MIRROR / Je M'aime / David Rasnick

I wonder if The Bangles ever considered calling themselves "The Rings." (Six of one vaguely onomatopoeic circular jewellery item, half-dozen of the other?) If they had, Japan's MIRROR would've been morally obligated to name this ring "Walk Like an Egyptian." As it stands, it's the "Eye Am Not Alone" between-fingers double pyramid ring. AND IT'S WATCHING YOU.

Above, a more subtle take on the pyramid, also by all-caps aficionados MIRROR.

Not to be outdone in the field of Egyptian-themed double rings is New York's Je M'aime, with this spectacular "Sphinxxx" in 24k gold vermeil.

Bonus link:
For all sorts of sculptural rings, from cute dogs to T-rex skulls to King Tut (pictured here), check out California's David Rasnick.

Even more jewellery:

• Bark Jewels by Miwako Yoshioka (UK) - nostalgic gold


• Hila Welner (Israel) - ornate enamel


• Tomoko Tokuda (Italy) - clock parts


• Jay Nielsen (Minnesota) - metal & gems


• Daniel & Viera Brunovsky (Slovakia) - sculptural silver

Tara Holmes / Studio MHL (Monique van Bruggen) / Franzisk (Francesca Buccheri)

London's Tara Holmes creates jewellery collages, sourcing found objects from junk shops and antique markets (and pubs, if her beer coaster clusters are any indication). Pictured are rings from her "Token" collection.

Above, some more found cluster rings, this time with buttons. Rings by Studio MHL (Dutch jeweller Monique van Bruggen), whose delightful botanical brooches are... delightful.

Bonus link:
For a lot more buttons, as well as other recycled materials, check out Italy's Franzisk (Francesca Buccheri).

Even more jewellery:

• Kumvana Gomani (Sweden) - recycled plastic


• Lorraine Seibold (Vancouver) - silver & clay


• TheDrugstore (UK) - ear pills


• Anke Fischer (Germany) - clusters & pearls


• Golconda (New York) - pavé jewels

Eun Yeong Jeong / Natasha Fraser

This isn't the first cactus ring I've posted here but the gorgeous mix of white wool, copper and plant definitely makes it the most ethereal. Don't miss out on Illinois artist Eun Yeong Jeong, creator of strange, otherworldly, exquisite objects.

Bonus link:
For something a little leafier, check out the plant engagement ring by UK jeweller Natasha Fraser (in her "portfolio" section).

Even more jewellery:

• AKA Jewellery (Lithuania) - conceptual art


• Amy Kovach (Ontario) - bubbles & pods


• Alicia Mannix (Ireland) - botanical silver


• Olga Mihaylova (Pittsburgh) - seed beads


• Estelle Vernon (Maryland) - keum boo

Cécile Fricker / Early Jewelry (Kylie Grater)

Is this what would happen if horses could afford Manolo Blahnik? No better day than 7/7 to showcase these sleek horseshoe rings from Paris jeweller Cécile Fricker. Above, the "Luckies" rings and below, the "Construct" rings, both from her "Pony" collection.

Bonus link: find not just horseshoes but horseheads at Kansas-based Early Jewelry (Kylie Grater), an old favourite of mine.

Even more jewellery:

• Lucky mE. Jewelry (Richmond, VA) - gold & stones


• Michelle Pajak-Reynolds (Ohio) - organic textiles


• Malou Paul (Netherlands) - cable ties


• Rosie Weisencrantz (UK) - vintage parts


• Lucky 11 (California) - dice jewellery

Marcus Marguillier / CBT's Closet

Totally. Awesome.

For the illusion of moving your hand through a space portal, get yourself a "hologram" ring/hand-adornment in silver and acrylic by Belgian jeweller Marcus Marguillier (now based in Spain). A few additional samples below, but go visit his site for more!

Bonus link:
For more neon acrylic, like this lasercut Nintendo Gameboy ring, check out CBT's Closet (and partner site NB's Closet) of San Antonio, Texas.

