They are almost impossible to spot, earning them the nickname 'mountain spirits.' Their furs act as an invisibility cloak, blending in with the rocky mountains of the 12 Central Asian countries where they live: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Their territory extends over about two million square kilometres, about half the size of Greenland. Here the snow leopards roam.
Conditions are extremely harsh in the mountainous home of the snow leopards. However, these cats have soft and dense fur, keeping them warm even in the unimaginable cold. Their large paws act like snowshoes, allowing them to walk without sinking into the snow. Their long, heavy tails help them keep their balance when chasing prey. At night, the cats wrap their tails around their bodies like a warm shawl to keep warm- and remain invisible while they sleep.
Although snow leopards live in one of the most rugged mountain areas on Earth, humans pose the greatest threat to their survival. Poachers can sell the skin and bones of a snow leopard for thousands of dollars. Hunters prey on chamois, wild sheep, and other animals thereby eliminating the prey of the snow leopard.
These unusual cats became the inspiration for the creation of a unique ring. The leopard emerges by surprise from the smooth ring, ready to chase its prey. The leopard's spots are 124 diamonds smoothly set. The entire piece has been made in ice-white gold.
