I have no idea so I googled it. Several web sites state that lobsters mate for life so the ring symbolizeds a life long commentmet.

https://www.wolfandbadger.com/us/sterling-silver-lobster-signet-ring/

Eileen's description is better.

A mariners ring? Just a guess...

The explanations are more interesting to me than wearing the ring would be. If it has a sentimental value, I suppose it could be reset into a different piece of jewelry or the top of wooden box or other piece. I'm wondering what your thoughts were, DLM.

Clearly it is a lobster, but the symbol above its head makes me think it's meant to represent the zodiac sign of cancer -- in which case it should be a crab, not a lobster.

Well, I believe it belonged to my maternal grandmother but I'm not certain and it does not 'fit' the type of other jewelry she had. It was in my mother's jewelry box and I've just kept it since her death. Never looked closely at it till recently, always thought it was a scorpion and wondered why my Ides of March born grandmother would have that but clearly it's not a scorpion.. There are no June/July birthdays in my family (except DH) so no link to the sign of Cancer either. Perhaps it belonged to one of my grandmother's sisters but I don't know their birthdates or perhaps it was just an intriguing piece of costume jewelry that she liked. The idea that it was a gift to symbolize life long commitment is interesting but since my grandmother was divorced at a time in the early 20th century when that was still scandalous, it would be a cruel twist of fate had that been a gift. And unlikely her 'I like the finer things in life' lawyer husband would have purchased a piece of costume glass for her. Thanks for playing - it will remain a mystery!

I found this: says it’s a Clark and Coombs piece. The image looks identical.

It is a crab. I looked up ’crab signet rings’ and saw a few similar … plus it has the crab zodiac symbol above.

https://www.goldjewelryusa.com/yellow-gold-cancer-mens-zodiac-ring/

And this:

https://etc.usf.edu/clipart/69400/69492/69492_crustacea_cr.htm

Oly how did you find that? What search terms? I can't find any markings on this ring, always assumed it was costume glass and maybe brass but there is no tarnish or oxidation at all. Looking at the cage underneath it certainly looks like gold, but again, no marking. I'm going to find someone to look at it. Still curious about the family origins but it will likely never be clear.

'Intaglio zodiac ring' might be good search terms, and are you sure it's glass and not stone - like lapis lazuli?

carolb I'm not sure of anything at all - but I'm good at guessing and making things up! I'll try your search term - thanks. edited to add I don't think it's lapis - it's a clear blue/green stone or glass. Lapis is not translucent, is it?

Lobster. Not a crab. Check out this link with a lobster jewelry.

It's a blue lobster. Throw it back.

Good one jojoco!

Allison I would have thought the same thing but after looking at and reading Jilly's link, I think it's a juvenile crab with the zodiac or whatever that symbol is (rotational planets/stars?) above the head. It's intriguing.

I tried vintage golden lobster ring, I think. That came up on pinterest with the name I posted above. When I googled the company name, this came up and it has more info about some of the materials they used. https://www.starcojewellers.com.au/c-jewelry/clark-coombs-jewelry-history.html

Since I found another identical lobster, I was thinking it might be a sorority or fraternal type organzation. I couldn’t find anything. Also had searched for intaglio and a few other things. But if you dive into this link you might find a material that you could add to the search term.

Not sure how to access this online but maybe you can figure it out https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/SILNMAHTL_42696

Looks more like a scorpion to me. (A scorpion giving the finger if you zoom in.)

I didn’t search for scorpion, so just did. Here is a Clark and Coombs scorpion ring. It’s different: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-signed-clark-coombs-10k-gold-2066369480

Scorpion has a curved tail.

Just searched for "zodiac crab that looks like a lobster" and got this (LINK)

Never have I ever.... LOL, and my sign is Cancer.

Those darn Europeans (LINK #2)

Antennae, people, antennae. They absolutely eliminate crabs or scorpions.

Allison, Cancer is my sign, too.

I’m finding very old images of crabs, some from Medieval times, maybe earlier.

I’m still looking, this is fascinating! I’d like to find the history of these types of drawings of crabs.

ETA: Just saw this very interesting explanation:

https://ima.princeton.edu/2016/06/21/junes-zodiac-sign-lobster-like-crabs/

Based on that ^^, I’ll die on this hill: the ring is depicting the Cancer crab zodiac sign.

The stone looks like labradorite.

Weird - I posted 2 hours ago but it's not there.

I'm with ya Jilly. I do think there is an astrological element over the head and for whatever reason a lobster-like crab is depicted.

I asked around a bit today and got pointed in the direction of a local small jeweler who might be of help. If nothing else it should clarify the metal and the stone if it is indeed a stone. The picture I took may be deceiving because the stone/glass is clear so I don't think it's labradorite or lapis.

I believe there is a blue agate, which is translucent...

I would say it's definitely a Cancer zodiac sign.

From reading about the company, they created lots of jewelry with glass elements and gold filled. I see some agates, like moss agates, but few actual gemstones. The glass quality appears to be very high.

Quick update - went to a local jeweler/gemologist, tiny place, one man operation. I was looking for topaz earring for DIL, wanted sizing beads removed in 2 rings and he was just looking at the crab/lobster ring when 2 other customers came in. He did look at it but my transaction was done so it was brief. Said it's likely a synthetic stone, 10k gold although no marks, probably from the 50s/60s (so not my grandmother's) and he has not seen anything of that type before. That's it, that's all I got, the end!

Thanks for the update. It is a curious piece and who knows maybe some day you may discover where it came from.

DH has a gold ring from his grandfather. It's a signet ring with three initials and a tiny diamond. But the interesting part is that starting on one edge of the crest and running down the side of the band is a nude figure of a woman. No one knows where it came from but he must have worn it for a long time since it has a lot of wear.

Might it have been a souvenir from someplace?

carolb - anything is possible!

Find out your grandmother's birth date to see if she's a Cancer.

Oakley my grandmother lived with us my whole life till she died at 84 so I know her birthday! She was an Ides of March baby, 3/15, Pisces.