129AD (Sep. ’23)
129AD (Sep. ’23)
$270.00
A relic of the first philosopher-king.
Free shipping on orders over $100!
- Next day delivery on a free ring sizer with Buy now, size later.
- All pieces handmade to order in Newcastle.
- 100% 5 star reviews over nearly 1000 orders.
Don’t know your size at all? Order using Buy now, size later. and get a sizer delivered the next business day if you order before 3PM. More info.
Have a size but need to convert it to US sizing? Here’s a sizing chart for the most common systems. The numbers highlighted in blue are the system I use. Pandora sizing conversion is on this page.
I offer change of mind returns for store credit as well as 100% refunds for any issues with your piece upon arrival.
Ring too small? I’ll size it up for free, just pay shipping.
Ring too big? I offer a downsizing service for a fee of $70.
You can get a hold of me via Instagram DMs, text, email, phone, Facebook Messenger, or that little chat bubble down the bottom right. Here are my links:
Instagram – @urban.sterling
Facebook– @urban.sterling
Phone – 0431723311 (This is my personal number, if I sound confused just tell me you’re after Mr Sterling.)
Email – [email protected]
What are your shipping times?
- Rings/Pendants: 7-12 business days (Australia), around 15 days (international).
- Bracelets/Necklaces: 3-4 business days (Australia), about 12 days (international).
- Buy now, size later orders begin production as soon as you notify me of the size you need.
- I’ll email you updates at every stage of production.
What is Argentium Silver
Argentium Silver is essentially a modern, upgraded version of sterling silver, which was “invented” in the 1300s by King Edward the first. Although the history behind this alloy is rich and fascinating, in my experience sterling silver leaves something to be desired in terms of appearance and durability. More info on the properties of Argentium Silver here.
Will your rings turn my finger green?
No they won’t. This occurs when rings are made of low quality materials and plated to look like silver. Copper, for example, will produce the green finger effect. Argentium silver is the highest quality silver alloy available, so it won’t have this effect.
Sustainable Metal Sourcing:
I use Argentium silver, a 100% sustainably sourced and recycled metal produced by the Argentium Company, ensuring ethical and environmentally friendly practices.
Certified Suppliers:
Palloys, the only Australian casting company certified by LBMA, OECD, and World Gold Council, supplies metals that comply with strict ethical standards, including the RJC certification for responsible jewelry practices.
Australian Labor and Manufacturing:
I use exclusively Australian labor and manufacturing for all aspects of production, maintaining slavery-free supply chains and supporting the local economy, with the exception of FSC-certified packaging from Denmark.
Don’t know your size at all? Order using Buy now, size later. and get a sizer delivered the next business day if you order before 3PM. More info.
Have a size but need to convert it to US sizing? Here’s a sizing chart for the most common systems. The numbers highlighted in blue are the system I use. Pandora sizing conversion is on this page.
I offer change of mind returns for store credit. If your piece has any quirks you think shouldn’t be there, let me know and send me a some photos. If it looks like a workmanship problem I’ll issue an immediate full refund or replacement upon return postage.
Bought the wrong size? The course of action depends on whether the ring is too small or too large. If it's too small, just send it back and I'll size it up for free. If it's too large, I'll have to charge you a $60 resizing fee, since I'll need to cut the ring open, remove metal, and solder it back together. This is fairly time consuming, hence the fee.
You can get a hold of me via Instagram DMs, text, email, phone, Facebook Messenger, or that little chat bubble down the bottom right. Here are my links:
Instagram – @urban.sterling
Facebook– @urban.sterling
Phone – 0431723311 (This is my personal number, if I sound confused just tell me you’re after Mr Sterling.)
Email – [email protected]
What are your shipping times?
- Rings/Pendants: 7-12 business days (Australia), around 15 days (international).
- Bracelets/Necklaces: 3-4 business days (Australia), about 12 days (international).
- Buy now, size later orders begin production as soon as you notify me of the size you need.
- I'll email you updates at every stage of production.
What is Argentium Silver
Argentium Silver is essentially a modern, upgraded version of sterling silver, which was “invented” in the 1300s by King Edward the first. Although the history behind this alloy is rich and fascinating, in my experience sterling silver leaves something to be desired in terms of appearance and durability. More info on the properties of Argentium Silver here.
Will your rings turn my finger green?
No they won’t. This occurs when rings are made of low quality materials and plated to look like silver. Copper, for example, will produce the green finger effect. Argentium silver is the highest quality silver alloy available, so it won't have this effect.
Sustainable Metal Sourcing: I use Argentium silver, a 100% sustainably sourced and recycled metal produced by the Argentium Company, ensuring ethical and environmentally friendly practices.
Certified Suppliers: Palloys, the only Australian casting company certified by LBMA, OECD, and World Gold Council, supplies metals that comply with strict ethical standards, including the RJC certification for responsible jewelry practices.
Australian Labor and Manufacturing: I use exclusively Australian labor and manufacturing for all aspects of production, maintaining slavery-free supply chains and supporting the local economy, with the exception of FSC-certified packaging from Denmark.
The September monthly exclusive is an incredibly realistic replica of an ancient Roman coin from Emperor Hadrian’s reign, minted in the year 129AD. Hence the name. The piece is a 1:1 recreation of the real coin in 940 Argentium silver. The artefact is shown in the 7th and 8th images. The face features a portrait of Hadrian, while the rear shows him mounted with a lance. Hadrian was the first Roman emperor to be depicted with a beard.
At the time, beards were worn primarily by philosophers and scientists. Hadrian believed an emperor should be as wise as he was powerful, and the beard was a mark of this. The first recorded instance of the “philosopher-king archetype.” This trend continued with his successor, Antoninus Pius, then Marcus Aurelius – widely considered one of the greatest philosophers, but also emperors in recorded history.
The COSIII on the rear of the coin stands for “Consul Tertium”, meaning consul for the third time. A consul was the highest elected public official of the Roman Empire. They served terms similar to today’s elected officials. The coin this ring was based on was minted during Hadrian’s 3rd term, so it’s engraved as such.
The coin is elevated slightly from the finger via a forked shank. This design decision is not only aesthetic, but also improves the durability of the piece by providing extra stability. Below the fork on either side, a trident and the Roman numeral for 3 are embossed, referencing his posthumous status as the third of the “Good Emperors”.
The Five Good Emperors were the ancient Roman imperial succession of Nerva (reigned 96–98 AD), Trajan (98–117AD), Hadrian (117–138AD), Antoninus Pius (138–161AD), and Marcus Aurelius (161–180AD), who presided over the most majestic days of the Roman Empire, and by extension most of human history.
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