Van Sipma Jewelers

2011 Ridge Rd. Homewood, IL 60430
708/798-2232

American Gem Society: The Power of Love

This stunning ring combines an impressive 15 diamonds, their whiteness enhanced by the delicate white and black enamel. The reverse of the ring is a delicate as the front. The soft curves of the flower pattern on the underneath contrast with the sharp geometric lines of the table-cut stones.

Seventeenth-century wedding rings were often worn on the thumb, although during the wedding service the requisite fourth finger would be used. This custom of placing the ring on the fourth finger stems from the priest in the Christian wedding service touching three fingers of the left hand with the ring: "In the Name of the Father... Son... and Holy Ghost," ending with the ring on the fourth finger. A more romantic legend has it that the vein from the fourth finger leads directly to the heart, seat of love.

In 1668, we find Samuel Pepys writing that his aunt is "mighty proud of her wedding ring lately set with diamonds."The loquacious Samuel also records that posy rings were still a firmly established wedding custom- noting that while the roast lamb was cooking, his family passed the time working out the poem for Roger Pepys' wedding ring.

Much thought was given to the composition of these posies. Some reflect the strict morality of the Puritan influence with weighty religious aspirations:

Pray God make us such a pair
As Isaac and Rebecca were

But many more have charm and wit: Love him who gave thee
this ring of gold
Fore he must kiss thee
When thou art old.

This rich gold ring set with seven table-cut diamonds is an admirable illustration of seventeenth-century design with the white light of the stones, the luster of the gold, and the severe black enamel, combining in a composition of dignified splendour.

This stylized lily is a seventeenth-century reinterpretation of the fifteenth- century fleur-de-lis. Instead of using small diamonds in the form of a cluster, they have been arranged in an emblem that may be religious but could also be heraldic, for the lily was the badge of the French royal family.

The relatively quiet sparkle of the seventeenth-century diamond ring, the clusters of small stones, table or rose cut, rimmed in gold and enamelled black or blue with white highlights, have a gentle beauty and dignity which makes love rings from this period especially attractive.

American Gem Society: The Power of Love

Van Sipma Jewelers

2011 Ridge Rd. Homewood, IL 60430708/798-2232

American Gem Society: The Power of Love

This stunning ring combines an impressive 15 diamonds, their whiteness enhanced by the delicate white and black enamel. The reverse of the ring is a delicate as the front. The soft curves of the flower pattern on the underneath contrast with the sharp geometric lines of the table-cut stones.

This rich gold ring set with seven table-cut diamonds is an admirable illustration of seventeenth-century design with the white light of the stones, the luster of the gold, and the severe black enamel, combining in a composition of dignified splendour.

American Gem Society: The Power of Love

2011 Ridge Rd. Homewood, IL 60430
708/798-2232