Janine Arnold / Hester Vonk Noordegraaf / Tanja Martinho Alves

It's so true what they say: Leap Day just isn't Leap Day without rings in diamond-cut gold and crystal. Above, Germany's Janine Arnold with pieces she describes as architectural miniatures for the body.

Meanwhile, below, these rings from the Netherlands' Hester Vonk Noordegraaf are like miniature chandeliers for the body.

Bonus link: another diamond-shaped ring, though this one is of the 2D variety, from Frankfurt's Tanja Martinho Alves (of Galeria Pequena).

Even more jewellery:

• Edgar Maag (Germany) - black scribbles


• Wendy Bassin (New York) - modern gold


• Mana Bernardes (Brazil) - plastic & bobby pins


• Kathleen Lamberti (Glendale, CA) - ribbon & leather


• Sugarcrane (Kirkland, WA) - Arthurian men's

Daisy Dunlop / Alley Maranto

These rings have a lot going on yet, at the same time, are like whispers, barely there. (I accidentally typed "whiskers" at first — but I suppose that would work, too.) UK jeweller Daisy Dunlop describes her work as "contemporary hand cast resin jewellery in soft irregular shapes with poetry, petals, plants, collages, silks, precious metals and icons." And who I am to argue with that thorough assessment?

Bonus link: more resin, though not cast, in the work of Chicago's Alley Maranto, who embeds the material with clock gears and mini found objects.

Even more jewellery:

• Galya Rosenfeld (San Francisco) - military lace


• Hazar (France) - colourful fabric


• Danielle Pittman (New York) - organic gold


• Hela Bonnell (UK) - contemporary silver


• Liza Shtromberg (Los Angeles) - quartz & silver

Djurdjica Kesic / Greta Silva

I like the organic shapes and measured simplicity of Djurdjica Kesic's jewellery. In these pebble rings, the Australian artist strikes just the right balance of milk chocolate and crispy candy coating. Wait. Sorry. I'm getting them confused with Cadbury Mini Eggs again. The rings are tasty pretty, though. (By the way, if you're in the US, your "Cadbury" chocolate is actually from Hershey's, under license. If you're a fan, definitely get your hands on the Canadian or UK versions for maximum Mini deliciousness.)

Bonus link: on second thought, forget the Mini Eggs — this plate of mini cake rings looks even tastier. From Italy's Greta Silva.

Even more jewellery:

• Helena Rohner (Spain) - bright eggs


• Boline Strand (San Francisco) - pomegranate pendants


• Cari Streeter (Hood River, OR) - charms & dogtags


• Elfidesign (Italy) - sleek & shiny


• Lilyo (UK) - freshwater pearls

Tanja Emmert / Nina Bukvic / Ron Hami

I apologize for the violently graphic nature of the above image. As you progress through the artist's gallery, what at first looks like an interesting meeting of band and box chain slowly becomes a scene of carnage as you realize it's an entire necklace — notice the clasps and findings in the bottom row — that's slowly being eaten. Eaten alive! Rings by Germany's Tanja Emmert. Warning: she also has one that's eating an earring.

Below, some more chain rings (and other pieces) from London- based Croatian designer Nina Bukvic.

Bonus link: for another kind of chain ring, see the "diamond carved" bands from New York jeweller Ron Hami. I love that the links are faceted — great detail.

Even more jewellery:

• Heiko Schrem (Germany) - wrapped bands


• Willemijn de Greef (Netherlands) - beads & thread


• Susan Chin (Chico, CA) - bone & ebony


• Elise Winters (New Jersey) - colourful clay


• Citrus Silver (Toronto) - personalized pendants

Melody Ehsani / Mehem

As far as statement pieces go, you'd be hard-pressed to get more literal or definitive than this! Acrylic three-finger rings from Los Angeles designer Melody Ehsani, US$25, customizable to your preferred text and colour combo.

Bonus link: this silver and CZ "love" ring from Japan's Mehem ("me, he, them") is of the more traditional one-finger variety. Not available in "hate."

