Victorian Mourning Ring with Lock of Hair and Pearls in 9k Gold

Five half pearls run in a flowing line across the black enamel face of this Victorian mourning ring, each one star set into the 9k yellow gold and graduated from 1.7 mm down to 1.1 mm. Gold scrollwork frames the pearls against the enamel, and the band tapers from 7 mm at the face to  3.5 mm at the back.

Turn it over and the ring tells you who it was made for. Engraved inside the band: W.B.W. Born 25-3-81 Obit 5-10-98. A life of seventeen years, from March 1881 to October 1898, written in the day-month order used in Britain at the time. Obit is Latin for “died,” the customary wording on mourning jewelry. Set into the shank beside the inscription is a small glazed compartment made to hold a lock of hair, the most intimate element a mourning ring could carry, worn against the skin of the person left behind.

The ring is hallmarked for British 9 carat gold, with the 9 and .375 standard marks used between 1854 and 1932. In the language of Victorian mourning, black enamel signaled grief and pearls stood for tears. Together with a named, dated inscription and a hair compartment, this is a deeply personal piece of nineteenth-century remembrance, and one that has survived with its story intact.

The enamel and all five pearls are original. The enamel shows noticeable wear, the honest record of a ring worn daily in memory. It currently fits a US 6.5. Because of the enamel and the hair compartment, any sizing should be handled by a jeweler experienced with antique enamel work, so please ask us before making changes.

Era: Victorian, circa 1898
Materials: 9k pink gold, black enamel
Stones: 5 half pearls, 1.1–1.7 mm, star set
Markings: British 9 ct hallmarks (9, .375); inscribed “W.B.W. Born 25-3-81 Obit 5-10-98”
Special Feature: sealed hair compartment inside the shank
Dimensions: 7 mm at the face, tapering to 3.5 mm
Weight: 2.8 grams
Ring Size: US 6.5 (inquire about sizing)
Condition: Original enamel and pearls; noticeable wear to the enamel

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