Indian Ring

A ring that looks back at you, steadily and without blinking.

This ring comes from Himachal Pradesh, India, and dates to the 20th century. It sets an eye agate in gold. Rings like this were worn as adornment and as a charm, since eye agates have long been valued in the Himalayan region for the protection they are thought to offer. The stone is a slightly irregular disk: an orange center, a white ring around it, and a thin red-brown edge. A plain raised bezel holds it, and the broad, smooth band tapers toward the back. Fine scratches cross the gold.

Few accessories keep such good watch.