Even more jewellery:

• Kim Thomson (Australia) - colourful plastic


• Punky Pinks (UK) - kitschy acrylic


• Nina Savill (Los Angeles) - modern metal


• The Green Fuse (Minnesota) - silver & stones


• Le Mie Follie (Italy) - playful charms

Stevie B. / Yaov Kotik / Otro Mundo (Ana Garcia)

I thought I'd give you a head start on your weekend (your long weekend, if you're American). Resin ring with various stones by New Jersey's Stevie B. Jewelry.

Whether your weekend involves the above beverages and activities or not, I hope you have a good one! Puffed bottle cap rings by Israel's Yaov Kotik and playground and golf rings by Spain's Otro Mundo (Ana Garcia).

Bonus link: for more golf jewellery than you can shake a club at, check out Fore!, a collection by Swedish designers Yvonne Clamf and Christina Söderström of Yvone Christa.

Even more jewellery:

• Poupette (New York) - modern metal


• Whirling Girl (Seattle) - sport themes


• Eclosion (Japan) - carved roses


• Catherine Marche (UK) - silver & gems


• Kevin Heady (Austin, TX) - semiprecious beads

Jessica McCormack / Kelly Barrell

In her "Jewels of the Urban Night" collection, London's Jessica McCormack draws inspiration from world cities — be it the Eiffel Tower, the London Eye or (as pictured above) the New York City skyline. Visit her site to see more of her edgy yet classic diamond jewellery, like these "shape" rings, below:

Bonus link: want more skylines? Brooklyn's Kelly Farrell, maker of Tinysaurs, also makes these stackable cityscape rings in lasercut acrylic.

Even more jewellery:

• GetPersonalArt (Michigan) - skyline cuffs


• Karin Andréasson (UK) - girly gold


• Bogumił Bernard Bytomski (Poland) - modern metal


• Connie Verrusio (New York) - industrial copper


• Lumé (Germany) - white gold & diamonds

Sonia Beauchesne / Justin Rivard

In honour of Canada Day, here's the "Same Same But Different" ring (named after a Thai expression) by Quebec jeweller Sonia Beauchesne.

"The piece draws its contextual and artistic inspiration from the political and geographic reality of Canada. The central element in the piece is a replica of Bedlam's cube, a puzzle game made up of thirteen distinct segments intended to refer to Canada's provinces and territories, as well as to the country's political and
cultural diversity."

Visit her site for the full description. And happy Canada Day!

Bonus link: I can't let this day pass without mentioning someone from my own province, so here's an eagle ring from British Columbia Cree artist and carver Justin Rivard.

Even more jewellery:

• Flight Path Designs (Vancouver) - leather pendants


• Megan Hazel (Regina) - contemporary metal


• Linda Penwarden (Toronto) - fine jewellery


• Camille Ouellette (Montreal) - perforations & pompoms


• CottonCandyCupcake (Halifax) - satin feathers

Jill K. Baker Gower / Isabelle Vanlaere

If you liked yesterday's rings but still prefer to wear your nails the traditional way — you know, press-on acrylics — this ring could come in very handy, no pun intended.

Open it up and you'll find a set of emergency replacements should one of your own nails get chipped. (The nails are actually enamelled copper, so they're pretty sturdy, unless you're working in environments of 1,084 °C.)

You'll find all this and much, much more (from eye jewellery to lipstick necklaces) in the portfolio of New Jersey metalsmith Jill K. Baker Gower.

Bonus link: for that chainmail look, but translated into something better suited for daily wear, see these chain rings from Belgium's Isabelle Vanlaere.

Even more jewellery:

• Francescab (Italy) - bold neckpieces


• Joanne Thompson (UK) - chain mail


• Jarosław Westermark (Poland) - textured silver


• Helene Courtaigne Delalande (France) - gold & gems


• Manano (Belgium) - beads & charms

Litter SF / Hyun Kyung Park / Sabine Teucher

If this is how you carry your money around, you definitely need the added protection of these "cougar claws" from San Francisco's Litter (I love how they also look like pen nibs).

Above, more talon-rific metalsmithing: fingernail rings from RISD student Hyun Kyung Park.

Bonus link: for another full-finger ring (which also looks like a pen nib), check out this "fish" ring by Germany's Sabine Teucher.

