Early Renaissance Ruby Midi Ring

An early Renaissance gold ring set with a ruby cabochon, dating from circa 1500. This diminutive ring was likely designed as a midi or mid-finger ring, a style popular in the Renaissance when multiple rings were worn across the hands, including smaller ones positioned on the upper sections of the fingers.

Crafted from buttery high-karat gold, testing as approximately 21K, the band is finely detailed with ornate shoulders and recessed crescent motifs around the bezel. The bezel, round in shape and measuring 7mm across, holds an irregularly shaped ruby cabochon, characteristic of the period when gemstones were sometimes left in their natural forms with minimal shaping, preserving the organic contours of the material.

Later in the Renaissance period, gem-cutting techniques advanced beyond medieval simplicity of uncut and irregular cabochon settings. The ruby in this ring measures 4mm x 3mm x 2mm, its rich hue contrasting beautifully against the warmth of the gold.

Lightweight at 1.76 grams, the ring has an internal diameter of just 13mm, reinforcing its likely function as a midi ring or a piece intended for a child or slender fingers. Traces of enamel remain, hinting at its original decorative embellishments.

A rare survivor from the early Renaissance, this ring exemplifies the artistry of the era, blending elegant goldsmithing with historical gemstone-setting techniques.