BYZANTINE OPENWORK HIGH KARAT GOLD RING WITH CENTRAL EMERALD. Ca. AD 400 - 600 A gold ring with an openwork oval bezel formed from round-section wire looped around a central rectangular collet set with an emerald. The bezel is flanked at each shoulder by a pair of rounded knobs and the hoop is of thick twisted wire forming a rope-like band. Size: D:13.5mm / US: 2 1/4 / UK: D 1/2; Weight: 4.4g. Provenance: Private London collection; acquired in Belgium; formerly in a German private collection before 2000. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.