Medieval Gold and Turquoise Ring

A rare and exquisitely small late Medieval gold ring, dating to around 1450. Set with a robin’s egg blue turquoise cabochon in a cusped quatrefoil bezel designed to mimic a flower bud.

This ring was likely worn as a midi or mid-finger ring—a popular Renaissance fashion where multiple rings adorned both hands, often in graduated sizes. Crafted in high-karat gold (testing as approx. 19K), the ring features a delicately formed cusped bezel with four recessed crescent motifs.

The bezel measures 5mm across and holds a 2.5 x 3mm turquoise cabochon. The internal diameter is just 13mm, approximately UK size C / US size 1.5.

Turquoise was highly prized in the Medieval period, believed to guard against poisoning and protect riders from falls. A similar ring is held in the British Museum’s Fishpool Hoard (1967,1208.2) and others are recorded in the PAS database (YORYM-337655, PAS-2C69D6, and LVPL-AE4F3D).

Unmarked but tested as approx. 19K gold. In very good condition given its age—a beautifully preserved example of late Medieval jewellery.