There is a long and sordid history attached to these rings, and some of the oldest examples may even date back to ancient Asia and India. Ancient Romans sometimes used capsule rings to commit suvcide when a painful death was unavoidable. In Western European culture, they surface prominently in the Middle Ages, the quintessential era for tipping one’s hand over a goblet to sprinkle deadly powder into wine. Lucrezia Borgia (1480-1519), an Italian noblewoman and only daughter of Pope Alexander VI, was said to be adept at using these rings for disposing of political rivals. Experts note that disguising the taste of toxins and making a dose powerful enough to be fatal but still fit in a ring was extremely difficult – so victims by this method of murder may have been few. In Italy, to this day, pouring someone a drink whilst holding the bottle with the back of the hand facing downward, so as to let something drop from a ring bezel, is called versare alla traditora (“traitor’s way pouring”) and still considered offensive. We're just gonna assume you won't be naughty with this ring. 14K gold plated over sterling silver with genuine Amethyst stone at the center and clear cubic zirconia stones on the cross.
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