This is the first book devoted exclusively to rings considered by theme rather than by date – though the author, a world expert, brings her rich historical and literary knowledge to the subject.

She considers …

Signets
Rings associated with love, marriage and friendship
Devotional, protective and ecclesiastical rings
Memento mori and memorial rings
Rings associated with famous people and great events
Decorative rings
Diamond rings
Rings as accessories while making us delight in them as works of art, and bringing their context alive through paintings, drawings, and vivid quotations.

Rings of all periods are included – from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome through the Middle Ages and Renaissance up to the 20th century. The rings are drawn not only from great museums but from private collections, preeminently that of the noted gem dealer and art patron Benjamin Zucker.

Diana Scarisbrick has written extensively on jewelry, in books, exhibition catalogues and journals internationally. Rings have always been a particular interest.