Just a fun group shot. I am always surprised at how these never skimp on materials- that there is a huge chunk of silver gold and niello. Big ones too- heavy like a set of brass knuckles!

Nice designs and engravings, thanks Mike.

nice Mike!!,, any or all marked with the T 900 0r 800 etc?

Yep big niello is a nice and clear T800. Various marks on most of the others too

All originals and all are for sale.

Everyone has a theory how these rings were acquired. .. From a catalog, from a travelling salesmen, from retailers going to German sites.... But here is my theory --

-- This is only for rings like Mike shows here,,the campaign made etc. type......
These rings were sold in back ally storefronts. Quick 'pop up' shops as we call them now..

In the close up [sorry can't show it] shows all the examples and more.. It is a big photo that provided and confirmed a lot of suppositions etc. on how they were bought.

So the soldier would go and strike the best bargain he could. Probably buying a bunch at a time got a better price and was probably done.. So here is some rock solid proof to one theory of how they were sold..

I have always admired the quantity and quality of materials used for these. Silver gold and what heft they have! A lot of period pieces with or without swastikas (and these ones all have nice clear and clean swastikas on the gold or in the gold as in the niello one) are thin pressed pieces with cheaper material. I have always admired these and have owned a number of them but these are I believe my last set. Get these while you can in better sizes- three of these are size 10 plus and one 9.5-9.75. A jeweler who deals in estate pieces told me he came across a couple of these in an estate- also massive rings- 30 grams plus. He decided to melt them as scrap! Getting rarer to find by moves like that for sure!

More pics before they hit the estand. Real offers and inquiries welcome.

Great photo Gep!

Nice rings , Mike .

Gaspare, interesting photo, a bit mysteriuos :) . Could be the soldier to the right has a HJ members pin on ? This type of authentic photo with a ring seller , a local craftsman and German soldiers will be very rare.

The craftsman has a stick , with ring , for measuring .

yes a sizing stick! It is a big photo and in close up you can make out the different DAK rings. One day it will appear for all to see..
A rare to find photo that answers a lot of questions. Was not cheap,,probably could have bought a ring for it! But certain things are a must when your trying to prove theories!

Mike, your rings are fine. All fine and different pattern examples.. Good for the DAK , campaign collector,,etc..

Here is ring made by an Arabic craftsman.....we know these rings with the characteristic decoration of little silver wires soldered on.the ring . Perhhaps I'm wrong... it is possible that "US" is written here ?

From what I know of these- and I have a few- this was just a design made by the artists themselves although I could see them as possible ornate Arabic calligraphy. I have seen some done this way from Libya and Ethiopia that were bought/sold as souvenirs to occupiers anyone from Italian to German - more likely- less common Americans but some still for sure UK too. Calligraphic designs were sometimes locations as I have come to learn but were often just designs or religious themed like Mohammed- name of prophet name of God etc. cool ring though for sure a keeper

Mike, thank you for your reply!