Throughout history, pearls have been one of the most coveted of all gemstones. In the 18th century, a strand of pearls of matched color and size could command a greater price than jewels set with diamonds, rubies, or emeralds. Pearls were included in European sumptuary laws and there were strict regulations denoting who was allowed to wear them. This pearl eternity ring was made at a (slightly) more egalitarian time in history and could have been worn by anyone who could afford to buy it (which really wouldn't have been many at the turn of the 19th century).
MATERIALS: 10k gold (tests), 21 3mm split pearls
AGE: c. 1820
CONDITION: Very good - a few of the pearls look like replacements
SIZE: 8, cannot be resized; 3.7mm width