14K Gold, Heraldic Signet Ring with Bicolour Onyx, Prague 1872–1922

In the goldsmith ateliers of Prague at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, jewellery was not merely ornamental. It often carried weightier meanings — symbols of lineage, power, and legacy, such as this distinguished signet ring. Crafted in 580-grade gold during the Austro-Hungarian Empire (circa 1872–1922), this piece is a compelling remnant of a time when identity was cast in gold and carved in stone.

At its centre lies a bicolour onyx — a gemstone prized for its natural layers, allowing artisans to carve intaglio designs with striking contrast. The engraving, though simplified, evokes the Szembek family coat of arms: a goat poised in a heraldic stance, facing dexter, under a noble coronet crowned with ostrich feathers.

More than a personal emblem, this was once a functional object — the intaglio designed to leave a wax seal on letters, confirming not just authorship but social stature. Today, it serves as a wearable document of a bygone world order.

The surface of the gold retains delicate micro-scratches — gentle reminders of more than a century of use. Rather than being polished away, this patina has been preserved as part of the ring’s enduring identity — a quiet testimony to its uninterrupted journey through history.