Byzantine jewellery trends were a continuation of Roman traditions in style and form. Production, however, in the old jewellery centres of Alexandria and Antioch gave way to a new focus on Constantinople. In the Byzantine Empire, jewelley played an important role. It acted as a way to express one’s status, wealth, and level of taste. Just like during the Roman period, gemstones were extremely popular and were brought in from the East. They were either carved into a circular shape, polished and drilled so that the precious stones could be added to bracelets, necklaces or pendants. Or, they were smoothed into a cabochon and were set into different pieces of jewellery, much like this ring.
To discover more about Byzantine jewellery and the use of gemstones in ancient jewellery, please visit our relevant blog posts: The Byzantine Empire, Art and Christianity and The History and Mythology of Gemstones in Ancient Jewellery.
