Minhee Seo / Julie Van Hees

A plethora of piquing pairings from Korean artist Minhee Seo. Visit her site to see the full "Love Story" series, in which she creates complementary wedding rings that become one shape when they "hold hands."

Bonus link:
Similar in concept (and colour) are these USB engagement rings from Dutch artist Julie Van Hees. Also check out her DVD-lens pendants!

Even more jewellery:

• Con_Fusione (Italy) - USB jewellery


• Jacquie Aiche (California) - modern gold


• Jasleen Kaur (UK) - royal images


• Hiroku (Japan) - roses & crosses


• Beth Cyr (Georgia) - contemporary metal

Sabrina Meyns / Åsa Halldin / Silastones (Ponsawan Sila)

Dandelions are a great symbol for the end of summer — a burst of warm, bright yellow which then fades and blows away into the autumn wind. Nope, the truth in this ring cannot be denied: September is right around the corner. Ring by Ireland's Sabrina Meyns.

Above, another ring vaguely reminiscent of dandelion seeds, from Sweden's Åsa Halldin.

Bonus link:
For those not willing to let go of summer just yet, there's this fun watermelon ring made from polymer clay by Indiana's Silastones (Ponsawan Sila).

Even more jewellery:

• Karin Worden (California) - botanical metal


• Jodie Hook (UK) - silver loops


• Gonzalo Cutrina (Spain) - bold & graphic


• Clotilde Barcat (France) - watch parts


• Etienne Perret (Maine) - diamonds & pearls

Ara Kuo / Carolien Smith

In Japanese, "Ara!" means, loosely, "Oh my!" And that's exactly what I was thinking as I perused the portfolio of Taiwanese jeweller Ara Kuo, who offers a little something surprising in every piece.

Bonus link: I love that clear bird but it's definitely a "special occasion" ring. For everyday wear, try a clear acrylic marble perched on your finger instead. This "figure 8" ring is by UK jeweller Caroline Smith.

Even more jewellery:

• Tóth Zoltán (Hungary) - birds on bone


• Tamara Clark (Surrey, BC) - contemporary silver


• Rosario Camarasa (Argentina) - vintage collages


• Anna de Ville (UK) - flora & fauna


• Mateo Bijoux (New York) - modern metal

Alma Handmade (Andrea Miranda Salas) / Weissglut Design (Stefan Kiefer & Jessica Zwack)

Gilded.

I covet these strong, simple, porcelain double-rings by Brooklyn's Alma Handmade (Andrea Miranda Salas).

Bonus link: if you like simple, modern porcelain, you may want to check out Germany's Weissglut Design (Stefan Kiefer & Jessica Zwack). Their focus is largely on vessels but they also have some rings and pendants.

Even more jewellery:

• Julia Israel (Germany) - porcelain & lace


• Minoux (Oregon) - bright enamel


• Emma Snowdon (UK) - contemporary metal


• Sophia Forero (Illinois) - semiprecious beads


• Emilio Sotelo (California) - simple silver

Alice Jee Chung / Francine Oeyen / Frances Morgan Oliver

A green gem for a greener planet: "Bubbly Emerald" ring in silver and recycled champagne bottle by Rhode Island's Alice Jee Chung.

As for the non-glass portion of a champagne bottle, Argentina's Francine Oeyen has this cork piece with a cute house detail in silver. See more of her jewellery at her latest project, Be My Walking Gallery.

Bonus link: if beer is your preferred bubbly, Connecticut's Frances Morgan Oliver has this take on the bottlecap ring. (The flattened cap may appear to wrap around on its own but it's held in place by wire in the back.)

Even more jewellery:

• Claudia Chaves (Portugal) - cork jewellery


• Arrondissement Aq1 (Germany) - leather & chains


• Caja Jewelry (New York) - nameplate necklaces


• Iain Henderson (UK) - lines on metal


• Steven Brownlee (Florida) - inlaid wood

Tanja Hartmann / Ayşe Kozaci

In case yesterday wasn't enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, Germany's Tanja Hartmann has some delightful meringue rings in a whole feast of flavours (and licorice rings, too — she does, after all, live next door to the Dutch).

Bonus link:
Still a bit shy of a sugar coma? Then have a cupcake (or, to use the much awesomer British term, "fairy cake"). Ring in rubber and silver by Turkish jeweller Ayşe Kozaci.

Even more jewellery:

• Anna Lou of London (UK) - bright & fun


• Frau Dietel (Germany) - organic metal


• Carla M. Fox (Oregon) - etched & contemporary


• LoveLuha (Netherlands) - leather & charms


• Clodagh Molloy (Ireland) - simple silver

Content and Container (Pia Pasalk) / David Clarke

These sweet rings came out in 2004 — but sugar doesn't go bad (especially not in ring form) so they're A-OK by me. Sugar wedding rings by German artist Pia Pasalk of Content and Container.

