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Period: c. 1920s post-Victorian ring; a classic six-prong solitaire design with ornate floral and wheat-pattern/Neoclassical laurel engraving
Maker: The piece is stamped “OB10K” with a Maltese cross. The maker’s mark is that of jewelry manufacturer Ostby & Barton Company from Providence, Rhode Island (est. July 1, 1879). Englebart Ostby was a renowned jeweler who trained at the Royal School of Art in Norway, and his company was a highly regarded—and one of the most prolific—ring manufacturers of the era. Yet Ostby would never witness the extent of his company’s success, as he was among those who lost their lives as the Titanic sank in 1912. His daughter, Helen, who was also a passenger, survived. Helen and Ostby’s brother, Harold, became joint owners of the company in 1914, and the company continued production until c. 1950.
It is rumored in various online antique-jewelry forums that the presence of the Maltese Cross (as seen within this piece) denotes one of Ostby’s own designs. The claim, however, is unsubstantiated. Indeed, many rings with clear 1920s and 1930s designs (thus created after Ostby's death) bear a Matese Cross cross. For now, the mark's significance remains a mystery. Nonetheless, the Maltese Cross is widely accepted as a special stamp, and it adds intrigue to an already unique piece.
Materials: 10K faint-rose gold; diamond
Dimensions: the diamond measures 6.33 mm in diameter at its widest point; the ring stands 6.25 mm tall above the finger
Size: 6 (free sizing)
Diamond: GIA-assessed .97 carat Old European Cut diamond with K color and SI1 clarity
Item Q3426
LABEB