Even more jewellery:

• Sys Bjarnhof (Denmark) - remade antiques


• Miss.g (Kat Gee) (New Zealand) - chunky & playful


• Katrin Wacker (Germany) - contemporary metal


• Marla S. Rudnick (Washington, DC) - knit silver


• Ian Saudé (California) - diamonds & pearls

Gaál Gyöngyvér / Thelma Aviani / Nikolay Sardamov / Monika Gimborn-Jochum / Sigurd Bronger

It's been a while since I've posted Random Pluckings from My Bookmarks. Ready for another go? First up: plastic and metal from Hungaria's Gaál Gyöngyvér (I believe "Gaál" is the surname, because that's how they roll).

"Square lines" ring by Brazil's Thelma Aviani.

These rings really do not do his body of work justice so please visit his site to see more of Bulgaria's Nikolay Sardamov.

Acrylic and glitter from Germany's Monika Gimborn-Jochum.

Balloon and egg rings from Norway's Sigurd Bronger (shamefully, I've had a half-written post about him sitting around for about two years now).

Bonus link:
One more egg ring, this time in anodized aluminum: the "chromegg" from Israel-based Italian designer Arosha Luigi Taglia.

Even more jewellery:

• Olivia de Soria (Denver) - enamel & gumballs


• Stephanie Winther (Australia) - etched silver


• Spacefruit - Becky Crawford (UK) - plastic clusters


• NUÑ (New York) - gorgeous gold


• Anne Thomas (France) - ceramic girls

Mary Donald / Lazy Oaf

I was a little whiny yesterday (Excedrin for three meals a day will do that to you). Let me balance things out with an "Optimistic Impulse," as the above ring is named. The piece is by L.A.'s Mary Donald, an artist who works with diverse materials to create gorgeous, organic jewellery (this one is wire, fibre and paint). Below, "Forever the Optimist" and other rings in rubber, nylon, glass, pearls and more.

Bonus link: the black cloud is frowny but the smiley white cloud must have had an optimistic impulse of its own. Acrylic happy/sad cloud rings from the UK's Lazy Oaf.

Even more jewellery:

• Paweł Kaczyński (Poland) - botanical sculptures


• Francesca Harland (UK) - textile love


• William Belack (Miami) - metal & gems


• Heike & Peter Bereck (Germany) - contemporary gold


• Gabriela Fissore (Argentina) - silver & colour

André Lasmar / Susie Ganch / Cynthia Myron / Amy John

There is construction ongoing nextdoor. Drilling. Banging. Yammering. Hammering (both jack- and claw-). I'm headache prone as it is and this is just driving me nuts and bolts. Well, if you can't beat 'em, and you can't join 'em, and you can't make 'em stop please stop, you can at least be inspired by 'em. So, some construction-themed rings today, starting with these cement-block and wood-block rings by Brazil's André Lasmar (above).

Ring with nails and spiral shank by Virginia's Susie Ganch.

Bricks and window shutters by Cynthia Myron, also of Virginia, who does fabulous architectural work in pewter and copper.

Clockwise from top left: "Disturbing the Peace," "Tension," "Labor" (with nail) and — because who doesn't love irony? — "Hammered Serenity" rings by Los Angeles metalsmith Amy John (see her gallery for lots of bullet rings).

Bonus link: I wonder how much drilling and hammering it takes to build a cathedral... or a cathedral ring, like this one by Australia's Metal Couture (William Llewellyn Griffiths).

Even more jewellery:

• Susannah Dwyer (Australia) - industrial parts


• Heather Grandmont (Cleveland, OH) - oxidized silver


• Rita Botelho (Portugal) - lasercut leather


• Shabnam Bahmanian (California) - forged metal


• Carole Leonard (UK) - perspex & steel

Jessie Yeager / la boîte à couture

Rice and silk may be evocative of Asia but Jessie Yeager's jewellery is actually influenced by her travels across the U.S. Check out this North Carolina jeweller for pieces with grass, harmonicas, map outlines and more...

...some of which come with a hidden surprise.

Bonus link:
Speaking of rice, Spain's la boîte à couture has some cute rings shaped like sushi. No paella, as far as I can tell, but there is lots of cake!

