18k gold and diamond panther ring. Mid 1900's (see note on date below). Origin unknown. Unisex - suitable for a man or a woman.
Measurements:
Weight: 6.0 grams | Ring size: US 6
Metal: 18k gold | Diamond: one small accent stone (eye)
Description:
The ring is modelled in the form of a panther's head, with a collared neck and body tapering seamlessly into the shank. Rather than a conventional band, the shank is completed by a gold chain-mail leash, attached to the collar around the panther's neck — a highly original and unusual variation on the panther motif. A single small diamond is set in the eye.
The modelling throughout is naturalistic and full of character. This versatile ring can be worn alone as a striking statement piece, or stacked comfortably with other rings.
When worn, the ring sits comfortably like a simple gold band on the finger — making it just as suited to everyday wear as a distinctive, unconventional wedding ring. Truly charming, and suited equally well to a man or a woman.
Marks and Metal:
No marks were found. Gold was electronically tested.
Condition:
Good, with minor wear consistent with age. Please review the enlarged photos closely, and don't hesitate to reach out with any questions — we're happy to help.
THE STORY:
Historically, big cats — tigers, panthers, and leopards among them — became enormously popular subjects in fine jewelry. Cartier's panther is perhaps the most famous example, a motif the house adopted early on and one that remains widely recognized and emulated in jewelry design to this day. Other houses, particularly in France, created their own memorable interpretations of these felines as early as the late Victorian and Art Nouveau periods — Boucheron among them. At the close of the first half of the 1900's the Duchess of Windsor brought feline jewelry once more to the fore.
This ring is an unattributed example from that broader tradition rather than a documented piece from any specific maker, but it captures the same spirit of naturalistic, characterful big-cat jewelry that defined the era — with its chain-leash shank offering a genuinely inventive twist on a well-loved theme. In the absence of marks, we are also dating the ring to 'approximately mid 20th century', following the emergence of the panther as a highly popular subject in jewelry.
