Transformer : Art Deco ‘Flip’ Ring with Carré Cut Paste Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire and Diamonds in Sterling Silver circa 1930s

Sold The ‘flip’ ring was a novelty jewellery innovation dating to about 1910, also known as a “day to night” ring. It was designed to allow the wearer to choose between several gemstone options by flipping the bands on the sides over. This example is not quite so old, dating to about the 1930s and is made in Sterling silver with carré cut paste gemstones, with beautiful engraved details on the sides of the bands. This flip ring is unusual for its arrangement of coloured stones – in most cases the bands that can flip are set with diamonds, but in this case the movable bands are set with paste ruby and sapphire. Manufacture  Handmade in Sterling silver. There are no hallmarks present, the precious metal has been verified by XRF test. The gemstones have been verified by an independent gemologist as paste (leaded coloured glass) in green, red, blue and colourless to imitate emeralds, ruby, sapphire and diamonds. The middle band is set with paste diamonds on one half and paste emeralds on the other. One each side is a hinged half band that can be moved to sit next to either the diamond or emerald half of the ring. The sides of each band are covered in delicate crisp engraving. Each of the bands measures 2.5mm wide, with three together they are 7.6mm across. The ring sits 2.35mm high on the finger. Weighs 3.81 grams. Size  (Aus/UK) P (US) 7.45 (International) 56 not resizable Condition  Very good condition. Under magnification you can see that the stones are abraded on the top facets, with some small chips here and there – nothing that can be seen with the naked eye. Surprisingly the engraving is all pristine. The hinges are smooth and trouble free. Ready for immediate wear.