This striking vintage Vendome ring features a richly textured gold-tone surface composed of short, overlapping feather-like elements. The sculptural treatment gives the ring wonderful dimension.

Vendome placed particular emphasis on its rings, promoting them not only for fashionable design but also for comfort and fit. Period advertising highlighted the company’s patented adjustable ring shank, designed to accommodate the finger more comfortably and help eliminate the problems of rings slipping or fitting poorly over the knuckle. As a result, the adjustable construction became one of the distinguishing characteristics Vendome used to market its ring collection.

Vendome’s advertising emphasized the quality of its finishes. Depending upon the period and design, the company promoted hand-polished, triple-plated finishes as well as its Karatclad® heavy 24-karat gold electroplate. These details help illustrate the attention Vendome gave to the appearance and finish of its fashion rings, although the exact plating process used on this particular example has not been determined.

What makes this ring especially appealing, however, is its unusual sculptural surface. The closely arranged, feather-like forms create an almost tactile quality, giving the gold-tone ring considerable visual interest without the need for rhinestones or other embellishment. At the same time, the monochromatic finish allows the texture itself to become the ornament.

Vendome’s period advertisements described its rings as combining “fashion and fit,” and this example beautifully demonstrates that philosophy. Stylish, comfortable, and wonderfully dimensional, it is an intriguing example of vintage Vendome costume jewelry and a distinctive addition to a collection of mid-century fashion rings.