A solid fourteen carat yellow gold ring with a oval cut tigers eye. This is a beautiful Art Nouveau college ring, back when they were made in a higher carat of gold and were more elaborate and different in design. There is a scrolling that follows the edge of the shank, the likes of which one would find in an Erté painting. Then, each end of the shank are the numbers "18" and the better "B". This is likely the name of the school, and the year of graduation. Both of which are hand cut out and applied in a beautiful Art Nouveau font. This is a departure from the classic college ring design that came in during the 1940's and onwards. This in itself is a stunning period ring. It is not thinly constructed, with a beautifully made shank that has this stunningly selected piece of tiger eye unusually set into its center. Often this type of ring would have the stone set on vertically. here it is set horizontally. The stone itself is intriguing too. it is almost dived in two; the darn brown plain side, and then the fiery tight brown colour, with an iris that always stays in the center. Tiger's Eye, a member of the chalcedony mineral family, exhibits a silky luster and an opaque, reddish-brown appearance with distinctive iron striations, a result of its metamorphic origins. Nicknamed "The Shapeshifter," the captivating Tiger's Eye gemstone invites the wearer to embrace their inner strength, personal willpower, and the powers of protection. Adorned with golden bands, flecks of sand, and smudges of inky black and brown, this stone exudes a wild, primal energy. Traditionally, the Tiger's Eye was carried as a protective amulet against evil forces, believed to ward off curses and keep the wearer safe. But beyond its protective properties, the Tiger's Eye offers a wealth of healing benefits. Originating from the big cat lands of South Africa, the spice islands and tea plantations of India, and the arid Australian outback, Tiger's Eye is formed by the alteration of crocidolite, its mineral-rich hues and golden orb color derived from iron oxide. In the 16th century, this gemstone was so rare it was considered more precious than gold. The Egyptians were captivated by the iridescent rays of the Tiger's Eye, believing it expressed divine vision and using it to represent the eyes of great deities. Roman soldiers even adorned their breastplates with this protective amulet during battle. A Gemini birthstone it has traditionally also been used to ward off curses, as a protective amulet, and was even considered more precious than gold! The condition is excellent, it is worn, but shows no damage. Theere are beautifully hand engraved initials lightly scribed into the inside of the shank reading "DMD" and a crisp "14K" mark having been made in America in 1918, is a US size 4.25 ring size, but can easily be sized if needed.
