Victorian Heraldic Signet Ring

Victorian Heraldic Signet RingVictorian signet ring with an interesting intaglio crest and motto: an eagle rises above a ribbon emblazoned with the words FALL NOTHING OFF. But what of the motto, you may very well ask? It's an old naval term instructing the helmsman to keep course as close to the wind as possible ("fall off" meaning steer away from the wind). While I can't speak for an 18th century ship of the line, my days dinghy sailing taught me that the fastest line a boat

it appears to have decayed over the years

the drop and the main pendant are almost certainly a later marriage - very much in keeping with the Victorian penchant for eclecticism

Its centrepiece is a vibrant opal displaying an excellent play of colour - the iridescent optical effect unique to opal - as it hits the light

A couple panes of glass are missing and/or cracked

these gods were worshiped by merchants as the first two (Ebisu and Daikokuten) were gods of business and trade

and bordered by impeccable granulated goldwork

Egyptian circa 1000 BC

Striking vintage half-hoop ring dating from the 1970s and set with five dazzling gemstones: three bright

tested as 18ct gold with 14ct clasp

using simple geometric angles and lines to stunning effect

Hitherto a whole

Halley also mapped and catalogues the southern celestial hemisphere from an observatory he built on Saint Helena