Opal ring owned by George Eliot

This ring belonged to George Eliot. It came from a jewellers in London called Hancocks & Co. It was probably a special request by Eliot or her partner GH Lewes. Eliot was clearly a fan of opals as she mentions them in her short story, The Lifted Veil.

‘the opal was my favourite stone, because it seems to blush and turn pale as if it had a soul’

Queen Victoria enjoyed wearing opal jewellery and gifted them to friends and family members. This increased the popularity at court across the country.