Large Amethyst Cabochon Ring

A large cabochon amethyst, flanked by three small silver beads on each side, sits at the center of this ring, the bold stone-and-bead pairing that defines Spratling's first-period jewelry. The chunky amethyst cabochon set against handwrought silver is exactly the look that first made collectors recognize his work.

The ring belongs to 1931-1946, the years when the workshop established its vocabulary of heavy gauge and Mexican semi-precious stones set as cabochons rather than faceted.

First-period amethyst rings of this kind survive in limited numbers.