Antique 14K Cat's Eye tourmaline dress ring
An antique 14K ring set with a Cat's Eye tourmaline. The olive-green tourmaline is cabochon cut with a blunt band of light that floats across the body of the stone. This effect is called "chatoyancy" and refers to the concentration of light that appears and shifts side to side in the gemstone under direct light. The stone is set in a buttercup head in a classic Late Victorian ring, complete with black tracery details up the shoulders. Wear consistent with age. The tourmaline is probably a replacement for the original stone, which may have been a turquoise, moonstone, or other cabochon-cut gem. Measurements: Size 8 1/2 US, 2.9 grams Era: mounting 1910s, stone more modern Markings: N/A, tests for 14K