Floral Art Nouveau Opal and Diamond Ring, c. 1900

The black opal glows like a captured aurora, its fiery greens, blues, and flashes of red shifting with every movement. Encircled by the curling tendrils of an 18-karat gold floral design, this ring whispers of Art Nouveau's naturalistic beauty. Its old European-cut diamonds glisten like dew drops, perfectly accenting the organic flow of the setting. A ring so effortlessly elegant, one can almost imagine it gracing the hand of a Belle Époque muse. Crafted around 1900, this unmarked masterpiece features a central black opal measuring 9.4 x 7.2 x 2.3 mm, and it is further adorned with four closed-back old European-cut diamonds, each approximately 2.5 mm. The ring's face measures 13 mm north to south and 20 mm across, sitting 6.4 mm above the finger. It tapers to 2.1 mm at the band, ensuring a comfortable fit. Weighing 5.78 grams, this size 6.75 ring exemplifies the skilled craftsmanship of its era. Wear it as a statement of enduring beauty and individuality, a talisman of nature’s brillia