16th century AD. A gold flat-section band with circumferential inscription 'VIVAT REX ET LEX' : 'Long live the king and the law', punctuated by rosettes and a cross potent, bordered by two bands of vertical lines. See Hinton, D.A., Gold and Gilt, Pots and Pins, Oxford, 2006, p.241, for discussion; see Oman, C.C., British Rings 800-1914, London, 1974, p.79-80, for discussion. 4.11 grams, 19.61mm overall, 17.05mm internal diameter (approximate size British M, USA 6, Europe 12.46, Japan 12) (3/4"). Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, gentleman; acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s; accompanied by an independent specialist report and valuation by graduate gemmologist and jewellery expert Anna Rogers, GIA GG, BA, Gem-A, ref. no.166366/7/10/2020; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10227-166366. These rings were commissioned by newly-called Serjeants at Arms, until the abolition of that post by the Judicature Act of 1875. The earliest recorded example of such a ring dates from 1485, the remaining examples from the early 16th century have the same motto stamped or engraved in Lombardic or Roman lettering on the outer face of the ring, with transverse lines on the border. In some instances, the mottoes were chosen by the Serjeant called, meaning rings can be dated to the year of the call. However, the earlier rings appear to have had the same motto over an extended period, possibly because they were not chosen, but prescribed during these years. Over their long period of use, the style also changed, with later examples being heavier and wider, with a raised border and engraved in a later script, or capitals. [a video of this item will be available on Timeline Auctions website]