Diamond Giardinetti ring, European, circa 18th century.

This ring would have been crafted in Western Europe.

This ring is in fine condition commensurate with its age, but will require some care when being worn.

This is a very fine example of a diamond giardinetti ring, dating to the 18th century. Highly sought after today, and rare to come by in their original form, we do not expect this ring to remain in the collection for long.

Giardinetti, meaning 'little garden' in Italian, and sometimes referred to as 'flowerpot' in England, was a style of ring originating in 17th century Europe. They reached the height of their popularity in the mid 18th century but can be seen into the 19th century. The Giardinetti design was particularly embraced across Western Europe, including England, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. The design of these rings were largely influenced by the Rococo style which was fashionable across Europe at the time. Delicate and graceful ornamentation was favoured over previously more ornate and elaborate designs, with inspiration for the style stemming from a growing interest in the study of plants and horticulture. Botanical drawings provided the basis for floral motifs across many decorative arts, including wallpaper, textiles, and of course, jewellery. Giardinetti designs can also be seen in brooch form and as hair ornaments. Giardinetti rings were sometimes gifted as love tokens, or simply worn as a form of decoration. Often set with a vase to the base, or in bouquet form, this particular example showcases a well defined central flower, with intricate petal detail, surrounded by foliate motifs. Whilst this ring is set solely with rose cut diamonds, a cut which dates back to the 16th century, these rings often featured coloured gemstones as well.