Description
Antique lapis signet ring. Ornately carved shoulders, to a
collet set shield cut lapis, circa 1890. All hand carved in 18
ct yellow gold.
ANTIQUE
Any item judged to have been made at least 100 years ago.
Collet
Very early method of setting gemstones. A collet is a thin, round band of metal that goes right the way around the stone.
CTIn reference to gemstones, an abbreviation of carat, a unit of weight. One carat is equal to 0.20 grams.
In reference to gold, also an abbreviation of carat, a unit of purity or fineness of gold and gold alloy, expressed as a number out of 24 parts by weight, e.g. '24 carat' signifies pure gold, '18 carat' 18/24th gold in the alloy, et cetera.
Originally derived from the carob seed, called quirat in Arabic, a seed of naturally uniform weight.