Even more jewellery:

• Joanne Garner (UK) - silk & silver


• Luana Coonen (California) - amazing insects


• Littlewhitedish (Australia) - porcelain pendants


• Nügaard Designs (Florida) - metal & stones


• Sikara (Texas) - inlaid gemss

Teresa F. Faris / Nikki Thiess-Kusiak / Danielle Zippan

If you've been reading my blog long enough, you know how I feel about birds. And, of course, you know how I feel about jewellers. Can you please tell me, then, how I'm supposed to feel about a jeweller who's in cahoots with a bird? Does not compute. In her "Collaboration with a Bird" series, Wisconsin artist Teresa F. Faris explores the "ideas of fragility and human/animal connectedness" by working "with animals rather than using their bodies." Each piece features a piece of wood that has been chewed or "carved" by a bird. They're making jewellery now, folks. Be afraid.

Here's another collaboration, of sorts, with a bird: caged quail egg ring by Rhode Island's Nikki Thiess-Kusiak.

Bonus link:
Now here's the kind of bird I can handle — cute and simple. Silver dove ring by Toronto's Danielle Zippan of Zippan Designs (US$40).

Even more jewellery:

• Trine Trier (Denmark) - clean lines


• Aurélie Dellasanta (Switzerland) - embroidery & skeletons


• Miriam Kimelblat (Brazil) - flora & fauna


• Silvia Mazzoli (Italy) - zippers & bows


• Matsu by Jennifer Shigetomi (Toronto) - organic metal

Vicki Purnell / Melinda Young

There's nothing as refreshing as something bubbly on ice.

Let London's Vicki Purnell take you into the weekend with her pops of acrylic and resin.

Bonus link:
Of course, it's no fun when your bubbles go flat — unless it's these stacking acrylic bubble rings by Australia's Melinda Young (~US$130).

Even more jewellery:

• Bell & Spoon (Oona Ball) (UK) - people & animals


• Sodaplus (Japan) - chains & briolettes


• Chris A. Wronski (Atlanta) - pierced silver


• Mandy Allen (Portland, OR) - anodized aluminum


• Pepitarosa (Italy) - sweet & pink

Regina Aradesian / Ursula Masterson

I like how "plique-à-jour" sounds somewhat like "peek-a-boo." Because that's exactly what the enamel does — it peeks out from the silver and lets the light peek through, as well. UK jeweller Regina Aradesian uses the technique with lovely results; inspired by her roots, she combines traditional Armenian patterns with "the intricacies of the cellular world observed through a microscope."

Bonus link:
For more vitreous enamel, check out New York's Ursula Masterson; pictured is the pansy ring from her "Moderna" collection.

Even more jewellery:

• Jenn Parnell (Laurel, MD) - enamel & silver


• Green Halo (California) - gold & briolettes


• Beadworx (Bettina Welker) (Germany) - polymer clay


• Maja Schulz (NY/Ecuador) - metal & gems


• Jacqueline Warrington (UK) - contemporary twotone

Sina Emrich / rings from The Rose

Terrific? More like amphitheaterrific! (I'll escort myself out now.) Germany's Sina Emrich turns wood into magic worthy of any stage. Visit her site to see more gorgeous wooden pieces and read about her Schmucknomadin - weltlernen ("jewellery nomad - world-learning") project.

Bonus link: not an amphitheatre but an Elizabethan theatre, The Rose fell out of use around 1606. These are replicas of rings found when the old site was excavated.

Even more jewellery:

• Miranda Hughes (UK) - vintage components


• Doerthe Fuchs (Germany) - oxidized silver


• Loewestamm (Ukraine) - Black Sea wood


• SeidenGang (New York) - classical gold


• Lisa Black (Australia) - cultural inspirations

Maya van Lierop / Pilleriin Jürisoo

Here's another portfolio I've been awaiting for a long time. No longer "under construction" is Mayavanlierop.com, website of Dutch jeweller Maya van Lierop. Obviously. These rings are like coloured cross-sections of soap bubbles!

Bonus link: here's one more newly- launched site. Estonia's Pilleriin Jürisoo makes jewellery and objects in a variety of materials.

Even more jewellery:

• Julie Tougas (Montreal) - circles & spirals


• Kristina Brekne (Australia) - modern silver


• Karat (Japan) - bugs & fish


• Danielle Meshorer (San Francisco) - metal & gems


• Clare Lupino (UK) - beads on wire

Iris Bodemer / Sarah-Jane Cook

Ooh, nice. I want more!

