Magali Bergon / Brenda B Design

While I'm not the biggest fan of winter, one of the advantages of January in Vancouver is a skyline that consists of gorgeous, snow-covered mountains (when they're not obscured by rain clouds, that is). French artist Magali Bergon shows her own mountain appreciation with this magnificent Pyrenees knuckleduster.

Also available in individual portions.

Bonus link:
Here's another ode to the mountains, in reticulated silver and accented with a garnet. Ring by Brenda B Design, who — unsurprisingly — is based in Colorado.

Even more jewellery:

• Pacaya Designs (Guatemala) - volcanic material


• Necklush (New York) - necklace scarves


• Valerie Hector (Illinois) - beadwork & metal

Rentaro Nishimura / Gwaan

London's Rentaro Nishimura makes eye-catching self-assembly rings that involve single sheets of acrylic.

Above, his sphere and cube rings. No glue required!

Bonus link: for more eye-catching lasercut acrylic, check out Italy's Gwaan, who made these "geometric" rings. Acrylic alphabet rings also available.

Even more jewellery:

• Loree Rodkin (California) - bold & glam


• Megan Adair (UK) - photo art


• Steven de Jaeger (Belgium) - contemporary silver

Jeanie Andronyk / Orno Jewelry

A nice selection of modern metal rings from Vancouver's Jeanie Andronyk.

Bonus link: it's a little tougher to find brushed, faceted metal rings in gold rather than silver, but here's one from Montreal's Orno Jewelry (Carla Smiley). It's 18k-plated sterling.

Even more jewellery:

• House of Natalia (Sweden) - modern metal


• Lisa Gralnick (Wisconsin) - art & jewellery


• Irene Jung (California) - vintage necklaces

PET:cell / Deco

Growing up, UK jeweller Tonya O'Hara used to watch her dad repair the broken components of TV sets. She thinks this led to her life-long "fascination with the meticulous and methodical arranging of components" — which now manifests itself as PET:cell, her line of recycled plastic bottle jewellery. Shown above are her "Tarantula," "Quill" (both with feathers), and green "Apple" rings.

Bonus link: does your idea of "PET" lean more toward bunnies than toward polyethylene terephthalate? If so, check out Japan's Deco for lots of rabbits (and squirrels).

Even more jewellery:

• Anna Built (New York) - recycled tin


• Sarah Stafford (UK) - clustered circles


• Seagrass Studio (Massachusetts) - handpainted necklaces

Yuki Nagao / Satoru

Askew, atilt, aslant. In "Side Effects," Japan's Yuki Nagao throws everything just slightly off kilter, to charming effect. Check out her other collections for lots of playful pieces.

Bonus link:
Here's an artfully-skewed ring from the "Lignum" series by New York's Satoru. Also check out the "Akatsuki" series, which features diamonds that appear to change colour.

Even more jewellery:

• Bent Metal (New Hampshire) - metal & silk


• Liv & Fig (New York) - organic & personalized


• Timothy Horn (Switzerland) - pearl art

Studio Aminimal / Glauco Cambi

Are you attracted to these rings? Do you feel pulled in? Drawn in? Maybe it's because they were inspired by magnetic field lines! Nylon and silver rings from the "Field Test" collection by Brooklyn's Studio Aminimal (John Briscella & Svetlana Blum Briscella).

Bonus link:
Speaking of magnetized, here's the "magnetic attraction" ring by Rome's Glauco Cambi. If you like kinetic rings, check out this Italian jeweller's gallery.

Even more jewellery:

• Alicia Roman (Virginia) - magnet necklaces


• Fail (Texas) - thin metal


• Louise Mary Chesshire (UK) - leaves & flowers

Kelly Jo Limberg / Bonny Lad (Sunggee Min)

Air, water, fire: Indiana's Kelly Jo Limberg goes elemental with these silver and plexiglas rings. Check out her portfolio for cool spinning-top rings and seashell loupes, as well.

