Cat's eye chrysoberyl and diamond coronet cluster ring, circa 1900.

This ring is in excellent condition.

Cat’s Eye has the longest history of gems in the chrysoberyl family. It was treasured in Asia before the birth of Christ and became quite well-known in Rome by the end of the 1st Century. The popularity of cat’s eye chrysoberyl sky-rocked in the 19th Century after the Duke of Connaught presented his fiance with a cat’s eye betrothal ring. Ceylon, where most of the finest examples of cat’s eye were sourced at the time, could not keep up with the overwhelming demand!

Fine specimens with a strong and well-defined cat's eye as well as a distinctive milk-and-honey appearance - as exhibited in this piece - are highly sought after by collectors and gemstone enthusiasts due to their rarity, unique optical properties and striking appearance.