Pinky Out! - Rings in Period

Jewelry is a wonderful accessory for any re-enactor. It comes in many shapes and forms, and elevates any kit. I've had a small fascination with rings recently. Specifically the ones worn in the middle of the finger, commonly referred to as "first knuckle rings".

Portrait of a Lady - Filippo Lippi - 1440

I've seen quite a few examples of rings being worn this way, and admire the quirkiness and subtlety of them. It's also a current trend in mundane society. Most jewelry was used to show a sign of status and wealth. Even if it might not fit my persona exactly, I always need to up my court garb game... right? This is what I keep telling myself so I have an excuse to obtain one.

Portrait of Madalena - Raphael - 1504

A dear friend of mine is a jeweler and when I was discussing the rings with him, he perked right up and told me we could make one that very day. I didn't want anything too elaborate, but I certainly wanted something that would easily be period, and would "enhance my aesthetic".

It was a very simple process. Undoubtedly more simple than it would be for a jeweler in period to complete. I would like to do more research on how jewelry was crafted in period, later down the road. At the time, though I was just excited to have the opportunity, regardless of creative process.

My finished product!

Not to mention, the emeralds were harder to come by and a lab created option wasn't exactly available then. Nevertheless I persisted. After just a few short hours, and helpful guidance of my jeweler friend, I had a first knuckle ring of my own.

The process to make the ring itself might not have been very period, but the outcome I feel is quite apropos. It ended up being a lab created emerald in sterling silver.

I'm not particularly fond of gold, not to mention it's considerably more expensive. I'm pretty pleased with the outcome, though. I would like to try a ring with a square stone next, as I'm seeing those shapes as well. Round stones seem to be fairly less common from what I've seen. Perhaps I'll dabble in some granulation to help make my next ring stand out more. I'm hoping to get more time at the jewelers bench this year. I'm still mostly focused on food, but a little bling never hurt anyone.