An Ancient Roman pendant with a round vivid turquoise cabochon stone set in a gold bezel. There would have once been a suspension loop at the top but this is now missing. The base of the pendant features a fine gold point. On the reverse, modern adhesive can be seen securing the stone to the bezel base, which is damaged at the top. As in many societies in antiquity, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth in the Roman Empire. With the expansion of the empire, Roman jewellery became more elaborate in its design, as goldsmiths were influenced by the range of styles, materials and techniques used by craftsmen in the newly conquered territories. By incorporating foreign techniques and new designs, Rome could reflect its position as a prosperous and dominant conquering city. Roman jewellery was enriched and embellished with precious, semi-precious stones and glass beads. Measurements: L 0.6cm x W 0.5cm Weight: 0.07 g Provenance: Ex Japanese private collection, deceased, 1970-2010.