Fluted Gemstone and Diamond Ring by André Vassort

• Onyx - Onyx is a form of agate, used from antiquity and popular again in the 1920s and 30s. European onyx is generally green, but can be many other colours, and can contain bands of black and/or white.
  
  This multicoloured stone is widely used for table tops, lamp bases and in jewellery. Some types of onyx are also used for cameos of which the upper white layer is cut away to reveal the colour beneath.
• Bombe Design in Jewellery - In the early 18th century, during the reign of Louis XIV, French court jewellers developed a new style of jewellery called "bombé" because of its bulging, curved shape.
  
  The bombe design can be found in various styles of jewellery, from Georgian, Victorian, Art nouveau, to Art Deco and Retro eras, with the materials and techniques reflecting the era the jewellery was made.
  
  The design is used for rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings, where a curved or rounded shape is emphasized, giving an organic look to the piece, with the piece often made of gold and set with precious stones, such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. The bombe design was also paired with other design elements such as engraving, enamelling, or gemstones
• Assay / Assayed - Assaying is the testing of a metal, most commonly silver and gold to determine its ingredients and quality. In Britain, once an item of silver or gold has been assayed, a mark is stamped on it, certifying its purity. Known as hallmark, it derives its name from the Guild Hall of the Goldsmiths' Company, who recieved its Charter in 1327 giving it the power to assay and mark articles of gold and silver.
• A/f, as Inspected - The letters "A/F" or "as inspected" as part of a description is the cataloguer's shorthand for "all faults" or "as found", meaning the item has some type of damage or deficiency, it is of uncertain date or provenance, and/or that the seller takes no responsibility for the completeness of the item or the accuracy of the description.
• Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• rings, design - bombe design 179
• rings, diamond
  • diamond and onyx 193
  • diamond, threestone 1,498