Rings are so common now. I suspect not a lot of thought goes into their origin. It’s hard to say when the first rings were created, but in the 15th century they became a very important form of jewelry. Engraved gems, rings that could be used as seals and rings that contained religious relics were all popular.

Many of these rings were extremely ornate. Enamel, gemstones, and gold embellishments were the order of the day. Some of them had bezels that opened for carrying very small objects, or possibly a lock of hair. One of my reference books has a photograph of a matched pair of wedding rings from the 1500s- delicate bands with ornate gold wire worked into each piece.

Venice produced some of the most exquisite jewelry of that time, with filigree and extremely detailed workmanship common. It is a joy to see what our ancestors created for their customers, and how painstakingly they must have worked.

Some of the most colorful, marvelous jewelry was created during the years of the Renaissance.

Not just one type of gemstone, but several would be gathered together in a bright and playful concoction. A single necklace might include emeralds, rubies, sapphires, enamel work and pearls. Diamonds were used frequently, but gem cutters hadn’t figured out how to cut them yet, so they often appeared in their natural state, ground down a bit and polished.

This was the beginning of this gemstone’s importance in the world of fine jewelry making.