Even more jewellery:

• Bang (Brooklyn) - lasercut acrylic


• Camilla D'Anunziata (Brazil) - graphic & playful


• La fille du consul (France) - peas & gingerbread


• Kate Lindsay (Los Angeles) - earthy gold


• Marco Bicego (Italy) - gold & gems

Cloud Creator / Helen Noakes

I've seen rings depicting a gaggle of geese and even a warren of rabbits but this superfluity of nuns is a definite first! Above, top row: "sister" ring, cloud ring and unity ring, all silver or oxidized silver (plus one golden nun). Middle row: rings from the "grasp" series allow you to grasp dreams (the star), luck and peace. Bottom row: the "playground" series captures see-saws, spring chairs and a scene from a more adult playground, a golf course. All this playful metalwork brought to us by Cloud Creator's Phillip Tanaka, who was born in Australia but now resides in Japan; plenty more to see on his site!

Bonus link: another jeweller who likes encapsulating miniature scenes is Helen Noakes of the UK. She's even got some nuns, herself — just not in ring form.

Even more jewellery:

• a:buchiadot (Japan) - bobbins & vegetables


• H.B. Jewelry (Hammond Bay) - pastel porcelain


• Munkee Jewelry (Windsor, ON) - wire & beads


• Sarah Hartley (London) - contemporary metal


• Elias and Panos (Greece) - modern & ancient

Shivani Patel / Jana Reinhardt / Naomi Levitin / Ombre Claire / Super Silversmith

Am I allowed to feel an Indian/North African vibe when they're thousands of miles apart? Does that make as much sense as getting a Brazilian/Senegalese vibe? While I ponder that, please ponder these rings. Top row: turban rings by UK jeweller Shivani Patel. Middle row: gold ring by London's Jana Reinhardt and silver rings from Vancouver's Naomi Levitin. Bottom row: "oaz" rings from France's Ombre Claire (left) and "swelring" from the "Mehndi" collection of Japan's Super Silversmith.

Bonus link: silver Buddha signet ring (£188) from the UK's Alexis Dove, who has a number of small but pretty collections.

Even more jewellery:

• Amrita Singh (New York) - varied & colourful


• Tarma Designs (California) - yoga & sports


• Robindira Unsworth (San Francisco) - exotic gold


• Studio Alsberg (Israel) - matte gold


• Ravior (Mauritius) - contemporary metal

Simone Brewster / On Za Line

I always perk up when I see cup rings; if I were much of a coffee drinker, it'd be downright Pavlovian. This particular series is from UK artist Simone Brewster, who was inspired not by her surname but by 1975's The Philosophy of Andy Warhol. The knuckleduster piece, by the way, is a shot glass.

Bonus link: for porcelain in regular jewellery shapes, check out the interesting molded works of Japan's On Za Line.

Even more jewellery:

• Thorunn Arnadottir (Iceland) - necklace clock


• O.S. Initiative (Australia) - cricket balls


• William Austin (Netherlands) - art jewellery


• Red Tulip (San Francisco) - metal & briolettes


• 0 to 1 (New York) - rubber & metal

Jolanda Kleiss / Sandra Jasmin Fuchshofen

These bright, fuzzy rings should put a smile on my face but I can't shake the uneasy feeling that Oscar, Elmo, Big Bird and the Cookie Monster are walking around somewhere, naked and shivering. Colour and texture from Dutch artist Jolanda Kleiss. Below, a couple more of her fresh rings:

Bonus link: more fuzz for your fingers, this time in the form of fine felted flowers from German designer Sandra Jasmin Fuchshofen.

Even more jewellery:

• Karen Bachmann (Brooklyn) - chunky lucite


• Isabelle Bijoux (Newport, RI) - porthole pendants


• Silvia Furmanovich (Brazil) - agate & coral


• Megan Thorne (Texas) - gold & gems


• Pia Wallén (Sweden) - felt & silver

Gabriel Craig / Peggy Bannenberg / T'loaa

Like that one person we all know, these rings' favourite subject is themselves. Made of silver and enamel and adorned with self- reflective images, they're from Virginian artist Gabriel Craig's new "narcissist" series.

Below, Dutch jeweller Peggy Bannenberg also works with silver and enamel (and gold and eggshell) in these pieces with interesting grid overlays.

Bonus link: still more silver and enamel — but more modest than narcissistic — in these square bands from Toronto's Natalie Cannistraro, aka T'loaa.

Even more jewellery:

• Missoma (London) - pretty gold


• Queen's Jewel (Italy) - ironic paper


• Anthony Nak (Austin, TX) - chain frames


• Assassin Jewellery (Scotland) - masculine silver


• Melinda Lawton (Los Angeles) - pearls & briolettes

Guendalina

Weekend quickie: more Lego rings, only this time, the toy bricks are secondary to the miniature world they inhabit. From Italy's Guendalina.

