Michaela Binder

German designer Michaela Binder was inspired by World Cup fever when she used her love of silver and felt to create a soccer-themed collection. (This is the part where I spare you the obligatory spiel about how Europeans don't call it soccer and blah blah blah.) Thoughtfully, she's made the felt bits interchangeable in anticipation of your fever subsiding; you can pull out the green and insert whatever colour, sport-related or otherwise, suits your mood that day! The square ring pictured here is €250; there's also a circular ball design for €195. To see a bit more of her work, be sure to scroll down on the first page.

Debra Adelson

If there's one law of jewellery-making, it's this: silver + acrylic = funky. As sure as chocolate + peanut butter = delicious (don't even think of disagreeing with me on that one), the sum of silver and acrylic is always something eye-catching. Philadelphia's Debra Adelson has the forumla down pat with her array of tableware, giftware, Judaica and jewellery made of hand-carved acrylic and hand-smithed sterling silver. Pictured at right are two of her stackable rings, US$25 each.

Cédric Chevalley

The rings at cbijoux, gallery of French designer Cédric Chevalley, are made of so much awesome that I'm just going to let the site do its own talking. Click everything you can and remember that "suivant" is French for "next." Pictured here: "La Vie" cactus ring, Madonna ring and Fransiska Venrath's deer ring.

Claude Schmitz

One look at this ring and it's like I've reached some kind of Zen state — I'm suddenly relaxed and soothed and sipping green tea on a yoga mat. Which is weird, right? Because doesn't it actually look like two pink flowers riding the Tilt-a-Whirl? In a pretty, calming sort of way? "Le jardin de la Comtesse de Taiwan" ring by Luxembourg artist Claude Schmitz; visit his site and click the arrows for more spare but striking jewellery.

Nicole Bigg

I wish I could find more information on Nelson, BC artist Nicole Bigg, but I sent Google on a worldwide search and all I got was this lousy t-shirt. Oh, and the one ring pictured here, at left. I love the worn colour and texture on that band so much, I barely notice the green gem tacked on top. "By merging pattern, colour and shape," she says, "I am sharing a piece of myself with you." I can't wait 'til she throws us a few more pieces at nicolebigg.com, currently under construction.

Franz Schnaas

When not working as an art director for Saks, Shu, Nikon and myriad other companies who might as well be on my payroll, Franz Schnaas does not make jewellery. What he does make is "body furniture," like the ice-coils ring pictured here (described as being made of "glass pixels" and mysterious "translucent coil matter"). His pellucid bracelets, necklaces and rings have an etheral, space-age quality — but while his pieces may evoke the future, the modest US$25 price tag evokes grabbing one now.

Eve J. Alfillé

This ring is... intriguing. It's not my style at all, but it's arresting for its mesh of contradictory styles — sort of like when you see a woman in a business suit wearing runners instead of heels on the way to work, or that one "serious" episode of "Three's Company" with Janet and her dance lessons. The shank, made of platinum and diamond pavé, is rigid and traditional. But then you have that unexpected citrine piece loitering on top in all its freeform glory, like a delicious glob of honey... with a crunchy diamond centre. One-of-a-kind "Magic Pool" ring by Eve J. Alfillé, US$3,530.

Dani Crompton

Many people dream of what they could do if they won the lottery. How about a more realistic dream? Like, say, if your hand suddenly grew a sixth finger, one that was removable and plastic? Imagine all the things you could do with a spare, detachable finger! Well, this pointy ring could make your dreams come true (you can thank me later). If I owned this piece, I'd be putting it to swift use, pressing elevator buttons, poking people in the eye, tapping impatiently, maybe even plunging it into a barrel of dry beans, Amélie style. Silver and perspex ring by London jeweller Dani Crompton, £65.

Disa Allsopp, Marijke Schurink

There are spaghetti rings.

And then there are spaghetti rings (click "do it yourself").

Pictured here: Londoner Disa Allsopp's 7-strand 18k gold and sterling ring, £210. Not pictured here: two al dente noodles tied in a knot, by Dutch artist Marijke Schurink.

Pinkbox

If your reaction to being called "princess" is "thank you," Pinkbox is calling your name. Their Royal Crown collection is like a series of miniature white gold tiaras, each intricately detailed and unapologetically precious. Pictured here is "Hera," priced at 3,200 Hong Kong dollars (or a less regal $410 in US greenbacks).

