A Byzantine Garnet and Gold Domed Finger Ring, Byzantine Empire, ca. 5th - 7th century CE

This rare and significant ancient gold ring features a high-domed garnet cabochon set in an elevated cylindrical bezel. The bezel is designed with stepped shoulders and crowned with a small gold dot. The garnet is a rich, translucent crimson and sits securely within the bezel, rising prominently above the setting. The broad gold band is elegantly adorned with an engraved, scrolling foliate motif. With symbolic and protective significance, such rings were a popular design in Late Roman and early Byzantine goldwork.

In Byzantine society, such rings were more than mere adornment, they served as powerful symbols of wealth, status, and spiritual protection. Garnets, believed to ward off evil and promote vitality, enhanced the talismanic quality of the piece. The exceptional craftsmanship, symbolic design, and luxurious materials suggest ownership by someone of high social or religious rank. In Byzantine society, jewelry like this was deeply encoded with meaning, communicating the wearer’s piety, political and religious affiliations, and elevated place in the social hierarchy. Gold, pearls, and precious stones were not only admired for their beauty, but also reflected the wearer’s access to elite materials, esoteric iconography, and master artisans. Such objects were thought to create a tangible link to the divine realm, providing both spiritual protection and a visible expression of devotion.

Medium: Garnet, gold

Dimensions: US ring size 5 (UK/AUS=J 1/2, FR=49, DK=15 3/4, JP=9, CH=9 1/2)

Condition:  Excellent. The ring remains intact with minimal wear on the band, which is crisp; the garnet is unchipped and well-polished, and there is minor cracking to the bezel securing the garnet that does not detract.  The gold dot has been resecured, and most probably the garnet, but there are no other signs of restoration.

Provenance: Private New Jersey collection, formed in the 1970s - 2000s.