Franziska Venrath

I've mentioned pink-haired Franziska Venrath before (in May), but the Swiss artist really requires a full post of her own. Dog heads, frog princes, gnomes trapped in resin — like Pee-wee's Playhouse, her world is whimsical with just a glimmer of creepy underneath the surface. And then there are the Barbie rings, like the one pictured here (you did recognize her from her eyes, right?). You know, she and Margaux Lange ought to get together and watch Dexter sometime.

Please note that posting will be sporadic for the next couple of weeks. I'm sure you can figure out why. I hope you're all enjoying the holiday season so far!

Marty Jestin

New Zealand's Marty Jestin creates cool, graphic pieces using recycled materials. At left is the awesome "Beam Me Up!" ring (NZ$350), which uses part of a car dashboard! And at far left are the perfect complement to my love of shiny faucets. See more here.

Ivan Sicigano

If his bio photos are any indication, Italian designer Ivan Sicigano loves spending time on the water. It's a bit paradoxical, then, that his jewellery looks positively desiccated. His rings, like the piece pictured here, are as porous as brittle bones; others are scaly, cracked and peeling like a parched desert floor. Yet, somehow, he makes these qualities look gorgeous. Too bad the jewellery thing panned out — he could've been a great dermatologist.

Lorenz Bäumer

Say the words "hedgehog" and "chocolate" together around here and everyone thinks of these. Over in Paris, however, jeweller Lorenz Bäumer has a different idea — namely, this sparkling hedgehog ring featuring 6.1 carats of chocolate diamonds set in 18k gold. And, like the edible version with its truffle filling, this one has something special inside: empty space. Swivel its body and you'll find a small compartment, perfect for hiding the Excedrin you'll need from the sugar crash after gorging on chocolate hedgehogs.

Susa Beck

This is the time of year for all things luxe! Get in the mood by browsing the work of Munich's Susa Beck, whose ornate pieces are tailor-made (or maybe that should be "jeweller-made") for special occasions. Pictured here are her "Starlake" (right) and "Vanity Fair" rings.

Harold O'Connor

It's nice when serious artists can take a moment to stop being so serious. Harold O'Connor is an accomplished goldsmith who's been practicing for over forty years and whose work appears in museums around the world, including the Smithsonian. But that doesn't mean he's not above a little 18k gold and silver steak ring. I bet everyone tells him how well done it is.

Annie Decamp

Rowboats, barnacles, starfish, pebbles... it's all fresh air and coastal living at Decamp (even the name is outdoorsy). Designer Annie Decamp has a great collection that I can only describe as "modern and classic," cliché as that may sound. Everything feels familiar (there's the "classic") but new (and there's the "modern"). Ok, yes, the ring with the baby bird crying in its nest scares me just a little — but this designer is still one of my new favourites. Pictured here are her rowboat rings, US$184 each. [Whoa! Her site has totally changed since I wrote this post but, lucky for me, she still has a link to the previous version.]

Heidi Butler

This fabulous piece is a ring and a brooch. To wear as a ring, just stick your finger through it. To wear as a brooch, stick the pin through it. My gosh, is there anything modern science can't do? By English designer Heidi Butler.

Victoria Stockbridge

Look, it's the anti-cocktail ring! This piece may not have a honking five carat sparkler on top but, thanks to its strikingly unusual proportions, the tiny gold cube is still a stand-out. But if that's not enough for you, the cube's been highly polished so it looks like a sparkling diamond from afar (I'm thinking you'd have to be way afar to make that mistake, but I'll take the designer's word for it). See more interesting shapes from the UK's Victoria Stockbridge at podshops.com.

Viola Valone

The sword, with its long, lean silhouette, lends itself very nicely to dangling — that's why you see it so often in earrings and necklaces, hanging off chains and swinging to and fro. But how do you get a shape like that to look good on a finger? Here's one way, by New York's Viola Valone (14k gold, US$860).

Kwikshop

The object in this photo might not look like a ring to you, but it is — just add ink. This "Stempelschmuck" from Kwikshop, a Berlin store with walk-up window access only, is a rubber stamp you can use to temporarily brand yourself with one of four words: goldring, diamantring (both self-explanatory), verlobungsring (engagement ring) or ehering (wedding ring). But at just €5 per stamp, why limit yourself?

Daniëlle Koninkx

Can it really be that time of year again?

Already?

Not to harp on the commercial aspect of the holidays or anything but good luck with your shopping, should you choose to venture into one of those "mall" thingamajigs.

Festive silver ring by Dutch designer Daniëlle Koninkx.