How modern is an antique ring?

At first sight, the image shows a gorgeous and very modern ring, a true designer’s piece, enough to raise anyone’s curiosity.

To my greatest surprise, I learn that it belonged to Emperor Caligula, who succeeded Tiberius in 37 BC. This means that the dazzling and breathtaking sapphire ring is almost two thousand years old! Knowing that sapphires are only a little less hard than diamonds, it is incredible that in Roman times craftsmen mastered the skill to cut and polish this stone. What’s more, they even were capable of carving the delicate portrait of a woman on the front of the ring.

Research has revealed that the portrait displays Caligula’s last wife, Caesonia, whose mind was as twisted at that of her husband. 

The ring came up for auction in 2019, together with other jewelry that belonged to the Marlborough Collection. This collection of 800 carved gemstones and cameos was amassed by the 4th Duke of Marlborough in the 18th century. Most jewelry dated from antiquity. By 1899 the gems were sold off, and many pieces ended up in private hands. Sadly, today’s experts only know the whereabouts of approximately one-quarter of the collection.

In this context, a portrait of Marc Antony also seems to have the same provenance. His image is carved in a Roman golden framed sard (a variety of chalcedony). His less bloody love affair with Cleopatra also went down in history.

[Pictures from My Modern Met]