More, I say!

That's more like it! I'd been waiting a long time for Germany's Iris Bodemer to get a website. As it turns out, good things do come to those who wait.

Bonus link: if you like rings with textile components, like the wool and raffia pieces above, check out Australia's Sarah-Jane Cook and her threaded acrylic rings.

Even more jewellery:

• Sahlia Michelle (Oregon) - modern chains


• Lost Values (Elena Corchero) (UK) - solar-powered


• Jewels Curnow (Seattle) - metal & gems


• Philipp Plein (Switzerland) - diamonds & dogtags


• Nah (Chile) - thread beads

Sarah Fox / Alishsa Marie Boyd

Yesterday, you met Fanny the Fox. Today, meet Oregon's Sarah Fox (no relation) and her topiary jewellery in colourful felt.

Bonus link:
Here's a topiary ring that might require some upkeep, as it contains real moss. By Toronto's Alishsa Marie Boyd.

Even more jewellery:

• Maaike Ebbinge (Netherlands) - colourful fibers


• Jen Cunningham (Scotland) - trees & mountains


• Veronika My (Germany) - leather & felt


• Nicole Rossetta (Nantucket Island, MA) - silver & glass


• Cheena Chandra (Irvine, CA) - gold & gems

titiMadam / Pyrrha

Cow, chicken and fox — aka Craig, George and Fanny — are just three of eight animals (plus one imaginary one) standing ready to decorate your fingers. For more lasercut acrylic goodness, including a line of housewares, see UK designers titiMadam.

Bonus link: more fox! Vancouver's Pyrrha makes a popular line of jewellery modelled after antique wax seals (even I own a necklace, despite my allergy), including this fox head ring.

Even more jewellery:

• Finest Imaginary (UK) - lasercut acrylic


• Patrik Muff (Germany) - regal motifs


• Antoine Camus (France) - panthers & gems


• Hoorsenbuhs (California) - gold & diamonds


• Rosalind Wolchock (Winnipeg) - silver & pearls

Schmutzerland / Emily Bedford

These whimsical cocktail rings, with their framed Victorian illustrations, make me long for the olden days when they had things like hot air balloons and feathers and moths. Get a taste of those halcyon times by visiting New Jersey's Schmutzerland.

Bonus link: another framed art ring, this time from UK jeweller Emily Bedford. This "Clara" ring from her "Souvenir" collection features a miniature bird painting set under resin.

Even more jewellery:

• Swan:Dive (San Francisco) - illustrated pendants


• Babette (Japan) - framed art


• Emma Fox (UK) - birds & koi


• Cubannie Links (Brooklyn) - guns & butterflies


• Sabine Böttcher (Germany) - metal & gems

Shinji Nakaba / L'Iris Noir (Iris Simon)

Though I usually don't post the same jeweller more than once, the last time I mentioned this artist was four years ago and that was only in passing (no photos) so I think I'll allow myself this one. Besides, he's well worth a hundred mentions, let alone two! His rings are wildly botanical...

...clearly cool...

...and warrant some serious face time. Too bad that's made difficult by the fact that Shinji Nakaba is all the way over in Kanagawa, Japan. Then again, his work is on display in New York's Museum of Arts & Design and Montreal's Museum of Fine Arts so, if you're in either of those locations, go check it out!

Bonus link: if you want more faces, French jeweller L'Iris Noir (Iris Simon) has several collections featuring face rings; this one is from her "50% Devil" series.

Even more jewellery:

• Gavang (Thailand) - botanical metal


• Andrea Halmschlager (Austria) - art jewellery


• Modern Madini (Eugene, OR) - copper & silver


• Hirocoledge (Japan) - lasercut acrylic


• Amrita Singh (New York) - ornate gold

Yoko Yano / Monika Bergrath

OH MY GOD YES PLEASE I WILL TAKE TEN OF EACH THANK YOU. «Deeeeep breath»  Sorry, I get excited sometimes. Can you blame me? I'll tell you who you can blame: Japanese glass jeweller Yoko Yano.

Bonus link: speaking of glass, since I've lost my marbles over those rings, perhaps I should replace them with some of these marble rings by Germany's Monika Bergrath.

