Featured A question on a recent find

Hi everyone,

It's been so long since I started a thread here, haven't had much luck in finding anything worth discussing. But sometime ago I came across a ring that is somewhat similar to the one I asked a while ago, and would like to verify.
My guess is a berber rings relatively modern (1970s) and Lapis Lazuli stone. As it is the first time I come across Lapis, I may be mistaken so please help me on this. I would especially appreciate @Any Jewelry help! Thank you so much in advance!

 

Welcome back Iva.
Great ring, does it fit? I ask because these are usually men's rings.
The style is Middle Eastern rather than North African Berber.
And yes, lapis lazuli.

 

Thank you so much, Any, I am happy to be back to this wonderful community!
Recently I came across only a couple of Czech brooches which look good but are not worth discussing, IMO.
Yes, it is a men's ring, too big for my finger, I bought it because it looked intriguing, I have never had a Lapis piece and hoped it would be my first one. And it was cheap I bought it together with another ring, very similar in design but with a clear glass stone. Later I will photo it, too. I presume they are low grade silver (they smell like silver) but haven't tested them.
I somehow presumed that Berber is also Middle Eastern, isn't it? Or maybe I am mistaken, as North Africa is a bit further West to be "Eastern"
Funny, here we call that same region "The Close (or The Near) East"

 

I think this one could be fairly high grade silver.

Yes, North Africa is further west. Part of North Africa is even western than Europe.

We used to call the Middle East the Near East as well. I don't know whose bright idea it was to call Western Asia 'Middle'. It isn't in the middle of Asia, that is Central Asia.

 

Well, this is a pleasant surprise for me Although I am more interested in aesthetics of design rather than in precious metals (and silver is not that precious) but still...

Absolutely, geographically it is true but somehow in my mind North Africa is "East" and Western Europe is "West" maybe because of those cultural and ethnic markings that shape our views on regions and societies.

Ah, so we are not alone I thought it is because we (Eastern Europe) are much closer to that region than you (Western countries) and from our perspective is is "near" and from your perspective it is "in the middle of the road towards East" but now as you said it I wonder where the term "Middle East" came from...

The photos of the other ring with transparent bright green glass cab (there are bubbles inside). Can it be Turkish?

 

Yes, it is our view of North Africa rather than reality. We tend to include it in the 'Arab World', which is synomynous with the Middle East.

Berbers resent being called Arabs btw. Arabs dominated North Africa, and the Arab elite still does so to a significant extent.
Berber origin is closer to European origin than to Middle Eastern.

I don't think Turkish. Maybe Afghan, but I am not sure.
I think that one could be plated, I see some yellow peeping through. An authentic piece, once worn by a pious person. Green is the colour of Islam.

 

Exactly.

I have limited knowledge about berbers but from what I know, they have distinctive and original culture so no wonder they want to be distinguished from the Arabs. Same is valid for Persians (Iran and Afghanistan) although they tend to show superiority to the Arabs. There are Afghan people here, settled in the times of their USSR dominated government, and they hate to be called Arabs, it is offensive for them. I agree but theirs is a bit too much pride for my taste, and IMO pride is a very dangerous sin.

Thank you so much! Afghan is quite probable (as I said above).

Plated with what? It is bright intensive green, very beautiful. I was wondering why green, now you tell me, thank you!

More photos of the cab, seen "en face", may give more clues (the second one is with flash).

 

Either silver or something that looks like silver. Which isn't telling you much, I know.
Beautiful green colour, very vivid.

 

Ah, I thought you were talking about the cab For me it doesn't matter if plated, more important is that it is authentic according to your judgement.
I will test them anyway, some day...
Thank you so much, very helpful, you are a treasure!

 

Yes it is.

For you, always.