Gold Enamel Floral Ring with Scalloped Edge

Small flowers enamelled in red and green sit across a gold-tone face, each bloom outlined by the raised gold cell that holds its colour. The band adjusts.

Several Small Flowers, Not One Large One

Breaking the design into a scatter of small blooms rather than a single centred flower changes what the ring can do. There is no focal point to line up, so it never looks wrong however it settles on the finger; and because the colour is distributed rather than concentrated, the piece reads as patterned instead of as a statement. It is the difference between a printed fabric and a brooch.

Enamel on Small Shapes

Each flower needs its own set of cell walls, which means the smaller the bloom the finer the goldwork holding it. That is where the labour goes on a piece like this — not in the colour but in the thin raised lines that keep one petal's red from running into its neighbour's green during firing. When you look at enamel work closely, the gold outlines are the actual craft.

How It Fits

Adjustable at the back, so no ring size is needed. Ease it open with both hands and set it once.

How to Style It

Red, green and gold is the festival palette, so it belongs with silk, gold-bordered cotton, maroon and ivory. Small enough to stack with a plain band, unlike the wide meena rosettes.

Occasion

Festivals, pujas, weddings, daytime functions and daily wear.

Comfort

Light and flush — enamel adds no height, so nothing catches.

About the Gold-Tone Finish

This is brass with a gold-tone plating rather than solid gold, which is what keeps the price where it is. Plating is a surface rather than a bulk property, so how long it lasts depends almost entirely on what it meets. Rings have a harder life than earrings — hands are washed, knocked and creamed all day — so a gold-plated ring will show wear sooner than a gold-plated earring will. Taking it off before washing your hands makes more difference than anything else you can do.

Care

Put it on after hand cream, perfume and sanitiser, and take it off before washing up, swimming or sleeping. Wipe with a dry soft cloth after wearing and keep liquid away from the enamel. Never use silver polish, dip cleaners, bleach or an ultrasonic cleaner. Store it dry in a pouch rather than loose, so it cannot rub against other rings.

Product Details

Type: Adjustable enamel ring. Metal: Brass. Finish: Gold-tone plating with red and green enamel. Work: Scattered enamelled flowers in raised gold cells. Fit: Adjustable, open band.

Fit and adjustment

A tall setting looks impressive and catches on everything. If you want a ring for daily wear, the flat and low ones are the ones that survive; keep the raised and fringed designs for occasions where your hands are not doing much.

Nothing here is hallmarked and none of it carries resale value, and both facts are stated plainly rather than buried. What you are buying is the design and the finish at a price that lets you match a piece to one outfit without weighing up the cost.