Bonus link:
Australia's Bonny Lad (Sunggee Min) was inspired by the five elements when creating these rings in silver, copper, corian, wood and dyed PVC.

Even more jewellery:

• Candy Stripe Cloud (Australia) - cute lasercuts


• Reef Jewellery (UK) - marine themes


• Carrier Pigeon (Minnesota) - talons & matchsticks

Schatje Design / Love Mert

Made from old textile factory spools, these wooden slice rings by Japan's Schatje Design were created to support carbon offset initiatives. So I guess I shouldn't fly on a jet to go grab some? Dangit.

Bonus link: for more recycled wood, check out California's Love Mert. These rings were made with remnants from the artist's father's woodshop.

Even more jewellery:

• Uncommonly Beautiful (UK) - recycled accessories


• Kelly Allanson (California) - contemporary silver


• Amber O'Harrow (Iowa) - metal & textiles

Jutiqu / Buji New York

These synthetic pearls trapped in clear resin (or snowballs trapped in ice?) are from Japan's Jutiqu (Tomoko Sato-Albaisa). I actually like the giant necklaces the best — wear one and pull off an updated Holly Golightly... minus the crime and gold-digging, of course.

Bonus link:
You don't have to be a gold-digger to dig gold. And if you do dig gold, you'll dig this giant, golden "Almost Paradise" ring by Buji New York (May Chen).

Even more jewellery:

• Ingrid Bärndal (Sweden) - pearls & petals


• Laurel Denise (Virginia) - simple & handwritten


• Sophia Raja (UK) - Swarovski beads

Kirsty Fraser / Morgan Terry

I've reached architectural ring nirvana. As it turns out, everything's made of MDF — does that mean I've actually reached ring IKEA? Either way, I love these lasercut MDF rings by UK jeweller Kirsty Fraser.

Bonus link:
For solid wood rather than particle board, check out this chunky wooden ring (with a single silver facet) by New Zealand jeweller Morgan Terry.

Even more jewellery:

• Audrey Jacks (Massachusetts) - white & wood


• Becky Kelso (California) - modern classics


• Linda Brothwell (UK) - art jewellery

Lauren Joffe / Argent Flame

[If you missed it, I posted on the weekend — please scroll down.] Let's skip the chatter and jump right back into the jewellery, shall we? I love this work by Australia's Lauren Joffe. (Note: if you don't see it on your screen, the navigation is hidden at the very bottom of her webpage.)

Bonus link:
For more shibuichi pieces with an eroded look, check out Maryland metalsmith Tony Sanchez of Argent Flame. This particular ring is decorated with Mayan glyphs.

Even more jewellery:

• Amanda DelaCruz (Toronto) - copper & enamel


• Keiwa Kobayashi (Japan) - steel structures


• T.Cyia (California) - spikes & chains

Fruit Super Design / Anne Arden McDonald

I'm back from my much-needed dose of blue skies and sun. To make up for my long break, here's a weekend posting! Seattle's Fruit Super Design makes these fun silicone rings that stretch to fit — much like the pants I'll need to wear after all that holiday eating.

Bonus link:
Speaking of fruit, New York artist and photographer Anne Arden McDonald has a line of jewellery that includes this cast silver apple seed ring (also available in gold).

Even more jewellery:

• Apples to Oranges (California) - leather & beads


• Marukiko (Sweden) - painted sticks


• Bree Richey (Massachusettes) - clean silver

Annika Ladener / Amy Allum

* Please note: *
I'm on a winter break until mid-January.
Apologies for the extended absence!

It's the start of another year, another cycle! Vancouver's Annika Ladener illustrates the point with her "Under a Tree" series, a set of four rings capturing four seasons.

Bonus link:
Trees in threes! South Africa's Amy Allum created this multi-finger silver ring featuring tree (complete with roots) silhouettes.

Even more jewellery:

• Dalla Nonna (New York) - personalized calendars


• Lianna Sheppard (UK) - geometric acrylic


• Noboru Shionoya (Japan) - statement pieces

Tabitha Ott / Ulalá / Black Balloon

'Tis the season to party! I'm signing off for the year, so Happy Holidays to you all and see you in January!

