Unusually large and intense colour demantoid garnet and diamond ring (demantoids approx total weight 1.35cts diamonds 0.28) all set in 18ct yellow gold circa 1890. The centre stone exhibits a wonderful 'horse hair' inclusion. While garnets have been known since ancient times, the demantoid variety was not discovered until 1868 in Russia's western central Ural Mountains. The find was about 110 kilometers north, northwest of Ekaterinburg along the Bobrovka River near the village of Elizavetinskoye. This is an alluvial deposit. Miners were immediately stunned by the highly refractive nature of the gem material, which is atypical for garnet. They began comparing it to diamond and referred to it as "Demantoid" which comes from the French, “demant,” meaning diamond. The reason is obvious, with its high brilliance and dispersion. Possessing an unusual green colour and a dispersion greater than that of diamond, it quickly became a treasured and expensive gemstone. From the time of the demantoids find until about 1919, they were popular in Russia as the famous Peter Carl Fabergé made jewelry with them