Historic jewelry has good ring to it

Rings have been popular since the days of ancient Egypt and Greece, perhaps even longer. The Greeks said that one of their gods used the first ring. It was an iron ring made for Prometheus.

Rings through history include those found with Egyptian mummies, with early saints and in 13th-century stories about Marco Polo. They’re always connected to someone of wealth or fame — usually a man. There were signet rings, betrothal rings and magical rings that protected the wearer. A gold ring was often a sign of class; slaves and those of the lower class could only wear rings of iron or bronze.

Rings were worn on every finger, sometimes several on each. They were often very large and heavy. Signet rings were usually on the index finger so it would be easy to use with sealing wax. Roman baby-sized rings found today were probably used on the upper part of an adult’s finger. The betrothal ring, like our wedding ring, was placed on the fourth finger because it was thought the vein from the heart ended there.

Rings were sometimes suspended from a chain around the neck or wrist or worn over gloves. Rings gained in popularity in later centuries and precious stones were added. By the 1600s, rings looked like those preferred today. They were usually made of a precious metal set with precious stones and were small enough to be comfortable.

Collectors, and those interested in the latest fashions, buy rings from any era. Since the 1920s, rings have been getting larger again. They have more elaborate settings and larger colored stones. Some are made with unusual metals. But high on the list of easy-to-sell antiques are small Victorian rings set with tiny stones or a cameo.

Q: I started in 1987 and still collect California Raisin figures. I just found a 10-inch cloth doll with suction-cup hands to add to the collection. Is it worth much?

A: Your doll was one of many California Raisin items made popular by TV commercials. There were small, bendable plastic figures, plush toys, costumes, lunch boxes, radios, stationery and even puppet raisin people. You have a toy that was made to stick to a car window. Since it’s not too old, it’s still inexpensive — less than $15.

Ralph and Terry Kovel’s column is syndicated by King Features. Write to: Kovels, (Las Vegas Review-Journal), King Features Syndicate, 888 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10019.