Need some help with ID'ing a ring

[Buoy]

Wasn't sure how to title this one.
This past weekend I was given a ring that was my Great-Grandfather's.
I'm trying to find out a little about it, or at least some suggestions of where to find something out about it.
My Great-Grandfather was the generation of my family that came to the US from Poland/Czechoslovakia/that part of the world.
Apparently he always wore this ring, may have brought it over with him.
He died when I was about 6-7.
I guess my Grandfather really wanted this ring, but somehow his sister got her hands on it, and claimed it was lost.
After both my Grandfather and his sister had passed, my Aunt (Daughter of Grandfathers sister) came up with the ring, and gave it to my Mother.
My Mother asked me if I wanted it.

Gold with a black rectangular stone approx 3/8" by 9/16" (onyx?)
The stone has a carving in it of a figurehead profile. The profile is wearing a large hat with a "wing" type thing pointing upward.
What is this a symbol of?? Is this military?
I'm not looking for a value, but more of an education of the symbolism of the carving in the stone, and why it was something important to my Great-Grandfather, and why my Grandfather wanted it so badly.
I did the best I could with the pictures.

 

[Buoy]

If you enlarge the pictures, you can see the detail a bit better.

 

[Sea-Dated]

Looks interesting. The symbol must have some kind of meaning......

 

[Buoy]

I agree, it must have some sort of meaning.
I'm just clueless as to what it might mean.
Is it Military? I don't even know if he was in the Military. Cossack??
Or is it a symbol of something else - similar to the Masons?

I guess I'm looking more for a History lesson more than anything.

 

[DollaBill]

Looks interesting. The symbol must have some kind of meaning......

I studied this kind of history in school, but it's been a while. From what I can make out and from what I remember it means



























































Stecz is a douchebag:sifone:

 

[Buoy]

I studied this kind of history in school, but it's been a while. From what I can make out and from what I remember it means
Stecz is a douchebag:sifone:

I didn't do any intense studying.
But I've picked up a bit of knowledge in life experience.:sifone:

Seriously though, I know we have some intelligent people here with a vast wealth of knowledge about many subjects.
I'm hoping someone can point me in at least a direction to continue my investigation.
I really would like to know what it means.

 

[Bobcat]

looks a bit like mercury with the winged helmet, very neat object, an older jeweler might give you a better answer

 

[phragle]

go to one of those antiques roadshow things that are on PBS, those guys can figure the history of anything

 

[Rush]

Compare on ebay you may find something close.

 

[X-Rated30]

Steve Quick is a jeweler so you might PM him.

 

[Dude! Sweet!]

Tim you are one fancy MF! :26:

And for the record, I was guessing Mercury as well. Was the old boy into boating?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(mythology)

Technically Merc's roman, not greek, but bobcat, I see where your mind is... Hell, I thought he was from Wisconsin!

 

[MarylandMark]

I know we have some intelligent people here with a vast wealth of knowledge about many subjects.

I thought I heard my name...

 

[Buoy]

I was also thinking Mercury.
When we were up in Toledo visiting family last weekend, we stayed at my father-in-laws, and I showed him the ring, and he also said Mercury.
But, I'm wondering about the hat, it looks something like a Cossack hat, and, maybe engravings of the "cords" that would cross the brow.
I've been trying to look for pictures or something that would make me certain of it, but, nothing yet.

I agree the antique roadshow thing - I have a few items that I would like to know more about, doubt that I'd part with them, or that they are really worth much, but I would like to know a bit about the history.

I thought I heard my name...

Did someone yell "here comes Flipper"???:26:

 

[Buoy]

Steve Quick is a jeweler so you might PM him.

What's his screen name?

I'm really just interested in the history.
I doubt it's something I would ever sell - unless it would make me Bill Gates rich, or if I took up a heroin habit.
And I don't forsee either of those happening in my future.

 

[Bobcat]

Tim you are one fancy MF! :26:

And for the record, I was guessing Mercury as well. Was the old boy into boating?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(mythology)

Technically Merc's roman, not greek, but bobcat, I see where your mind is... Hell, I thought he was from Wisconsin!

please ,no kiekhafaer jokes:26:

 

[X-Rated30]

What's his screen name?

I'm really just interested in the history.
I doubt it's something I would ever sell - unless it would make me Bill Gates rich, or if I took up a heroin habit.
And I don't forsee either of those happening in my future.

It was Steve Quick on OSO. It may or may not have a space in between.

 

[JupiterSunsation]

looks like Grampa was a pimp...........