Georgian Urn Mourning Ring Dated 1780 18k Gold

William Scott died on the 19th of September 1780. He was 39. His name, and the day he was lost, were set into a slim band of 18k gold so that someone who loved him could keep him close.

The oval face holds a painted miniature of a funerary urn under crystal, the Georgian emblem of remembrance. Nearly two and a half centuries of wear have softened the painting to a whisper, so you see it the way you hold a memory: more feeling than detail. Around the outside of the band, the inscription runs in gold lettering, his name and the date of his death traveling around the finger.

A ring that was worn. Mourning rings were commissioned by the family, often provided for in a will, and given to those closest to the deceased. Many ended up in a drawer. This one did not. The softened bezel and faded miniature are the marks of a ring that was put on, and kept on.

How it wears today. At 2.1 grams on a 1.9 mm band, it has a delicate, everyday scale. It holds its own alone and sits beautifully beside a modern band, carrying a 246-year-old story without asking for attention.

Era: Georgian, dated 1780
Materials: 18k yellow gold, painted miniature under crystal; inscription in gold, no enamel
Markings: WILM SCOTT AND OBT 19 SEPT 1780 AE 39, around the outside of the band
Special Feature: Urn miniature under crystal
Dimensions: 13.6 x 11.2 mm at the face; band is 1.9 mm
Weight: 2.1 grams
Ring Size: US 7 (inquire about sizing)
Condition: Original, with noticeable wear on the bezel and to the miniature beneath the crystal

See it in person at 3 Water Street in Historic Downtown Mystic, or write to hello@petrastar.com for more photos or a video.