The Dalmatian logic carries a subtle irony — the black and the white on this ring seek each other with a curiosity entirely their own. Antinous on this model takes on a fresh reading: the classical profile against a wholly contemporary ground, ideal beauty carried with a touch of verve that makes it even more alive. The glossy enamel catches the light and returns it with character — the jewel makes itself felt, at once discreet and decisive. The cameo and the jewel hold a frank, captivating aesthetic.

The face reproduced in countless works of antiquity — today on this Dalmatian base it finds a new dimension: the classicism remains precise and recognisable, the ground grants it an unexpected freedom. The profile of Antinous, carved with the refined art of glyptics, grows more modern, more refined — an elegant oxymoron that never ceases to surprise. The dialogue works between an almost graphic ornament and his portrait. It persists intact and returns in a new guise, the cameo’s tones lending it a narrative even more compelling, unforeseen. Antinous still speaks to us — endearing, surprising.

With pearl and black every line aligns fluidly with the body of the ring, accentuating lights and shadows in complementary measure: the brighter, luminous tone heightens certain volumes, the darker reaches further within, probing the most intimate part. Porphyry — the most classical colour, in accord with the ancient subject — here takes on a fresh and captivating allure. Green is dense and precise, a fine tone that shows every contour; with white and black it stays balanced and elegant.