Open! Design / Bohjoux / Rosa Monckton

Russia's Open! Design draws inspiration from everyday objects that aren't traditionally "pretty," like bent nails, bandages and... broken Ionic columns. Hmm. On second thought, maybe the theme here is "accidents." On the bottom left is a calendar ring that lets you set a date so you won't forget any upcoming appointments.

Below, Italy's Bohjoux similarly turns to utilitarian objects:

Bonus link: another calendar ring is this one from Rosa Monckton of the UK (£125); put a birthstone on a date to mark an anniversary or other occasion.

Even more jewellery:

• Lyndie Dourthe (France) - paper flowers


• Ashka Dymel (Brooklyn) - balls & orbits


• Kristi Sword (Decatur, GA) - sprinkles & earrings


• Natalia Norena (Greece) - hammered silver


• Sophie Harley (London) - hearts & wings

Lana Rahme / Hop Hop Hop / Reckless Necklace

The heart may get all the glory but it is nothing without the vascular system that keeps it going. Ferndale, Michigan's Lana Rahme pays tribute to those hard-working tubes with her set of cast silver "vascular" rings.

Bonus link: if you simply must see a heart ring today, there's this sweet and simple one from French jeweller Hop Hop Hop.

Or, for a more traditional red heart, there's this silver piece inset with acrylic and resin from UK jeweller Reckless Necklace (£75).

Even more jewellery:

• Giovanni Scafuro (Italy) - forks & spoons


• Dganit Designs (Israel) - fabric & silicon


• Boris Bally (Providence, RI) - industrial & experimental


• Fourteen Carrots (San Francisco) - chunky stones


• Ecodeco (Tokyo) - flower rings

Maiden-Art / Zoé Cotlenko

The only drawback of these rings is that they might make you feel like you're pulling teeth all day. Zipper-pull rings from Italy's Maiden-Art (left, €16) and French designer Zoé Cotlenko (right, roughly €8-10); the latter's entire collection revolves around zippers and buttons.

Bonus link: neon plastic zip-ties are set with diamonds in these rings (US$48) from Beverly Hills shop Onch Movement.

Even more jewellery:

• Ginta Siceva (UK) - amazing leather


• M925 Design (Sweden) - silver circles


• Heather Elizabeth Designs (New Orleans) - fleur de lys


• Bianca López (New York) - gold dewdrops


• Małysz Design (Poland) - amber chunks

LeCompte / Manuel Bozzi

Got an inner rock star? Well, sorry — these statement pieces would be for your outer rock star. Unisex rings by Los Angeles outfit LeCompte.

Bonus link: find more bold, chunky pieces with that rock 'n' roll edge from Italy's Manuel Bozzi; pictured are his bronze "floreal cross" rings.

Even more jewellery:

• Reverie (New York) - bright vintage


• Sylvia Tu (Indonesia) - simple & pretty


• Eila Minkkinen (Finland) - cardboard & metal


• Hannah Koo Designs (Los Angeles) - semiprecious stones


• Kym Kinnison (Scotland) - contemporary silver

Chapter / Sci-fi

I think I used to have a drinking straw just like these rings by Tokyo designers Shotaro Matsushima and Ikumi Miyajima, aka Chapter, available at Tokyomade (US$28-58).

Bonus link: also from Tokyo are Tomohiro Seguchi and Kana Umeda, aka Sci-fi. You can purchase their pyrex work at Tokyomade, but the rings are only on their site.

Even more jewellery:

• Marianne Schliwinski (Germany) - found glass


• Mélie Mélo (France) - ribbons & charms


• Heather Murray (Maine) - reticulated metal


• Monica Vinader (England) - semiprecious chunks


• Catherine Canino (New York) - equestrian pearls

unmicroclima / Ariane Hartmann / Thera Ip

Plastic that's worn from being played — in two different ways — now gets worn on the finger. Pictured are the limited edition "Europoly" rings by Barcelona's unmicroclima (each comes with a different piece of Monopoly property) and record rings, made from old LPs, by Germany's Ariane Hartmann. By the way, Kylie Gartside (one of my links from Wednesday) also has Monopoly house rings! Yeah, I never did like those red hotels.

Bonus link: more plastic to play with from Toronto's Thera Ip. I've featured many Lego rings before but I like how these focus on a single stud (CAD$120).

