Hi Sandy, this is a mourning or memorial ring. This type of finger ring was worn in memory of a deceased person. After ca. 1770 a lock of hair, portrait or an enameled mourning motif was set under a crystal in the bezel. In the early 19th century some such rings decorated with seed pearls were given by the male mourners to their wives to be worn.
Until the early 19th century some such rings were set with small gemstones, or black or violet enameling was added to a gem set ring owned by the deceased. In the late 19th century mourning jewelry rings ceased being worn by the upper classes but continued to be mass produced.
The marks were struck at the Birmingham assay office, the hallmark is 9 carat gold. The initials are that of the maker and the letter is the date stamp.