In the meantime, get your daily ring fix by checking out Ohio's Tabitha Ott, who set out to make a new ring every single day of 2011 (the one pictured above is from July 22nd).

If a party hat with polkadots isn't enough to lift your spirits, how about a fistfull of them instead? The "dots" actually represent atoms such as "joy," "brightness" and "originality" — you know, from the imaginary corner of the periodic table of elements. Polymer clay "Atomium" rings by UK-based Spanish designer Ulalá.

Bonus link:
Turn up the "festivity" dial by swapping those colourful balls for jingle bells! "Ring My Bell" by Belgian label Black Balloon (Cléo Baele & Sarah Bos).

Even more jewellery:

• Feltik (Poland) - felt balls


• Ribbonesia Adornments (Japan) - ribbon animals


• Kyler by Joy O (California) - green & stylish

Heidemarie Herb / ilithé

Don't worry, kid. Christmas — and toys — will be here before you know it.

See?

For more miniatures and other metalwork, check out German jeweller Heidemarie Herb.

Bonus link: the gift that wraps itself! See Paris jeweller ilithé for Christmas bow rings in three different styles.

Even more jewellery:

• A l'Heure de l'Apéro (Spain) - miniature figures


• Eileen Gatt (UK) - clean metal


• Stannard Inc. (Australia) - crystals & bronze

Ineke Heerkens / Kirstie van Noort

Delve into the world of Dutch artist Ineke Heerkens.

Bonus link:
For more conceptual work out of the Netherlands, check out "skin jewellery" by Kirstie van Noort, currently studying at the Design Academy Eindhoven.

Even more jewellery:

• Erica Duffy-Voss (Iowa) - conceptual neckpieces


• Manuel Albarran (Spain) - metal couture


• Most Common Most Rare (UK) - resin cuffs

bRainbow / Muzoo Designs

Do parents still assemble toys on Christmas Day, or has this tradition been replaced by installing games and downloading apps? (I feel old.) Here's an assembly-required ring that's worth the (minimal) effort! Check out Australia's bRainbow for fun, retro-flavoured jewellery in lasercut wood and acrylic. This DIY ring features a swappable squirrel/bird top; heart ring also available.

Bonus link:
Here's another orange lasercut acrylic bird ring, this time from the Netherlands' Muzoo Design (Julian Sing), whose obsession with lasercutting extends even to cucumbers.

Even more jewellery:

• Mockinghorse (UK) - lasercut acrylic


• Jocelyn Vanni (California) - texturized silver


• Sonya Renée (Texas) - metal & stones

Elizabeth Novak / Jeanne Flint

Treat yourself to one of these rings — you've earned it! Well, someone's earned it, anyway, as they're made from vintage 4-H merit badges and stampings. Rings above by Rhode Island's Elizabeth Novak.

Bonus link:
Here's a ring that could be of use during certain 4-H activities. Silver "All Who Wander Are Not Lost" compass ring by Atlanta designer Jeanne Flint.

Even more jewellery:

• M&B Vintage (New York) - monograms & charms


• Hello Shiso (California) - for kids


• Cécile Cohen (France) - beads on chains

Alice Waese / Marmod8 (Marie-Maude Brunet) / Dina Abargil

Your day is about to get a little rough — thanks to some cool, rugged rings, like the ones above by London-based Alice Waese.

"Wooden" rings in oxidized silver by Montreal's Marmod8 (Marie-Maude Brunet).

Ring in concrete and shibuichi from the "Street" collection by Israeli jeweller Dina Abargil.

Bonus link:
I like the rough, jagged edge on this "Iceberg" ring by Indiana's Lisa Hopkins. Visit her site for lots of oxidized silver and botanical themes.

Even more jewellery:

• Bad Panda (Texas) - rough diamonds


• Sophie Heymans (Belgium) - gold & glass


• Flora & Fawn (Seattle) - enamel circles