Only a century and a half ago, the interior of the African continent was considered by many as uncharted territory. For the rest of the world, this vast land remained mysterious and unexplored.
Among many tales from East Africa, one appeared particularly strange for the Europeans. It was the account of the German missionaries Johannes Rebmann and Johann L. Krapf, who, in 1848, allegedly saw a mountain near the equator so high that its top was covered with snow.
The story about a snow-covered peak in the heart of tropical Africa was met with doubts and even ridicule. Nevertheless, the vision of a colossal mountain stimulated the imagination and curiosity of geographers and explorers who, after some time, confirmed the missionaries' account.
Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the African continent, is also one of the largest slumbering volcanoes in the world. It is located in Tanzania, slightly south of the equator, near the Kenyan border. The giant size of the mountain makes its isolation even more visible. Kilimanjaro stands alone – it ascends at an altitude of 900 meters in a barren scrubland of the Maasai, rising into a colossal mountain of 5895 meters. No wonder it is sometimes called the ‘Roof of Africa.’
This fascinating story inspired the creation of a unique signet ring for Mr. Jaroslaw, who decided to travel around Africa on his motorbike. An extremely rare black spinel, having a violet brilliance, was set in the centre. I imported it from Africa, especially for this project. Paolo Sacci, an excellent cutter from Italy, made the modified princess cut. The stone was set in a square frame. On the inside, I placed a decorative openwork composition to reveal the gem. On the sides of the ring, the inscription 'Roof of Africa' was engraved. Above it, I designed a quilted sky. At the foot of the mountain, an elephant is taking a respite in the shade of an acacia. The whole piece was made in white palladium gold.
