Antique Cigar Band Ring Cuban Metal w Imperial Jade Mens Vintage 1940s

Price $75

"This is a very old unique mans ring. It is a very uncommon ring to find as it was made from an old cigar band. Back in the 1930s, up through the 1950s, Cuba exported cigars all over the world with metal cigar bands. The cigars that were exported to West Germany had a dual purpose. Artisans, mostly those who smoked stogies themselves, made mens rings out of the cigar bands. They did this for several reasons. They used the cigar bands because during WWII and for several years after, metals for jewelry making were nearly impossible to get. The cigar bands were also very ornate, hence the artists had a head start on the design process. They also did it to make money. I have seen several old cigar band rings in my many years of collecting jewelry, but they are few and far between. They are rare to find. This ring has a rough Imperial Jade oval cab set in a hand made brass bezel with a rope frame. The Jade cab is in perfect condition. The metal is light weight aluminum thin sheeting flashed with gold foil. You can see it has been curled at the top and bottom on the face of the ring. This type of light weight thin aluminum indicates this cigar band hails from the mid to late 1940s. In the 1930s, brass cigar bands were thick and heavy copper and brass. The ring has an adjustable ring band that will fit up to a size 11 finger. There is some light wear or aging to the gold foil, mostly on the back. The face of the ring measures 1 1/8"" tall x 3/4"" wide. "