A ring as fragile as love

This stone ring is my favourite piece of jewellery. It was given to me two birthdays ago by a man I loved. There is only one thing I adored more that he gave me, and I have not looked at it since the day I took it off.

Made of an apple-green stone on a sterling silver base, this dome-shaped ring is very fragile. And as much as I love it, every time I wear it I am filled with terror that I shall smash it.

We were wandering through the city one weekend and meandered into a little shop called Dittoday in Block Place, one of Melbourne’s delightful laneways. I saw this ring on a glass shelf and instantly fell in love with it. I was encouraged to try it on (just for fun) although I had no intention at all of buying it.

I saw this ring on a glass shelf and instantly fell in love with it.

As I admired the ring on my hand, turning it in the light, my former fiancé smiled and asked if I would like it for an early birthday present. My eyes must have lit up immediately because before very long the sales assistant was polishing it up carefully and ringing up a purchase.

She told me the ring was made from chrysoprase, a gemstone variety of chalcedony, and I should be very careful not to drop it as it could shatter. The faceted stone wraps around the sterling silver base, and is quite thick and heavy even at the thinnest part.

I felt it was such a treasure of a find. I’ve occasionally wandered back into that jewellery boutique, but I’ve never seen its like again, nor have I seen anything similar anywhere else. I’m glad to think I was given such a unique present, and so spontaneously (never a forte of his).

Now I look at it, and although it makes me a little sad, I wear it sometimes and guard it fiercely. I want the ring at least to last forever.

(L-R) Rough nugget; Chinese chrysoprase bead and sterling silver necklace by Ann Sheldon; cabochon; antique snuffbox; ‘Early Budding Vine’ sterling silver bracelet by Giftbearer; tumbled nuggets.

The bracelet can be bought at the Art Jewellery Collective, and the necklace from Ann Sheldon.