Ruby ring in argentium sterling silver // U.S. size 10 1/2 // July birthstone ring

Entirely handmade by me in my Connecticut studio. The ruby set in this sleek modern ring is the exact color of boiling strawberry jam: a clear, pure, lightly blue-tinged red. The stone has a fair number of inclusions, but the color is incredibly rich, and it is natural and unheated. The stone measures about 8 mm by 6 mm. The ring, which has a knife-edge band with a graceful curve, is U.S. size 10 1/2. I use only argentium sterling silver for my ear wires and the other silver elements in my jewelry. Argentium sterling silver is a hypoallergenic alloy of silver using only recycled silver. It contains more pure silver than ordinary sterling (93.5% or 94%, vs. a minimum of 92% for other sterling). It contains no nickel. It is very durable, and unlike ordinary sterling silver, it is tarnish-resistant. Ruby is the birthstone for July.