Victorian Helen of Troy Cameo Ring
An unusual neoclassical cameo ring depicting Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, the face that launched a thousand ships, weeping amongst the ruins of Troy. Carved from a single piece of banded agate with a navette (aka little boat) shape, Helen and the ruins are rendered in a white band and the background is a vibrant green chrysoprase. She's mounted in rich and buttery 18 carat gold and dates from the late Victorian period, circa 1880.
"Helen. The wife of Menelaus and the woman for whom the Greeks faught at Troy. In Homer's epic work, she was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, with Tyndareus as her 'human' father. The Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux, were her brothers, and Clytemnestra her sister. Helen was later said to be the daughter of Zeus and Nemesis. Still other traditions claim that Helen was the daughter of Oceanus or even of Aphrodite." - Dictionary of Classical Mythology, Pierre Grimal (1951)
Era: Victorian, circa 1880
Stone: Hardstone Agate
Ring size: N 1/2 or 7 US. Resize for £55
Head: 17.4mm by 9.7mm
Marks: Stamped 18ct
Condition: Great antique condition
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
DHL Express shipping is free of charge on international orders over £300 and it's carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
US Shipments
US Customs no longer charges a 10% tariff on antiques shipped from the UK. We will ensure that our parcels are correctly declared using the relevant HTS codes to qualify for the tariff exemption and zero-rated (0%) duties so you won't have any customs fees to pay at the border. You will remain liable for any handling/storage fees charged by DHL as a result of a delay in providing any additional customs information.
[Last updated: September 2026]
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 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
25% deposit 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 and often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff or scrape is 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.
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 :)
More Questions?
Get in touch... There's a live chat at the bottom right of the page.
info@lostowl.com
An inscription can be added inside the band, where space allows. Add 3-6 weeks to shipping times Add a note in the cart* with your desired size and/or inscription
*the shopping cart, not checkout