Sleek Modernist Amethyst Cabochon Ring Size 7.5 US 18K Gold Sweden 1961

I'm so excited about this one - a sleek modernist ring from Sweden, 1961, where a juicy amethyst cabochon sits like a drop of violet light on a wide, polished band of 18K gold.

This is Scandinavian design at its most confident: no frills, no fuss, just a broad ribbon of buttery gold that tapers around the finger and lifts the stone in a smooth bezel. She looks just as right with a white shirt today as she did in 1961.

The stone is cut as a cabochon - polished smooth instead of faceted - which gives the amethyst that deep, glowing pool of color you can look straight down into. I have written about this ancient way of cutting stones here: What Is a Cabochon?

And amethyst carries the loveliest meaning of all the stones. Her name is Greek, amethystos, "not drunken" - the ancients believed she guarded sobriety and clear thinking, and for centuries she was the stone of bishops and royalty, worn for calm, clarity and protection. That is exactly what she feels like on: a quiet, steady calm on your hand, the stone you touch when you need a clear head and a little courage.

Her Swedish hallmarks inside date her to 1961 - and if you love decoding those little stamps as much as I do, you can read every Swedish mark at The Hallmark Society.

She weighs around 4 grams and fits like a size 7.5 US.

Excellent condition with minor signs of age.

Please don't wait on this one - modernist Swedish gold with a real stone is exactly what collectors hunt for right now.