Emperor Gem Ring - Pewter

Product Description: This Roman Emperor Gem Ring is made from lead-free pewter and is supplied with either a red, blue or green gem. It is made up of decorative shanks and a head and gem. The ring size can be changed to make it larger or smaller. The ring is supplied in a clear blister mounted to an information card. The information card depicts a Roman mosaic on the front and describes how gems and metals were made into Roman jewellery on the reverse.

Information: In Roman times, gold, silver, copper and glass were used to make jewellery. Metals were mixed to make alloys such as bronze, a mixture of copper and tin. Roman bronze sometimes had zinc in it that gave it a gold colour. The Romans often used stones and gems in their jewellery like sapphires, rubies, garnets and amber and especially wore gems in rings. The Romans were probably the first to use rings as a symbol of engagement.

The games in the amphitheatre lasted all day. In the morning wild animals were brought out to fight each other, or to face huntsmen or simply to kill defenceless criminals. In the afternoon, the gladiators would begin combat. The image on the information card is from a Roman mosaic and shows one type of gladiator, the retarius (net-man), stabbing a leopard with his trident.