Vintage Zuni Mike & Sarah Simplicio Coral Turquoise Sterling Ring Size 7.75

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Vintage Zuni Mike & Sarah Simplicio Coral Turquoise Sterling Ring Size 7.75:
$185.00

This is a listing for a vintage Zuni ring hand wrought by the famed artists Mike and Sarah Simplicio. Mike, deceased, is the son of the famous Zuni artist Dan Simplico. He and his wife share a hallmark and created their beautiful jewelry as a team. This floral design is a classic piece of theirs seen in rings and pendants. It\'s stamped inside the band with M.S. SIMPLICIO. Hard to get a photo of the hallmark, but you can see part of it in the last photo. All of their designs are done in sterling silver.
It\'s in perfect condition with no damage to the stones or the sterling work. It\'s a large ring that is oval in shape and measures 1 and 5/8th inches in length and 1 inch in width. It weighs a sturdy 18 grams. The design is stacked with the flower inlaid on a base of mother of pearl which is mounted on a base of sterling, creating a wonderful three dimensional appearance. I\'ve shown photos on flash and in natural light so that you can get a good idea of the exquisite colors and detail of the ring.
The petals are carved from the highest grade of natural Mediterranean coral from Sardinia. It\'s true oxblood deep red with each petal carved into somewhat of a heart shaped and given a domed surface. Very brilliant red with a strong natural polish. You don\'t seen jewelry made with this quality of Italian coral anymore. The center of the flower is a domed polished stone of black jet. A hand twisted and pounded wire of silver forms the stem and the leaves are cut from turquoise, abalone and pink coral...two diamond cut and two tear drop cut. These stones also cut deep with a domed surface. The turquoise is a solid Sleeping Beauty bright blue and the pink coral is a deep angel skin. The abalone and white mother of pearl add a stunning iridescent element. The bezels are all deep and straight with tight fits. And the entire composition is framed in heavy wire overlay with carved and stamped accents. The band is fused from two half round wires, very strong and has maintained an excellent shape. It\'s twice as wide as your standard single wire, which makes it a little tighter and also adds stability for the extra length of this ring.
These rings are kept in collections and not on the market frequently. I\'ve seen various combinations of stones used and this particular piece with the deep red coral is the nicest I\'ve seen. The quality of the artist\'s workmanship speaks for itself, making this a valuable and highly wearable addition to anyone\'s collection of world class Zuni jewelry. Thank you for looking.