18ct Gold Lapis Lazuli and Diamond Cocktail Ring

A bold and sculptural cocktail ring in 18ct yellow gold, set with a large fluted lapis lazuli cabochon and accented with round brilliant cut diamonds. The lapis displays a rich violet-blue colour with characteristic pyrite inclusions visible throughout, confirming the stone's natural origin and adding texture to its deep colour.

The mount is a masterclass in organic goldwork. Free-form tendrils of gold wrap around the carved lapis like living branches, creating an openwork gallery that is as visually striking from the side as it is from the face. This naturalistic, almost brutalist approach to jewellery design was pioneered in the late 1960s and reached its peak in the 1970s, when goldsmiths moved away from symmetrical settings in favour of sculptural, almost molten forms.