Latest eBay Find: Cameo Ring!

I love vintage items. There’s something exciting about finding the life and excitement in something that others would donate or throw away. I’m not saying I never buy new, but I can say that most of our furniture is secondhand. Some of my treasures have even inspired me to include them in stories I’m writing.

My sister has recently been talking to me about all the cameos she’s found online. I was working on a story that took place in an antique shop, so it seemed like a great opportunity to go gain some knowledge. I fell down the eBay rabbit hole, and my first purchase was this beautiful thing.

This is a glass cameo ring made by Whiting and Davis. My best guess is that it’s from the 40s or 50s, but I’m no expert. While I was actually on the hunt for a carved shell ring, I just couldn’t pass up this beauty when the seller sent me an offer for a small percentage off. I just kept staring at all that detail, and I thought she was so beautiful!

The ring looks a little bit different depending on the angle, which I think is really part of the charm. I don’t even mind that some of the black paint has chipped off over the years.

Do you know how hard it is to find a vintage ring that’s not in a teeny tiny size? I’m not saying my fingers are complete sausages, but part of what made me buy this ring was the fact that it would actually fit me. It’s adjustable, but look at the way the adjustment works. You push part of the band into the setting instead of pinching the back of it together, avoiding that typical adjustable ring look. Also note the way the back of the ring is scooped out, which makes it super comfortable despite its cumbersome size.

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I don’t have a lot of occasions to wear this big ring, but I’ll have to find some. I can totally just put it on while I write, right? Right.

Do you have any great vintage finds? I’d love to hear about them!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside Detective.  Her short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.