Object Description
Yard Inc. diamond and ruby cocktail ring. Set centrally with one octagonal Asscher cut diamond, F colour, VS2 clarity, with an approximate weight of 1.87 carats in an open back claw setting, flanked with a recessed vertical row of three tapered baguette cut natural unenhanced Burmese rubies in open back channel settings with an approximate combined weight of 0.50 carats, further enhanced with six round old cut diamonds in open back grain settings with a combined weight of 0.30 carats. The total approximate diamond weight is 2.17 carats, to a asymmetrical geometric cluster design, featuring an angled gallery, polished borders and intricately pierced open backholing, the broad trumpeting shoulders tapering down to a solid flat shank. Tested platinum, signed ‘YARD’, American, circa 1935, accompanied by an HRD Antwerp report #10003061001.
Yard first introduced asymmetrical cocktail rings, also known as ‘sport’ rings, in the 1930’s. They became increasingly substantial pieces of jewellery in the following decade, often set with sizable centre stones. A similar ring, differing only in the shape of the central diamond, appears in ‘Yard:The Life and Magnificent Jewelry of Raymond C. Yard’, by Natasha Kuzmanovic, fig. 313.