Vasiliki Ring

This breathtaking ring is fit for royalty, with a delicate crowning element framing the central cabochon stone on either side; small decorative spheres further ornament the rounded shank. Our Vasilki ring is based on an ancient gold example with an engraved white quartz stone about which little else is known, other than it likely dates to the first century AD.

"Vasiliki" is a modern Greek name meaning "queen," or "royal." It is derived from the ancient Greek word "basileus" (βασιλεύς), or "king." To us, it has great significance as "eternal sister."

Historically, the archaeological significance of the name is great, as there was a Minoan village in Crete called Vasiliki, today in the area of Lasithi. The village, which thrived c. 2,600 to 2,000 BC, produced a type of Minoan pottery that was as popular as it was distinctive, for examples have been found all over Crete and beyond. The unique "Vasiliki Ware" was created with a reddish-brown wash applied unevenly to recall stone vases. It was fired in such a way, however, that the results came out mottled, with darker and lighter areas covering the surface of the vase. The mottling was often done in a pattern, allowing archaeologists to understand that the effect was desired and intended.