Arthur Hash

Okay, maybe this ring isn't the prettiest you've ever seen, but it has a great personality. Like many contemporary artists, Indiana's Arthur Hash sculpts non-traditional materials into non-traditional jewellery; pictured at left is the cast-plastic "two-faced" ring. Visit his site for more pieces in plastic, petrified dinosaur bone, sleek acrylic, and a bracelet which I thought was made of tasty potato chips but which actually... wasn't. Really, really wasn't.

Sarah Jane Hassler

The jewellery of San Francisco's Sarah Jane Hassler would look at home in an IKEA catalogue: it's streamlined, yet playful and unafraid of colour. Luckily, with this silver and acrylic piece, there's no assembly required — unless, of course, you are Sarah Jane Hassler, in which case, I urge you to continue with your assembling activities.

Katja Prins

Looking at the odd hybrid of silver and grey plastic in Katja Prins' jewellery is like looking at a mashup of an '80s toybox: GI Joes mixed with Transformers. (Man, were The Transformers great, or what? How could a decade produce something so cool yet expect its girls to play with glitter-assed ponies?) Pictured here is a ring from the Dutch artist's 2004 "Machines are Us" series. Peruse all her archived work for a collection of weirdly fascinating pieces; 2002's "Anatorium" is my favourite.

Silke Fleischer

In this age of paper cups with cardboard sleeves, Royal Doulton might be happy to know that at least one person still appreciates their porcelain wares. Belgium's Silke Fleischer pulls one of those "but of course!" moves (as creative types are wont to do) by transforming an object that has already been encircling people's fingers for centuries. For more from this graduate of jewellery design and applied ceramic arts, go to her "me" section and then click "portfolio."

Yvonne Fischer

Quail eggs, fishing line, microchips — all in a day's jewellery design for Germany's Yvonne Fischer. The appeal of the little microprocessor? "The different colours refracting on the tiny structures on board of the chips offer a grand entrance to these small helpers," she explains. In addition to designing her unconventional pieces, she offers jewellery classes for couples who wish to create each other's wedding bands — "often with comical results!" (Ok, she didn't really say that last part, but you know she's totally thinking it.)

Karl Fritsch

I like ice cream. And I like this ring. I like this ring because it says to me, "I like ice cream. And I like ice cream sundaes. And I'm going to have my sundae with chocolate sauce and chopped nuts. Also, strawberries. And some mini marshmallows, M&Ms, Oreo crumbles, gummi bears, toffee chips, candied walnuts, whipped cream, maraschino cherries and rainbow sprinkles. In a waffle cone." When jewellery speaks to you like that, how can you say no? Ring by German goldsmith Karl Fritsch; view some of his other styles here.

Hester Zagt

Oh my god. That skull ring is still there. Let's feast our eyes on something more pretty and soothing, shall we? Look left. Ahhh. This achromatic beauty is by a Dutch silversmith, Rotterdam's Hester Zagt. The design, also available as a necklace and earrings, is vaguely barnacle-like — which I mean in the best possible sense. (And you thought "oooh, barnacly!" couldn't be taken as a compliment.) That beaded matte silver band is the perfect balance for the two focal pieces. Just lovely!

Seriously?

Can someone help me understand this ring? It's by Disney Couture? Which... I've seen the t-shirts so I know the brand is not an intentional joke, but still... what? And it has no discernable Disney nor any couture going on but it has gold and — wait, gold plating — and a circle of pink rhinestones and a not-even-cute skull that seems to be glued (I guess?) on a... a piece of... fabric? Cheap, clashy, polyester-y, folded-awkwardly lavender fabric? Am I getting this right? And it's US$45? Am I on Candid Camera?

It only took me eight years...

I've been blogging since before the term "blog" was coined but this is my first time actually using a service like Blogger! We'll see how this goes. This particular blog has an archive dating back to February 2003; you can check it out at The Carrotbox, my shop specializing in rings made of glass, lucite, resin, plastic, jade, wood, bakelite and even stone — anything, as long as it's not metal!

La Mollla

When a trip to an industrial springs manufacturer inspires an architecture student to create jewellery, you get the straight lines and steel coils of La Mollla (yes, with three Ls, for extra L-ness). Originally from Turin, Italy and now living in Paris, creator Tiziana Redavid launched her jewellery career when she took a car spring and turned it into a bracelet. Today, she works with both metal and resin, producing cool, sleek pieces with lots of texture and colour. I love the bumpy "chapelet" ring (€28) and chunky "melting square" rings (€17.50) pictured here. Note: rolling over the collection names will pull up a photo but be sure to actually click the links to see more from each line.

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The Carrotbox - May '06