Ring

The skills of goldsmith, enameller and gem stone setter have been used to create a miniature work of art. The bezel is set with a pink sapphire and the shoulders were originally brightly enamelled in red, white and black.
Sapphires and rubies are both varieties of the gem mineral corundum. The rich red colour of rubies is created by the presence of chromium whilst sapphires may be found in a range of colours from colourless natural corundum to yellows, pinks, greens and the most highly prized blues. The term 'ruby' was frequently used to describe a number of red gem stones including garnets, spinels and possibly pink sapphires.
Many stones had talismanic or magical qualities. Rubies were believed to protect their wearer from all perils including the loss of land and rank and were valued for this power as well as for their beauty. It is possible that the original owner of this ring believed the stone to be the highly prized ruby rather than a sapphire.