Presenting a wonderful antique ring manufactured by one of our well known and enduring Australian jewellery firms ‘PROUD(S)’ founded in 1903 in Sydney.

Dating to the Art Deco era circa, 1920’s, and crafted from 18ct white gold, this wonderful early ring is designed as a ’Trilogy’ ring with three early round brilliant cut diamonds set in horizontal fashion in individual square settings, each bead claw set and featuring millgrain edging to each setting.

The gallery is marvelous.. ornate open worked filigree typical or the era, to inverted tapered shoulders each set with a further four beautiful small antique cut diamonds.
A simple thick and strong D shaped band complements this ring perfectly.

A rare find, clearly hallmarked for PROUD(S) this dazzling piece of Australian jewellery history lends itself to being accompanied by a plain wedder or several, or perhaps a diamond Art Deco band - we have two available for purchase!

STONES
Diamond
1 @ approximately 0.16c
2 @ approximately 0.14ct
8 @ approximately TDW 0.10ct
Colour H-I
Clarity SI2-PI - mixed
TDW estimated in confines of settings 0.55ct

ERA
Art Deco - 1920-1935

MEASUREMENTS
East to west shoulder to shoulder - 1.7cm
Width - 5.6mm
Rise - 5.1mm

WEIGHT
3.22 Grams

MARKS
‘PROUD’ - For Proud(s) - W.J. Proud, Proud Ltd
18ct - Very faded stamp - tested as 18ct

SIZE
O or 17.5mm diameter US 7 1/4
Could be resized approx 2 up, 2, 4 down

CONDITION
Very very good antique condition. No chips to diamonds, well set. No repairs. No thinning to shank, very solid. No damage to filigree gallery. Lovely Australian antique ring.

W.J. Proud, Proud Ltd - 1905-Present

Founded in 1903 by Sydney merchant William James Proud after Proud purchased the Modern Art Jewellery Co. at 187 Pitt Street from A. E. Goldstein, and, by 1905 was trading as W. J. Proud, gem merchant, jewellery and watchmaker.

By 1912 Prouds had become a propriety company and by this time William had been joined by his brothers Edward and George.

By the 1920’s Prouds had developed into a substantial retail jewellery firm and was situated at the corner of Pitt and King Streets Sydney.
Remaining a family business until 1948 at which time the public company Prouds Ltd was formed.

The period from 1910 to 1930 is of particular interest as Prouds were, during this time, described as manufacturing jewellers and silversmiths. Gold jewellery produced at that time was marked for ‘Proud(s)’ and is shown on page 192 - plate 223 of Australian Jewellers Gold & Silversmiths Makers & Marks - Cavill * Cocks * Grace. (And on this fine example offered above).

William Proud died in 1931.

He was described as ‘the father of the (Retail Jewellers’) Association movement” in Australia for his contributions to the industry.
W.. J. Proud and E . J. Coote (Angus and Coote ) had founded ’The Commonwealth Jeweller And Watchmaker’, and both were involved in the establishment of The Sydney Hall Mark Co. of 1906 , and strongly supported the introduction of an Australia wide system for the hallmarking of gold and silver.

Please note boxes are for display only unless otherwise stated.