Roman gold ring with a natural octahedral diamond. Roman, 3rd / 4th century

An exceptionally rare Roman gold ring set with a natural octahedral diamond.

Roman, 3rd / 4th century AD.

Ring size J UK / 4.75 US.

Weighs 6.3 grams.

The diamond measures approximately 4.2 x 4.2mm.

Provenance: Private English Collection, formed between the late 1970’s - early 1990’s.

Examples of this type of Roman ring set with a diamond rarely come to the market. An example of a similar ring recently sold is currently on loan to the Metropolitan museum of New York:

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/667866

The British Museum holds a number of comparable Roman diamond rings in their collection:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1917-0501-789

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1872-0604-197

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1926-0407-24

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1917-0501-785

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1917-0501-790