For Customers outside of USA

Size 10 1/2 Genuine Ancient Sculpted Diamond Pattern Roman Bronze Ring 300 AD.

CLASSIFICATION: Ancient Roman Bronze Ring with raised relief diamond shaped bezel and acorn or laurel berry embellishments.

ATTRIBUTION: Eastern Roman Empire (Thracia), 3rd Century A.D.

SIZE/MEASUREMENTS: Fits ring size 10 1/2 (U.S.).

Bezel: 15mm (length) * 9mm (width).

Tapered Width Band: 4 1/2mm (at bezel) * 3mm (at sides) * 2 1/2mm (at back).

Diameter: 24mm * 23mm (outer diameter); 21mm (inner diameter).

Weight: 2.82 grams.

CONDITION: Excellent! Completely intact, moderately light wear, moderately light porosity (surface pitting caused by contact with earth while buried). Professionally conserved.

DETAIL: An especially nice crafted and well preserved ancient Roman bronze ring circa 250-300 A.D. As you can see, the design is simple, but elegant. The "bezel" or center part of this ring is an elegantly sculpted diamond shape with little embellishments (either acorns or laurel berries) on either end of the diamond. The result is a ring which is very modern and distinctive in appearance - classically timeless design. The ring has a very nice patina, a medium tone quite characteristic of ancient bronze. Both sides of the diamond-shaped bezel possess acorn-like embellishments where it meets the band. There is not a separate and discrete engraved bezel as was so common for Roman rings of this era. Rather the "bezel" is an integral part of the band itself, much like a modern ring is constructed. The sculpted design is still very distinct and quite sharp, little worn by the passage of seventeen centuries.

This ring is in a very good state of preservation and has been professionally conserved. The sculpted pattern remains in high relief, though it is clear from the wear that the ring was worn for many years before ultimately being lost. However you have to look very closely to see any of the telltale signs indicating the ring was buried for millennia. Most small artifacts such as this suffer extensive degradation from porosity, which is fine surface pitting caused by prolonged burial in caustic soil. This ring spent seventeen centuries buried, yet by good fortune there is virtually no porosity of any significance - it happened to be in very gentle soil conditions. This is an exceptional piece of Roman jewelry, a very handsome artifact, and eminently wearable. It possesses a very beautiful, rich, golden color very characteristic of ancient bronze.

The Romans were of course very fond of jewelry, oftentimes wearing a ring on each finger - and sometimes even on both the second and third joint of each finger. They also had a fondness for many other forms of personal jewelry including bracelets worn both on the forearm and upper arm, belt buckles, chains, pendants, earrings, hair pins, and brooches. This ring could easily be worn and enjoyed on a daily basis, an evocative authentic "souvenir" of the glory and grandeur which was the Roman Empire, the greatest military power, and one of the most advanced civilizations of the ancient world. Almost two thousand years after it was originally produced, it could still bring its next owner many decades of wearing enjoyment.

HISTORY: One of the greatest civilizations of recorded history was the ancient Roman Empire. In exchange for a very modest amount of contemporary currency, you can possess a small part of that great civilization in the form of a 2,000 year old piece of jewelry. The Roman civilization, in relative terms the greatest military power in the history of the world, was founded in the 8th century (B.C.) In the 4th Century (B.C.) the Romans were the dominant power on the Italian Peninsula, having defeated the Etruscans and Celts. In the 3rd Century (B.C.) the Romans conquered Sicily, and in the following century defeated Carthage, and controlled the Greece. Throughout the remainder of the 2nd Century (B.C.) the Roman Empire continued its gradual conquest of the Hellenistic (Greek Colonial) World by conquering Syria and Macedonia; and finally came to control Egypt in the 1st Century (B.C.)

The pinnacle of Roman power was achieved in the 1st Century (A.D.) as Rome conquered much of Britain and Western Europe. For a brief time, the era of "Pax Romana", a time of peace and consolidation reigned. Civilian emperors were the rule, and the culture flourished with a great deal of liberty enjoyed by the average Roman Citizen. However within 200 years the Roman Empire was in a state of steady decay, attacked by Germans, Goths, and Persians. In the 4th Century (A.D.) the Roman Empire was split between East and West. The Great Emperor Constantine temporarily arrested the decay of the Empire, but within a hundred years after his death the Persians captured Mesopotamia, Vandals infiltrated Gaul and Spain, and the Goths even sacked Rome itself. Most historians date the end of the Western Roman Empire to 476 (A.D.) when Emperor Romulus Augustus was deposed. However the Eastern Roman Empire (The Byzantine Empire) survived until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD.

At its peak, the Roman Empire stretched from Britain in the West, throughout most of Western, Central, and Eastern Europe, and into Asia Minor. Valuables such as coins and jewelry were commonly buried for safekeeping, and inevitably these ancient citizens would succumb to one of the many perils of the ancient world. Oftentimes the survivors of these individuals did not know where the valuables had been buried, and today, two thousands years later caches of coins and rings are still commonly uncovered throughout Europe and Asia Minor. Roman Soldiers oftentimes came to possess large quantities of "booty" from their plunderous conquests, and routinely buried their treasure for safekeeping before they went into battle.

If they met their end in battle, most often the whereabouts of their treasure was likewise, unknown. Throughout history these treasures have been inadvertently discovered by farmers in their fields, uncovered by erosion, and the target of unsystematic searches by treasure seekers. With the introduction of metal detectors and other modern technologies to Eastern Europe in the past three or four decades, an amazing number of new finds are seeing the light of day 2,000 years or more after they were originally hidden by their past owners. And with the liberalization of post-Soviet Eastern Europe, new markets have opened eager to share in these treasures of the Roman Empire.

These antiquities come from a number of collections which by and large originated here in Eastern Europe. As well, additional specimens are occasionally acquired from other institutions and dealers, principally in Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. All of these artifacts are now in the United States and are available for immediate delivery via U.S. Mail. Proceeds of the sales benefit the Southern Urals State Student Association for Archaeological and Anthropological Studies in Russia; providing both postgraduate and undergraduate students with meaningful part-time employment, notebook computers, and both reference and study materials. It also supports other institutions and organizations within Russia involved in the study of anthropology and archaeology. All purchases are backed by an unlimited guarantee of satisfaction and authenticity. If for any reason you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase, you may return it for a complete and immediate refund of your entire purchase price.

SHIPPING: These antiquities come from a number of collections which by and large originated here in Eastern Europe. As well, additional specimens are occasionally acquired from other institutions and dealers, principally in Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. All of these artifacts are now in the United States and are available for immediate delivery via U.S. Mail. All purchases are backed by an unlimited guarantee of satisfaction and authenticity. If for any reason you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase, you may return it for a complete and immediate refund of your entire purchase price. A certificate of authenticity (COA) is available upon request.

Our order fulfillment center near Seattle, Washington will ship your purchase within one business day of receipt of your personal check or money order. If you wish to pay electronically, we accept both PayPal and BidPay. However we ask that you PLEASE WAIT before remitting until we have mutually agreed upon method of shipment and shipping charges and you understand our PayPal limitations and policies (stated here). We will ship within one business day of our receipt of your electronic remittance.

A certificate of authenticity (COA) is available upon request. We prefer your personal check or money order over any other form of payment - and we will ship immediately upon receipt of your check (no "holds"). Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE."