Significance
The Ancient Greeks and Romans associated the luminous blue stone aquamarine with the sea. Pliny the Elder, a Roman Historian and scientist wrote in his Naturalis Historia the romantic idea, “The lovely Aquamarine, which seems to have come from some mermaid’s treasure house, in the depths of the summer sea, has charms not to be denied.” Large pieces of the stone were so rare that craftsman reserved the rare and beautiful stone for Imperial portraits that were coveted and later set in rings.
In 1793, a large aquamarine deposit was discovered in the Adun-Chalon mountains of Siberia. This was the start of the modern craze for aquamarines, and their popularity has not abated. In the 1930s, aquamarine jewels were in high demand in various forms including clips, tiaras, necklace, and bracelets. In 1936 Vogue magazine wrote about the stone, “Aquamarines—limpid, glacial as the waters of a Northern lake—to play against a dress of white satin or the palest mauve mousseline.”
The idea of the cocktail ring became popular in the 1920s, when women seized social freedoms and began to work outside the home, take up sports, and socialize at nightclubs. In this jewel the large aquamarine is sided by sapphires and set into a streamlined shank, creating a bold, statement ring meant to draw attention to the hand. This luminous aquamarine ring is beautiful, eye catching, and sure to be a cherished jewel in any collection.
