French Heavy 18K Gold & Platinum Diamond Signet Ring Antique Old Mine Cut Art Deco Tank Chevalière Pinky 1940's Vintage Engagement

Vintage French Heavy 18K Gold & Platinum Diamond Signet Ring An impressive signet ring set with a 0.6Ct antique diamond crafted in 18K gold & platinum circa 1940. This iconic design is known as a ’tank chevalire’ ring & gets its name from the wartime period in which it was made. During the 1940’s, there were great difficulties in sourcing precious metals which caused their price to skyrocket. This gave birth to big, heavy French ’tank’ jewellery. It was made with gold that had to be supplied by the customer, the goldsmith would then melt & work the gold (typically from antique jewellery) in their workshop. in these troubled times, people possessed this type of jewellery for two main reasons. For some, it was a safe haven to allow them to take their valuable belongings with them in a condensed manner, while for others, it symbolised, without modesty or discretion, a great success in business despite the difficult market (often through the underground economy). Unlike the whiteness of Art Deco rings, tank rings are mostly yellow gold, with platinum being used to set the diamonds which were often recovered from older jewellery. UK size M, 17.58g 18K gold & platinum (heavy!) Platinum plaque measures 10mm across, face of the ring measures 11.2mm north to south & measures 18.8mm between the two vertical cylinders. The antique diamond has excellent clarity & brilliance. The ring is in superb condition. French Heavy 18K Gold & Platinum Diamond Signet Ring Antique Old Mine Cut Art Deco Tank Chevalire Pinky 1940’s Vintage Engagement