WW1 "I Gave Gold For Iron" Ring mid century Stone: Natural Emerald

Stone: Natural Emerald

It's heavy and substantial - clearly no expense spared - with the most lovely antique patina and width of a little over 5mm

with an openwork gallery and engraved scroll detailing at the shoulders

but on closer inspection the stones had a much brighter lustre

WW1 "I Gave Gold For Iron" Ring mid century Stone: Natural EmeraldI Gave Gold For Iron A First World War patriotic iron ring with cross. 1914 wasn't the first time a European empire had offered iron jewellery in exchange for the gold jewellery of its citizens. The Prussians ran a very similar scheme in the face of Napoleon's rampage a century earlier (indeed, as did Mussolini's fascist government in Italy a few decades later). Here was the deal in 1914 Austria Hungary: "We need money for the war effort, so women