Georgian Secret Compartment Ring
Remarkable Georgian ring with a secret in the form of a concealed compartment inside the band. A secret, hinged lid can be flicked open to allow for storage of... well, that's up to you. The creator likely intended it for a lock of hair. It's crafted in 18ct gold and bares a double dedication to husband and wife, split over three lines inside the band:
John Cutts Lockwood, Natus 19 Dec 1762, dieu mortuas 25 Sept 1830
Amelia Lockwood, Nupta Mar 1795, mortua dieu 12 Oct 1807
"Multis bonis flebiles quam mihi"
The ring is dedicated to Rev. John Cutts Lockwood and Amelia Lockwood (née Boddington) who married in 1795, presumably it was commissioned as a mourning piece by their son, Rev. John William Lockwood. The final line is a particularly stoic response, translating from Latin as (roughly): More good than sad for me; or, I found more happiness in their lives, than sadness in their deaths. There's a short obituary on thepeerage.com relating to John Sr:
"Reverend John Cutts Lockwood was the son of Reverend Edward Lockwood and Lucy Dowdeswell. He married Amelia Boddington, daughter of Thomas Boddington, on 3 March 1795. He died in 1830. He was educated between 1774 and 1780 at Westminster School, Westminster, London, England. He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, in 1781. He graduated from Christ Church, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, in 1784 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) He graduated from Christ Church, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, in 1787 with a Master of Arts (M.A.) He was the Vicar between 1793 and 1816 at Yoxford, Suffolk, England. He was the Rector between 1797 and 1816 at Topcroft, Norfolk, England. He was the Vicar in 1816 at Croydon, Surrey, England. He was the Rector in 1820 at Coulsdon, Surrey, England."
Era: Georgian, circa 1830
Ring size: M 1/2 or 6.5 US
Width of band: 5.6mm
Marks: Inscription inside the band. Tested as 18ct gold.
Condition: Great antique condition. Compartment closes securely (we don't know what's inside, but it can be cleaned out if desired). Strong antique patina consistent with age.
Full appraisal document provided with each item
This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable)
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain)
Shipping
Express shipping is free of charge and carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
UPS Express (International)
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
Buying a Gift?
Leave a note at checkout and we'll include a handwritten note to the recipient. Just tell us what you'd like to say
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£35 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
A 25% deposit will be taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved, often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff/scrape are quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
More Questions?
Get in touch... There's a live chat at the bottom right of each page.
alex@lostowl.jewelry