Bing Bang

When I grow up, I want to be Bing Bang. I seriously covet every single piece made by Brooklyn's Anna Sheffield — and that's saying something, because her collection is extensive. Named for the sound of a hammer hitting an anvil, her line is a must-see for fans of the elegantly edgy "asymmetrical dripping chains" look; it's heavy on necklaces and earrings but there are some cool rings to be had as well. (If you don't see it on your screen, scroll down a bit to access the page navigation.)

Kirsten Bak

Denmark's Kirsten Bak invents jewellery out of "both precious metals and useless materials," though neither is present in the wood and plastic rings pictured here. See more of her work at BRDKD — as in BRazil, Denmark and Deutschland, the homelands of the three collaborators (Cilmara de Oliveira and Stefanie Klemp being the Brazilian and German artists, respectively).

Vadis Turner

September is just around the corner, and she is always so punctual. Made of warm wool but hand-dyed with bright summer colours, these yarn rings by Vadis Turner are the perfect transition pieces (US$17 or US$25 for beaded version). Buy the bracelet and she'll donate half the proceeds to Publicolor.

Oliver Haardt

Antoine de Saint-Exupery famously stated that "perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." I'm sure some bank accounts would disagree, but it's a useful thought nonetheless. Oliver Haardt takes the maxim to heart (pun and reference to early '80s Robert Wagner vehicle not intended) with this ultra minimal porcelain ring. Arranged neatly in rows, it's easy to see that they were modelled after giant satellite dishes.

Bijules NYC

Grenades, swords, handguns... you probably won't want to wear this jewellery to the airport, and not just because it might set off the metal detectors. DJ Jules Kim of Bijules NYC (that's her on the website modelling her work) creates wearable weaponry for the urban masses. Her higher-end "Family Julz" line has diamond-encrusted pieces in the thousands-of-dollars range — which means fifty years from now, some lucky girl in Brooklyn is getting a vintage 3-carat rocket launcher pendant from her grandma's estate. Aww.

Atelier 11

If there's an English word that means "of or relating to hunters, deer, polar bears, ballerinas, snowflakes, seashells, palm trees, penguins, ships, pirates, harps, hearts, swords, alarm clocks, fishbones, doves, grenades, maps, chalk outlines and packs of wolves" (like in the ring pictured here), that word would describe a fraction of what's going on at Atelier 11, a collective of three designers: Elke L. Peeters, Ludovik Colpaert and Flor Janssens — and here ends my single-sentence post on these creative Belgians.

Susan Kerr

Edinburgh jeweller Susan Kerr is a new favourite of mine. Her work is clean and simple, but in quite a distinct way; browse her collection and you can see how it'd be easy to identify her work in a gallery without having to perform neck acrobatics in an effort to read the attached tag which has been purposely positioned so you can't see the price, annoying you because all you want is the artist's name, and when you think you've managed to make out a few letters reflected in the display case window, it turns out it's just part of the SKU code, damnit. Ahem. The rings pictured here don't do her much justice, so please visit the gallery. I especially admire the earrings.

Ayazakura

Wire-wrapped rings are a common sight, but here's a ring that skips the wrapping and lets the wire speak for itself. This piece, from New York-based Ayazakura's fall 2005 "Infinity" collection, comes in 14k gold (US$230), gold-filled wire (US$55) or sterling silver (US$50). If you prefer a little adornment on your wire, don't fret — you'll find plenty of gemstone cluster rings on the site, most notably the pieces from 2004. (I know, I said "wire" and "fret" in the same sentence; there should be a joke involving a guitar in there somewhere but... there isn't.)

Philippa Frecklington

When I think red, white and black, I think "The White Stripes." But now, I also think "chunky resin rings from architecturally-inspired Australian designer Philippa Frecklington". These pieces (US$55 each) were inspired by the glass panels of the Prada building in Tokyo.

Kaz Robertson, Donna Barry, Sally Moore / Emma Burgin

These resin "wobble" rings might look sweet, but they've got hearts of cold, hard STONE. Magnets, to be exact. The detachable magnetic pebbles (see them? how cute!) allow you to play with different looks; just pile on whatever sizes and colours suit your mood. This "wearable toy" jewellery is the brainchild of Edinburgh's Kaz Robertson, one third of the Diverse Workshop group of designers. Visit their site to view pieces from the other members, Donna Barry and Sally Moore, who do beautiful, modern metalwork.


Bonus link for the weekend: the playful earrings and necklaces of London's Emma Burgin (click "showcase"). She does have one lone ring in her vast collection, so it's not really cheating.

Katja Hunold

You know how sometimes, in the old-time movies, you'd see someone bite down on a gold coin to make sure it was real?


I think you can see where I'm going with this.


Following-up my fat-free post is the decadent chocolate bonbon ring by Germany's Katja Hunold (warning: site plays muzak).

