Protective signet ring bearing the words of the ‘Save and Protect’ prayer

Jewelry, like any expensive items, requires careful handling and certain care. Special attention should be paid to the appearance of jewelry in hot and humid climates. It is also necessary to protect jewelry from getting perfumes and cosmetics on them.

Since ancient times, the ring, a vicious circle, has been perceived as a symbol of unity, infinity and wholeness. The tradition of wearing rings came to Russia from Byzantium along with Christianity. The word "ring" itself comes from the Old Slavonic "kolo" – circle, wheel, one of the oldest images of eternity. Already in the first centuries, Christians wore rings and rings as special signs of their belonging to the Church, placing brief confessions of faith on them. For example, on early Christian gems one could find a fish (Greek: IΧΘΥΣ — "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior"), an anchor – a symbol of hope for salvation, a ship as an allegory about the Church, or the monogram of Christ - Chrysome.

Platinum is one of the rarest and most precious metals on Earth. Its name comes from the Spanish platina, which means "little silver". Unlike gold or silver, platinum does not tarnish in the air, does not corrode in a humid environment and is not afraid of high temperatures. This gray-white metal has a unique chemical resistance, which makes it a symbol of purity and immutability.

This collection contains the main works of Vladimir Mikhailov: icons, crosses, rings and chains made of noble 950 platinum. Metal, which does not tarnish and is not afraid of time, becomes a natural frame for ancient symbols and filigree handwork. Platinum emphasizes the perfection of lines, the rigor of the ornament and the depth of the Novgorod tradition of fine plastics, where every detail has been verified for centuries.

The diamond is often called the "king of gems", because its history dates back thousands of years. The first faceted diamonds appeared in the 15th century: in 1463, the first diamond was made, and a century later, during the Renaissance, classical diamond cutting was invented in Flanders, the prototype of which was natural crystals-octahedra. However, a diamond could only truly reveal its beauty and shine with all its facets in the 17th century, when diamond cutters learned how to split stones. The modern round diamond with 57 perfectly aligned facets owes its appearance to the mathematical calculations of Marcel Tolkowsky, who proposed in 1919 the parameters at which the optical properties of a diamond are revealed in the best way.