TRANQUILLISERS IN RINGS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28987, 31 August 1959, Page 2

TRANQUILLISERS IN RINGS

London Jeweller’s

Design (From the London Correspondent of "The Press"] LONDON, August 21. The Borgias probably thought of it first, but a London jeweller has revived the idea of decorative heraldic rings with secret compartments to hold tablets: not the deadly drug dropped by a cunning assassin into the innocent wine 'glass; but at the worst a tranquilliser or a saccharin tablet. This idea has made a hit in the trade. Mrs Hardy Freitag who designs all kinds of costume jewellery, but especially flamboyant and fancy-free cocktail rings, showed some of her creations in her Regent street office today. “The idea for these grew slowly out of lockets and pillboxes,” she said. They are made expertly and cheaply in Germany, Austria and Italy. She produced one with a twisted metal ring which expands to fit any finger size and with a metal setting almost an inch square. The top was a spring-hinged lid and inside there was a compartment large enough to hold two aspirin or travel sickness tablets. “These rings are fun, no-one is expected to take them seriously. Men can’t understand how women can enjoy wearing such large rings, but they do," she said. “Suppose a girl has to carry saccharin tablets. She . can produce one from this with a flick of the thumb.”

Other rings for a big effect are set with amethyst, sapphire, topaz and olivine with a massive mirror top. “You tan really see yourself in these.” said Mrs Freitag. The tranquilliser rings cost from 15s at London jewellers.