Fat Free

If you're completely fat-free, you're just skin and bones. So, maybe it makes sense that a line of skin jewellery — Italian lambskin, to be specific — is called, you guessed it, Fat Free. While only the feather-, heart- and wing-shaped earrings are available for purchase online, the collection does include some leather-adorned rings, like the floral pieces pictured here. The handmade pieces also incorporate Swarovski crystals, 14k gold and sterling silver.

Ketut Suliasna at Novica.com

With its cool, studded texture and rock 'n' roll vibe, you might expect this ring to come from the latest up-and-coming NYC designer. The man behind this sterling piece, however, resides just a bit southeast of New York — in Bali, Indonesia. "Sand Dunes" ring by silversmith Ketut Suliasna, available at Novica. If you wear size 5, it's your lucky day — the ring is a mere US$19.95.

Kristiana Spaulding - Silvertrailer

This one's for anyone who thinks jewellery is purely frivolous. Surpassing even the bottle opener ring in points for practicality is this utilitarian marvel, the toilet paper ring. Never again be caught without a square to spare! Come to think of it, if you're getting a lot of use out of a bottle opener ring, odds are you'll be in need of a toilet paper ring sooner or later. Ring by Kristiana Spaulding of silvertrailer, which also specializes in trailer-themed jewellery. Yes, trailer-themed. Read her bio to find out why.

Pica Design - Susanne Zöckler

We all know paper beats rock in "rock, paper, scissors" but can the same hold true when it comes to jewellery? It can in the hands of Pica Design's Susanne Zöckler, who favours colourful, meticulously-folded sheets over diamonds or rubies when adorning her rings. The German papersmith (that really ought to be a word) also creates paper packaging for her pretty paper wares. How perfect. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to pick a peck of pickled peppers. Have a great weekend.

Monika Jakubec

When balls and tubes come up in conversation, as they so frequently do, I think of that old Seinfeld joke about how commercials for medicines always reduce the human digestive system into a cartoon ball (stomach) and tube (throat/oesophagus). Munich's Monika Jakubec, unlike me, has an imagination that extends beyond the comedy stylings of 1996 and uses geometric forms like cones, balls, cylinders and tubes as the basis for some fantastic jewellery — like this piece from her Röhrchenringe (tube ring) collection.

Jennifer Howard Kicinski

Jennifer Howard Kicinski's entire portfolio is amazing but I especially love her work from 2002-2004. The artist (and current president of the Seattle Metals Guild) somehow transforms such earthly materials as silver, silk, nylon and resin into otherworldly sculptures — including hearts as you've never seen them before. The ten rings in her "blood and ice" series (sterling, hand carved acrylic, paint and resin) are beyond stunning. They might, in fact, be what kids these days refer to as "the shiznit." This photo doesn't do them justice but the other photo on her website just might. You'll have to visit and see for yourself.

Tina Lilienthal

I bet I know Tina Lilienthal's favourite Kevin Spacey film. The German metalsmith, now a UK resident, has a collection of jewellery (and underwear) based on the se7en deadly sins. For those moments when a "sloth" necklace just isn't appropriate, there are also the "seven heavenly virtues" rings, like the "chastity" piece pictured here. All the virtue in the world isn't enough to keep me from lusting after the real kicker of her portfolio, however: the "bones and cherries" collection. Because it's got bones. And it's got cherries! Win-win.

Monika Seitter

Dusseldorf jeweller Monika Seitter gives acrylic some serious respect by pairing the usually non-precious material with brilliant precious stones. The rings pictured here are on the muted end of the spectrum but visit her site and you'll see coils of intense fuchsias, violets and limes paired with gems in a rainbow of eye-catching hues.

Jo Hayes-Ward

It only makes sense that a jeweller who designs on a computer would create these silver and steel pixelated rings. London's Jo Hayes-Ward uses modelling software to realize her creations which, currently, are based on "mathematical principles like repetition, rhythm and geometry." Her tessellated rings are carefully crafted to be interlocking when desired. So, you see, there is method to her mathness. (Ouch! Who writes these things?)

Lina Peterson

These loopy, Cheerio-y "crocheted" rings are actually silver and gold-plated silver. They're by Lina Peterson, a Swede who's at London's Royal College of Art. She likes to mix metals with crochet (real crochet, of the wool variety), paint, and sometimes even big hunks of bread. Jewellery and carbs... together? There really is a god! And she's Swedish!

Lisa Jenks

Do you like Venn diagrams? Mitosis? The old MasterCard logo? Then act fast, because New Yorker Lisa Jenks, having said goodbye to jewellery design and hello to a contract with Origins, is no longer making pieces like this "bubbles" ring (US$220). Her remaining jewellery is being sold off online. "Off online"? Does that sound weird? Me talk pretty one day.

Ruth Tomlinson

I've mentioned Ruth Tomlinson here before but I didn't direct you to her personal site. For that, I owe you at least ten bucks because, her portfolio, it is breathtaking. Her aesthetic strikes just the right chord with me — particularly the porcelain pieces of her "flora" collection, a sampling from which I posted a picture last time (don't tell anyone, but it's really the earrings I love most). If you're lucky enough to be in London, you can view her work up close at the locations listed on her site.