Even more jewellery:

• Dominique Brechault (Vancouver) - metal houses


• Ahuva Schwarzbard (Israel) - modern mesh


• Gris Gris Cheris (France) - antique images


• Imogen-mei (UK) - texturized & oxidized


• Lee Hwa (Singapore) - white gold & diamonds

Kathryn Yeats / Kate Alterio / Thomas Mann

Paging Arthur Andrew-Liggett... today is all about boxes. Open, closed, empty, full, round, square, hinged and pull-out boxes that also happen to be rings. Top row by Kathryn Yeats and bottom row by Kate Alterio, both of New Zealand.

Bonus link: the "heart box" ring (US$120) by New Orelans jeweller Thomas Mann is a cute piece filled with found objects. Also available in a circle shape.

Even more jewellery:

• Naoko Ogawa (Japan/Germany) - "drawing" necklaces


• Mish (New York) - gold & gems


• Andrea Haffner (Washington, DC) - pressed flowers


• Under Pressure (France) - flower brooches


• Liat (Austria) - fashion & jewellery

Bronwen Deane / Nanie Planète

It's that time again... time for me to declare yet another new favourite! Combining postcard imagery from the '50s and '60s with an acrylic print process she developed herself, UK artist Bronwen Deane creates distinctive pieces that are nostalgic yet modern.

Bonus link: another ring with a '60s feel is this target ring (€25) from Stéphanie Gobert, the designer behind Nanie Planète of Paris.

Even more jewellery:

• Chie Mannami (UK) - cute & graphic


• Kylie Gartside (Australia) - modern silver


• Saskia Shutt (London) - contemporary metal


• Bliss Lau (New York) - body chains


• Pamela Lauz (Mississauga, ON) - semiprecious stones

Macha Jewelry / Anna Sheffield / Jan Logan

I always like it when metal is used where gems are expected. The Rockwell ring (above) from Brooklyn's Macha Jewelry is available in silver or brass for US$180.

Below, New York's Anna Sheffield (aka 88 Fine Jewelry) offers two styles of gold gem-shaped rings, one of which hides an actual diamond underneath.

Bonus link: I love this sleek, shiny chunk of faceted gold from Australia's Jan Logan; the "Louvre" ring is available online for AUD$850.

Even more jewellery:

• Nikolai Rose (New York) - diamond-shaped pendant


• Babakul (Venice, CA) - gold boho


• Göran Jönsson (Sweden) - silver & slate


• Maru (Australia) - acrylic brooches


• Emma Levinson (UK) - magazines & Mickey

Mette Klarskov Larsen / Adeline Affre

The picture says it all — rings are my drugs. Pill rings by Danish RCA grad Mette Klarskov Larsen, who also has rings made out of real, live birds — only dead. I couldn't bear to look, let alone post the photos here, but you can check them out on her site!

Bonus link: if you're jonesing to actually buy some pill rings, get your fix with these silver and gold-plated pills from France's Adeline Affre (€98).

Even more jewellery:

• Emilie Clare (Australia) - pearls in fabric


• Jeannette Jansen (Netherlands) - playful art


• Eleanor Salazar (Maine) - pool balls


• Junxtaposition (Pittsburgh) - typewriter keys


• Smide och Form (Sweden) - contemporary metal

Dubbelop / Matina Sukhahuta / Nishi NY

This titanium ring is so soothing — like looking through a window at a hilly landscape (without all the inconvenient weight of a real landscape). You can view more from Dutch jeweller Jan Matthesius and his partner Pauline Barendse at their site, Dubbelop.

The only thing that would make that view more pastoral would be the addition of a sweet deer, like this "Bambi" ring (below, left) by Thailand's Matina Sukhahuta. But if you're more the city type, check out her "Globetrotter" series, inspired by "the magnificent architecture of the world's major cities." Below, clockwise from top right: Hachiko Square, Shibuya, Tokyo; Elephant Building, Bangkok; St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow; and the Chrysler Building, New York (visit her site for more).

Bonus link: if you prefer your urban landscapes at street level, you might like these graffiti-like "ID" rings by New York's Joanna Bengoa (aka Nishi NY).

Even more jewellery:

• Cynthia Jones (Santa Fe, NM) - modern silver


• Steff Korsage (Chicago) - enamel & metal


• Samantha Wills (Australia) - bold & exotic


• Jacey Withers (London) - wolves & fairytales


• Mabel Chong (San Francisco) - semiprecious beads

If this page is missing posts from the first few days of this month, it's because I've reached my Blogger page limit! To read all posts, see the full monthly archives at TheCarrotbox.com