#110 · Tessera

A tessera is a single small square of stone, glass or ceramic in a mosaic. The name comes from the Greek word for four. A Roman or Byzantine mosaic can hold hundreds of thousands of them, and the image forms through the way each piece sits beside the next. Byzantine craftsmen set their gold-glass tesserae at slight angles to the wall, so every piece caught the light from its own direction.

This ring is composed the same way. Four square-cut emeralds are set on their points, one at each quarter of the design, each turned toward the light like a tile angled in a wall. Small lavender sapphires fill the spaces between them, as smaller tesserae fill the joints of a larger pattern. At the center, an opal holds the arrangement together.

The Composition

• central gemstone: natural soild opal, 8x6 mm cabochon cut, origin: Australia
• accent: natural emeralds, princess cut, 0.5 ct
  
• accent: lab alexandrites, colour changing ~0.22 ct

Any design in the shop can be rebuilt around a different stone, metal or size. Tell us what you have in mind and we will sketch it for you.

Shipping to the USA: free, zero import tax. Orders ship from our US branch, so there are no import taxes or tariffs to pay.

• Made to order: 4–5 weeks
• Ready to ship: 10–12 days

Every package is fully insured and signed on receipt.