Even more jewellery:

• Hastha Kala (UK) - ceramic & seaglass


• S'adoucir (Japan) - vintage style


• Pamela Harari (Israel) - gold & gems


• Vanessa Jenik (Los Angeles) - silver & beads


• Deborah Gaspar (Dallas) - mother of pearl

Mie Miyakawa / Ariel Gordon

There's a regular ol' full moon this Sunday — but to see a blue moon and an eclipse, at the same time, no less, check out Edinburgh-based jeweller Mie Miyakawa. Pictured are her "blue moon" and "eclipse" rings in silver, gold, acrylic, resin and topaz.

Bonus link:
For a crescent moon and other simple, modern styles in metal, check out Los Angeles jeweller Ariel Gordon.

Even more jewellery:

• Marlo Miyashiro (Seattle) - silver sprouts


• Company of Strangers (New Zealand) - locks & keys


• Elke Mitscha (Germany) - clean & simple


• Polytima (New York) - bold stones


• Jennifer Shon (Los Angeles) - beads & charms

Memyselfandi (Pooja Sahny) / Karen Thomas

Let's see: we have cheese, heartbeats and things coming full circle. What is this, a Hallmark Movie of the Week? Nope, it's something better: jewellery by Belgium's Pooja Sahny, aka Memyselfandi. (The circular arrow is actually the "male" symbol spiffed up.)

Bonus link:
Here are a couple more cheese rings (Swiss cheese, to be precise) from English jeweller Karen Thomas.

Even more jewellery:

• Emma Jane Donald (Australia) - cool & geometric


• Izabel Camille (Denmark) - modern classics


• Andrea K (UK) - hearts & flowers


• Cynthia Rybakoff (New York) - links & cameos


• Vitrice McMurry (New Orleans) - contemporary metal

Jennifer L. Bunt / Susannah Goodyear

Chess, for me, connotes "cerebral" and "cold weather" — so let's do a 180 from yesterday and go for some summertime child's play. Pictured above are three rings from the perfectly-named "Five More Minutes" playground series, plus an awesome "Tic Tac Toe" ring that comes with a drawer in which you can store the Xs and Os! All rings by Ohio's Jennifer L. Bunt.

Bonus link:
UK jeweller Susannah Goodyear also has a "Playful Playground" series; her equipment is occupied by birds, as in this see-saw ring.

Even more jewellery:

• Renee Zettle-Sterling (Michigan) - art pieces


• Linogirl (Australia) - painted porcelain


• Jouer Avec Moa? (Japan) - vintage style


• Closet by Alexandra Hunt (Calgary) - buttons & silver


• Heike Eden (Germany) - contemporary gold

Alexandra Buckle / EC Design

Church windows are admired for their stained glass panes but England's Alexandra Buckle reminds us that the frames are plenty gorgeous on their own, too. Shown above are her oxidized silver window rings; below, her equally gorgeous chess rings:

Bonus link: if you're searching for something just a little less basilical, there's this "window ring" by Minneapolis metalsmith Emily Catherine Johnson of EC Design Studio.

Even more jewellery:

• Myung Urso (Rochester, NY) - silk & silver


• Céline C (Ireland) - romantic necklaces


• Emily Snadden (Australia) - contemporary metal


• Gabriele Späth (Germany) - gold & jade


• Clic'Clasp (Anna Tabokhoff) (France) - geodes & pearls

Species by the Thousands / Jason Janow / Gundula Papesch / Ruth Bridges /Rembrandt Jordan

Sticks and stones may break my bones — but look how pretty they are! Above: two-finger twig ring in recycled silver by Brooklyn's Species by the Thousands and twig bands by Charlotte, North Carolina's Jason Janow. Below: stacked pebble ring by Geneva-based Austrian jeweller Gundula Papesch and clean, pebbly, white gold pieces by England's Ruth Bridges.

Bonus link:
For more jewellery in that simple, pleasing pebble shape, see Belgian musician-turned-metalsmith Rembrandt Jordan.

Even more jewellery:

• Chris Edwards (UK) - pebbles and glass


• Ashley Ernest (Michigan) - wood & mirrors


• Little Rock (Edmonton) - rocks & silver


• Silverdream (Belgium) - botanical metal


• Michelle Canuelle (Seattle) - gold & gems