Medieval goldsmiths rarely attempted to cut gemstones, instead adapting the setting of the ring to suit the shape of the stone, such as the semi-circular setting provided for this crescent shaped garnet.
Rings were worn in some numbers at all levels of society, although gold and garnets would have been restricted to the wealthy. In the English Act of 1363, an attempt was made to limit the wearing of gold and silver rings to richer noblemen, although we cannot know how effective these laws were.