Laura held her hand up to the first light of the new moon. The gold of the ring and its flat oval set shone shone in the faint moon radiance. Three small stones set in the golden oval glimmered…a garnet, with a pearl on each side.
~Laura Ingalls Wilder, in These Happy Golden Years
Reading those words about the engagement ring that Almanzo gave Laura sealed my fate. I’ve been on a quest for that ring ever since.
I bought my first garnet ring while still in high school. While the garnet and pearl combination was popular during the Victorian years, it’s not easily found in modern jewelry so that first ring was silver with a garnet and two tiny diamonds on either side. Although I cherished it at the time, deep in my heart I knew it wasn’t authentic. The search went on.
Back in the dark ages, before internet auction sites, there were antique stores. I had a little more luck there, I found a lovely ring with three garnets and six pearls. Okay, not quite the ring but I was getting closer.
Then came the Internet and suddenly my search was made so much easier. There was a plethora of antique garnet and pearl rings available to buy. went a little crazy. If what they say is true that three or more of anything is a collection, I have a collection of garnet and pearl rings.
This is just a small sampling of some of the rings that have found their way into my life. None are exactly right, which is why I kept searching those auction sites, usually late at night when it’s very easy to talk yourself into something even though it isn’t exactly what you’re looking for.
And yet, the constant searching for “garnet pearl ring” paid off not too long ago. I found a listing for a ring made in 1884 (the year Almanzo and Laura got engaged) featuring a center garnet flanked by a pearl on each side. The setting is flat and best of all, it was the perfect size to fit on my index finger. Why is that important, you ask? Because Laura describes wearing her engagement ring on her “first” finger. In The First Four Years she actually uses the word “index” finger. It doesn’t appear to be a common practice; in all my research I’ve never uncovered any evidence that people commonly used the index finger for engagement rings. Since Ida’s “broad circlet of gold” was on her first finger too, maybe it was a De Smet custom.
So you see where I’m going with this, don’t you? Even though I already had 1 or 2…or 10, garnet and pearl rings lying around, I had to get this new one. It was made in 1884, was the perfect style and fit my index finger. It was a sign, I tell you. Well, at least that’s what I told my husband. I also told him that I would stop searching for “garnet pearl ring” on the Internet…and I will, soon. 
Ah yes, garnets. Because of the historical connection, I’ve been giving my wife various pieces of garnet jewelry for 30 years. I’ve found some pretty neat old pieces – luckily she takes a ring size 5 1/2 so the old ones fit – and a couple of local shops carry garnet necklaces. As you likely already know; new garnets are not from the same geographic source as the “old” ones. The color is noticeably different.
Dennis
Dennis, I did not know this. Interesting. I did puzzle over the color because garnet (lucky me!) happens to be my birthstone and as a child I always wished for a “prettier” birthstone color. Can you elaborate on the change? You could even write your own post! I bet we’d all be interested.
I would love to get a ring like Jonni’s. It would have to be silver, though, as I don’t wear gold jewelry. I wonder how often silver was used back then?
Loved this post! Last fall I was finally able to get a garnet and pearl ring, with some fierce bidding going on! Hmmm…
It’s not exactly what I want, so the search goes on.
I have also always wondered about the first finger and was never able to find anything out.
I’m pretty sure I remember hearing something from grand-cesters about how wedding/engagement rings were sometimes worn on the index finger. So for a long time that’s what I thought You Did — even though I know the connection to the ring finger is older, with the belief of the vein going to the heart, etc. … Maybe my relatives all read LHOTP.
Gorgeous rings! Especially the new one …
I usually think of garnet as a lot deeper red, though, and yours is pinker than I imagine it.
Perfect on the year of make — absolutely perfect.
Garnet comes in a wide variety of colors, even in green and orange. The red garnets we are all familiar with also come in several varities: Almandine, Pyrope, Rhodolite, Spessartine. Laura’s garnet was likely an Almandine or a Pyrope, as both varieties were in common use at the time.
The last picture looks pretty much as I’ve always imagined Laura’s ring to be, except for an oval garnet.
If you can’t find the exact ring you have in mind, there’s always the option of having one custom made.
I’ve always wondered if Laura always wore this ring over the years, or if she put it up and only wore it on occasion. And did she get a plain wedding band to go with it or did this ring serve a dual purpose?
The garnet in my ring is an almandine so that’s why the color appears a little lighter than the brownish-red of modern garnets.
The last ring is so beautiful. I have always wondered what Laura’s ring looked like, and now I can see why Almanzo selected it. Thank you for sharing it.
I love the last ring! It is so perfect, thank you for finding it and posting it on here. Now when I read I can actually see the ring. (I’m slightly jealous now too, lol)
How wonderful that you found “the ring”. I have a very similar one inherited from my great grandmother (she was born in 1897; I believe her ring was actually one of her mother’s hand me downs). The garnet is larger and raised, though, but definitely from the same period. This gives me new appreciation for my treasure!
I know this post is over a year old, but hopefully “Jonni” might still get a message about it. Wherever did you find that ring?! I have been searching for one just like it for ever! My boyfriend and I want to get engaged soon and I really want a ring like this, I plan on using my engagement ring as my wedding ring also. Where did you find it and how much did it cost if you don’t mind me asking? Any information on it would be very helpful in our search for a ring