brooch pin, neither can remnants of a pin mechanism be found (if the ring face had once been a brooch, the back pin would have had been sheared off, leaving conspicuous areas not quite consistent with the rest of the piece). The color and tone of the shank is also a close match to the ring face setting. Thus, it is also possible that this ring is all original.