Trade Wind Ring

9ct yellow gold Trade Wind ring set with an Australian parti sapphire.

I have been making variations of this ring for many years.

This sapphire was the perfect choice for this design. It is green with flashes of yellow in it. Like many parti sapphires, changeable with different light sources.

This reel was taken outside and it is very over cast today, so it is not as sparkly as it is under directional light.

Trade winds blow east to west, north and south of the equator.

These winds help ships travel west. They aid trade as they are consistent in force and direction so cargo on ships are more likely to get where they need to go. A very basic definition, however trade winds have been utilized by captains of ships to cross the world's oceans for centuries.

The Portuguese, from the 14th century, understood the importance of harnessing trade winds for navigation aiding discovery and trade. There is a term, "volta do mar", translated as "turn of the sea", "return of the sea", describing these winds.

This ring carries different engraved motifs, almost like a palimpsest, all held together with this unique sea green sapphire.

There is one of these rings and it is exclusive to my studio.

Please email info@katherinebowman.com.au with any queries regarding this ring.