Bonus link:
Good thing salt doesn't spoil, either! An experiment — from 2005 — in salt, silver, lead and steel by British metalsmith and lecturer David Clarke.

Even more jewellery:

• Pipertree (New York) - crystals & leather


• Carolina Gimeno (Spain) - organic & modern


• Carla Wax (Toronto) - chains & clusters


• Samantha Maund (UK) - etched silver


• Deanna Gracie (New Zealand) - contemporary metal

20% off Sale!

Heads up! I'm running a 20% off $25 sale in my ring shop right now! The sale runs through Monday, August 30th so don't miss out.

Andy Lifschutz / Roux Bijoux (Rosa Martínez Arcos)

Sometimes, when nature speaks, it shouts — and my fingers are all ears. Rings above from the "Nature Speaks" collection by Portland, Oregon's Andy Lifschutz.

Bonus link:
Here's some more chunky, quartzy goodness from Spain's Rosa Martínez Arcos, the jeweller behind Roux Bijoux. She also has a collection of silver animal rings.

Even more jewellery:

• Anairi (Spain) - metal & crystals


• Silvia Beccaria (Italy) - bold neckpieces


• Vanessa Dimoff (New York) - bark & shells


• Laura Jackson (Philadelphia) - chains & briolettes


• Katerina Damilos (UK) - contemporary silver

Helene Josefsen / Elisabeth Hoff

In that little overlap in the Venn diagram of thread-knitters and metal-knitters sits Norway's Helene Josefsen, with these gorgeous little objects. (The second photo above is actually of a brooch, but I included it for a clearer picture of the contrast between the two materials.)

Bonus link:
Here's a silver ring with some overlapping circles — though not in that typical Venn arrangement — from another Norwegian jeweller, Elisabeth Hoff.

Even more jewellery:

• Eric Peloquin (Rhode Island) - lasercut circles


• Emma Ware (UK) - bold & recycled


• Hanna Ejdertun Nylander (Sweden) - colourful crochet


• Erin Kilty (Australia) - simple silver


• Tess Klein (Whistler, BC) - knit metal

Ian Henderson / John Clayborn

Do rubber feathers come from rubber chickens? No, they come from Ian Henderson. The Boston artist wraps ribbons of rubber over an aluminum frame to create these light, plumed pieces.

Bonus link:
For more colourful aluminum, check out John Clayborn. The designer, who splits his time between Puerto Rico and Chicago, makes these bright, loopy rings from anodized aluminum.

Even more jewellery:

• Bav Shah (UK) - black rubber


• Peggy Eng (Missouri) - carved aluminum


• Alex Féthière (New York) - anodized & texturized


• Jocelyn Kolb (Pennsylvania) - red resin


• Jane Eppstein (New Zealand) - contemporary silver

Maria Hees / MaaP Studio / Cathy Gee

I love it when jewellers give an organic quality to ceramic, and I have a double dose of that today. First: some small porcelain pods by Maria Hees, a Dutch designer who makes bags as well as jewellery.

More porcelain pods in pastel by England's MaaP Studio (Polish- born Monika Skrzypkowska).

Bonus link:
Here's a ceramic ring decorated with pod-less peas. Toronto artist Cathy Gee also makes tiles, bowls and vases in addition to her line of nature-inspired jewellery.

Even more jewellery:

• Gemma Clarke (UK) - pods & pearls


• mischer'traxler (Austria) - ceramic & science


• Shannon Hazell (Toronto) - silver & brass


• Richard Messina (New York) - clean & contemporary


• James Cleland (California) - Japanese motifs

Peter Spilsbury / Sophie Bütikofer

So much of Hollywood these days is plastic, I wonder how far we are from celebrities just going whole-hog and setting their entire faces in resin. I mean, everything looks great when preserved in a clear encasing! Encasing in point: these rings by British designer Peter Spilsbury, who works with natural specimens like plants and feathers. Be sure to check out his blog to see some great comic-art jewellery in resin, as well.

Bonus link:
Here's another ring embedded with some natural plantlife. Ring by Swiss jeweller Sophie Bütikofer, who also works with other natural materials such as horn and wool.

Even more jewellery:

• Victoria Varga (Maine) - bright resin


• Natural Abstract (New York) - contemporary silver


• Vicky Forrester (UK) - organic metal


• Jan Logan (Australia) - modern classics


• Sandra Van Der Wildt (Belgium) - tusks & pearls

Anny Ching Chin Hsieh / Helena Malone

Taiwan's Anny Ching Chin Hsieh takes us from ugly ducklings...

