Victorian English Mourning Ring With Enamel and Woven Hair

In the nineteenth century, grief was not hidden, it was worn. 

This mourning ring, crafted in 18k gold, with black enamel and a single seed pearl, carries the symbols of devotion and loss in every detail. 

At its center rests an eight-pointed star. A symbol long associated with eternal connection, divine guidance, and the promise of rebirth. In Victorian mourning jewels, the star was a guiding light in grief, a reminder that love endures beyond loss and that the bond between souls does not fade but transforms. Paired with the single seed pearl (representing a tear) the star becomes both lament and lantern, carrying sorrow into eternity while illuminating the path of remembrance.

Along the shank, multiple cut-out “windows” reveal a continuous band of finely woven hair beneath. Remarkably intact and beautifully preserved. Hairwork, carefully woven into jewels such as this, offered a tangible relic of a loved one, transforming memory into an heirloom of eternal devotion.

A relic of love and loss, it is both jewel and elegy. A reminder that devotion does not fade, but lingers, eternal. 

Details:

• 18k yellow gold (hallmark)
  
• Victorian era (1837 - 1901)
• Currently a size 6.75 and not resizable
• Hand painted black enamel detail
  
• Band is approximately 4.90mm wide and 1.15mm thick
  
• 3.49 grams
• 3.00 mm round seed pearl 
• English Hallmarks including a "crown", "18", and a "leopards head" (indicating the piece was made in London)

Please Note:
While this piece is in excellent condition for its age, it still carries subtle signs of its former life and may show subtle signs of age or previous wear. Seed pearls, hairwork, and enamel are inherently delicate and should be handled with care.