Ring Set With An Amethyst, Napoleon III.

This very pretty ring is set with an oval-shaped amethyst, surrounded by a row of marcasites, it is faceted cut, mounted on an openwork silver bezel supported by a gold ring. Amethyst is reputed to protect against drunkenness, this virtue is taken from mythology: Bacchus was very insistent with the pretty nymph Amethyst, she took fright and called on Diana who, to save her from Bacchus, transformed her into a crystal, the latter, furious that she escaped him, poured his cup of wine on the crystal which immediately took on the color violet, suddenly sobered up, he gave it the power to preserve from drunkenness those who would wear it. Napoleon III period. Ring size 53.5 Kitten dimension. 16 mm x 11 mm