Victorian Horseshoe Diamond Ring

This antique Victorian era rose cut diamond horseshoe ring was made in Austro-Hungary, circa 1900. 

This utterly charming signet ring features a horseshoe motif at the front of the bezel. The motif has symbolised luck and fortune for centuries. The legend is believed to date back to the middle ages when evil forces were supposedly repelled by horseshoes.

The horseshoe is set with a total of 11 rose cut diamonds, all in rubover gold settings. The diamonds are foil-backed to enhance their lustre by reflecting light back out through the stone, and the triangular facets of the rose cuts allowed them to glisten more beautifully in candlelight.

The ring is crafted in 14K gold and weighs 7.68 grams. The horseshoe measures 12mm x 9mm, and the diamonds measure approx 2mm across each. The inner band carries an Austrohungarian ‘fuchskopf’ fox head hallmark which indicates 14K gold, made in Vienna between 1872 and 1922. There is a maker’s mark present. 

UK size S 1/2, US size 9.5