The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-05-24
MOURNING RINGS.

Mourning rings have found their
way back into fashion again, but only
the widows so far have taken to
wearing them of somber hue and
elegant workmanship. This revival,
as is the case with nearly all revivals
that bear even remotely upon matters
of personal ornament, originated in
Paris, and the rarely white and beau-
tiful hand of an aristocratic duchess
bereaved of her duke first displayed
a large mourning ring. Hers had
been designed by that artistic genius,
Lalique, and since she created SEN
sation by thoughtlessly displaying
the white hand with its gloomily
beautiful decoration Lalique and all
the other designers and jewellers have
had widows orders without number.
Widows rings are just coming into
use in America, and while some of
them are made in France, goodly
number of uniquely beautiful ones
have been turned out by Our own
goldsmiths. A single large and per-
feet black pearl is considered very
chic, if we may use so frivolous an
expression, as widows ring. 1t is
sunk in a rim of what is called tar
nished silver, and next after this ranks
the cameo ring, showing the dear de-
parted ones likeness in white against
background of black shell. The
golden circlet of such a ring is cover
ed with black enamel, and inside the
finger band a consolatory or purely
sentimental sentiment is engraved. A
ring ordered in Paris for the widow
of an American millionaire, takes the
form of a wondrously cut seal. The
stone is dead black, and the cutting
on it shows wounded dove with a
Latin inscription beneath to the eff
feet that, though mortally wounded,
the devoted relict patiently wings
her way through life.
All the mourning rings are large
and heavy and are worn above the
gold wedding band, though some
highly sensitive women have follow
ed the fashion of having their we'd
ding rings enameled in dead black,
and the date of their loss engraved
inside opposite the date of their we'd
dings.
The jewelers. who cater to large
custom have noticed an increase of
interest in rings that are not always
so costly as unique, and it is curious
enough that women who will readily
wear imitation stones in brooches,
necklets, stickpins and even earrings,
draw the line against mock gems in
the matter of rings. Baroque pearls
and the secondary or semi precious
stones are all right for finger orna-
mentation, and one dealer in fine
jewels has grown quite accustomed to
having woman come in, lay a sam
pie of silk, satin or woolen on the
showcase, and calmly ask to have
her sample matched in ring or
brooch. 1t is usually a ring she
wants, and then visit is made to a
case full of exquisite pink topaz, ma
trix opals, white sapphires, etc. where
her demand can be easily fulfilled.
Debutantes and graduating school
girls whose acute attacks of friend
ship are slangingly described as
rushing" now cultivate the habit
of exchanging rings with their own
particular girlish intimates. As a
rule the choice falls on really charm
ing posey rings Of Marcasite. These
come in all manner of quaint bouquet,
basket, cornucopia, love-knot designs
elaborated in tiny but expensive true
stones set in a framework of silver
Washington Star.