Anchored by a Roman intaglio in green chrome chalcedony (9.5 x 8.3 x 3.6 mm), dating to the 1st century CE, the ring fuses antiquity with contemporary restoration. The gem, partially broken yet no less compelling, depicts Tychè – known to the Romans as Fortuna – the goddess who presides over fortune and abundance. Rather than seeking to conceal its losses, Sassi Fine Jewellery embraced the fragmentary nature of the intaglio. Inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, the missing sections were reimagined in 18k yellow gold, with the design informed by comparative examples from the period. This careful intervention not only restored the goddess’s image in full but also reinstated the intaglio’s ability to function as a seal. Should it be pressed into wax today, the impression would reveal Tychè once more in her entirety – as she appeared nearly two millennia ago.
The intaglio intricately portrays Tychè holding a cornucopia, a symbol of wealth and prosperity, in her right hand. A flower and an ear of corn in her left hand represent fertility and abundance, while the rudder at her feet symbolises her power to steer the fates of individuals. This intaglio was used by a Roman of considerable status, as it served to sign documents and was originally set in a seal ring, reflecting its owner’s position and significance in society.
Intaglios of this calibre were highly prized in the Roman world, both for their technical virtuosity and their profound personal significance. Carved in reverse into hardstones, they stand as remarkable feats of miniature artistry, encoding layers of meaning within their minute surfaces. To wear such a seal was to carry a fragment of the divine – a discreet yet potent emblem of status, belief, and identity.
The Tychè Ring articulates this layered history with precision and sensitivity. The Maison’s intervention unites ancient craftsmanship with a contemporary gesture, allowing the goddess of fortune to traverse centuries and resonate anew.
Today, this exceptional ring has found its way to a woman whose life and work are deeply entwined with the world of jewellery. A true connoisseur with a profound love for its history, she recognised in the Tychè Ring not only an object of beauty but a narrative that resonates with her own passions. Gifted to her by her husband for her birthday, it has become a treasured part of her story, a continuation of the intaglio’s journey through centuries. Fortuna, as she has for generations, will now walk beside her, a guardian of fortune and a reminder of resilience.
