Mid 19th century Victorian era Gold in Quartz ring that spins to reveal an & onyx panel with the letter “A” in rose cut diamonds. The ring is set with a polished specimen of natural quartz containing pure gold ore.
Gold was first discovered in the United States in the 1820s in Georgia and North Carolina. However it was the discovery of gold in California in 1849 that precipitated the Gold Rush and resulted in jewellery of this type becoming popular. The San Francisco jewellers Barrett & Sherwood claim to have been the first to make ‘Quartz Rock’ jewellery, with George C. Shreeve & Co. also of San Francisco advertising similar products soon after. The maker of this particular ring is unknown.
Size 5, can be sized.