Ring

Gems were the most valuable element of a ring, and those from distant lands were the most costly and desirable. Sapphires came from Sri Lanka, and were one of the most popular choices, owing to their brilliant colour and talismanic properties. Sapphires were believed to promote chastity, peace and reconciliation, and to incline God to hear prayers favourably. In the medieval period, stones were not generally cut, but polished into a rounded form, known as 'cabochon', as in this example. The naturally-occuring irregular shape of the stone meant that a claw setting was the most effective in securing the stone.
This ring, with its prominent setting and foliate decoration on the hoop is a particularly elaborate example of a sapphire ring of the period.