The Piecrust Promise Ring
The year is 1915, and Great Britain has been at war with the Kaiser for a year now. A young, newly minted Officer takes his sweetheart for a day trip to the seaside resort of Brighton before he is shipped out to the front. They wander the promenade and the shops of the town to distract themselves from their inevitable parting. She sees a pretty daisy setting diamond ring in the window of a Brighton jeweller’s shop. He walks in proudly, dressed in his smart new army khaki, and buys the ring for her. When he gives it to her, he asks her to promise to wear it until he comes home again. Knowing that there is a distinct chance that he may not come home, she calls her agreement to his request a “piecrust promise” – easily broken. However, as he slips it on to her finger, she agrees and tells him to keep himself safe and prove that his promise to return is not a piecrust promise either. That is the beginning of the true story for this ring. You will be pleased to hear that when hostilities ended in 1918, the young Officer did return to his sweetheart, and they did get married in 1920 and started a family. She held to her promise, and she wore this ring, which became known as the “piecrust promise ring”, until he came home, and then for a good many years after: her whole life in fact, which was a long and happy one with her husband, that young Officer.
The theme for "Looking Close on Friday" for the 27th of September is "gemstones". I have many pieces that I have access to that I could photograph for the theme, but I really wanted to share this dainty daisy setting ring of six winking diamonds set in platinum on an eighteen karat band, made in 1914, because it has a happy story associated with it. I hope you like my choice for this week’s theme, and that it makes you smile.
Edwardian jewellery is renowned for its delicate, beautifully crafted designs. In contrast to Victorian jewellery, many pieces created during the Art Nouveau period were made in a very feminine fashion, using finer smaller stones and very light settings made possible by using platinum.
(Private collection).
The Piecrust Promise Ring
The year is 1915, and Great Britain has been at war with the Kaiser for a year now. A young, newly minted Officer takes his sweetheart for a day trip to the seaside resort of Brighton before he is shipped out to the front. They wander the promenade and the shops of the town to distract themselves from their inevitable parting. She sees a pretty daisy setting diamond ring in the window of a Brighton jeweller’s shop. He walks in proudly, dressed in his smart new army khaki, and buys the ring for her. When he gives it to her, he asks her to promise to wear it until he comes home again. Knowing that there is a distinct chance that he may not come home, she calls her agreement to his request a “piecrust promise” – easily broken. However, as he slips it on to her finger, she agrees and tells him to keep himself safe and prove that his promise to return is not a piecrust promise either. That is the beginning of the true story for this ring. You will be pleased to hear that when hostilities ended in 1918, the young Officer did return to his sweetheart, and they did get married in 1920 and started a family. She held to her promise, and she wore this ring, which became known as the “piecrust promise ring”, until he came home, and then for a good many years after: her whole life in fact, which was a long and happy one with her husband, that young Officer.
The theme for "Looking Close on Friday" for the 27th of September is "gemstones". I have many pieces that I have access to that I could photograph for the theme, but I really wanted to share this dainty daisy setting ring of six winking diamonds set in platinum on an eighteen karat band, made in 1914, because it has a happy story associated with it. I hope you like my choice for this week’s theme, and that it makes you smile.
Edwardian jewellery is renowned for its delicate, beautifully crafted designs. In contrast to Victorian jewellery, many pieces created during the Art Nouveau period were made in a very feminine fashion, using finer smaller stones and very light settings made possible by using platinum.
(Private collection).