... to adorable bunnies ...

... to clean, modern metal (like this "autumn leaves" ring).

Bonus link:
Like the "autumn leaves" ring above, this "sharp leaf" ring features clean lines, a crisp crease and a simple shape. Gold ring with rubies by Ireland's Helena Malone.

Even more jewellery:

• Georgia Varidakis (New York) - rabbits & hearts


• Andreé Anne Vien (Montreal) - simple & modern


• Kate & Kate (Poland) - glam chains


• R/M Studio (Missouri) - black & gold


• Carly Vercoe (UK) - silver leaves

Stephanie Robinson / Nora Dougherty

In the immortal words of philosopher Olivia Newton-John, let's get physical. Stephanie Robinson's kinetic rings are inspired by "simple mechanisms such as hinges and pistons" and aim for "a linear design in motion." To quote the New Hampshire-based jeweller even further:

"This series concentrates on the wearer creating movement in the pieces. The wearer's ring finger fits in the silver ring, and the little finger fits the gold ring. When the little finger moves up and down, a playful and surprising movement is created!"

Bonus link:
Nora Dougherty also makes rotating, kinetic rings, inspired by the wind and waves of her environment (the California coast). Pictured is her "balance" ring in sterling silver.

Even more jewellery:

• Jackie Taylor (Idaho) - kinetic circles


• Karin Johansson (Sweden) - modern metal


• Zelia Horsley (UK) - draping chains


• Norma Rinaudo (Argentina) - silver mesh


• MO Jewellery (New Zealand) - stackable rings

Atmosphere / Shana Teugels / Anna Bagnall

In the brutal heat, these "frozen" glass rings are a soothing, cooling sight for the eyes — as are the white enamel bands. Rings by Japan's Atmosphere (formerly known as Brutal Works).

Here's a case of a ring that was too cold. Dissatisfied with the coldness of her sculptural metal ring, Belgium's Shana Teugels dipped it in latex then sprayed it in white paint. You can view the piece on her blog; her own site is currently under construction.

Bonus link:
If you'd rather relish the heat than beat it, this white coral ring will have you dreaming of sandy beaches and clear, warm waters. Ring by England's Anna Bagnall.

Even more jewellery:

• Dezso (New York) - beach style


• Nevin Arig (Belgium) - sea-inspired


• Eric Silva (California) - silver & stones


• Karina Gill (UK) - fanned metal


• Ann Visser Cox (New Zealand) - mother-of-pearl

Susan Ewing / Quite Clever (Elizabeth Beeson)

All those people who misspell "angle" as "angel" must have Susan Ewing on their minds, because her angled "Arquitectonica" rings are pure heaven. (That made more sense in my head.)

She even has sharp points in her "Ring for Making Bubbles." The Ohio metalsmith has many interesting pieces, so don't let my cheesy write-up deter you from a visit!

Bonus link:
Here's a nice little piece featuring some simpler, softer angles. Ring by Indiana metalsmith Elizabeth Beeson of Quite Clever Jewelry.

Even more jewellery:

• Nuki Sigora (Israel) - geometric metal


• Anna Talbot (Norway) - fairytale scenes


• Gundula Mogerman (Victoria, BC) - silver & colour


• Amanda Brighton (UK) - agate & gems


• Casey Sharpe (Virginia) - nature-inspired

Francesca Stadelmayr / Hikaru Kiyonaga / Clovis Wilson-Copp / Silke Rehermann / Nicholas O'Donnell-Hoare

Time yet again for Random Pluckings from my Bookmarks, otherwise known as "here are a bunch of rings I like but which I haven't had time to write anything about, excuse the preposition at the end."

Above: perspex ring by Germany's Francesca Stadelmayr.

"Starlight Baby" resin rings by Canadian artist Hikaru Kiyonaga.

"Eye of Horse" by UK designer Clovis Wilson-Copp.

Familiar objects reimagined by Germany's Silke Rehermann.

"Gold Ring" money stamp by UK artist Nicholas O'Donnell-Hoare.

Bonus link:
Too bad that "money" (above) is about as useful as this abacus would be at adding it all up! Beaded abacus ring by Austrian artist Susanne Kompast.

Even more jewellery:

• Ugne Blažyte (Lithuania) - art jewellery


• Leila Arzaghi (UK) - nostalgic fibers


• Susan Kasson Sloan (New Jersey) - epoxy resin


• Catherine Marissa (Michigan) - small & stamped


• Antonia Blyth (California) - silver circles