Mi-Mi Moscow / Dada Arrigoni

If you have even half a teaspoon of interest in conceptual art jewellery, you'll already know the name Mi-Mi Moscow (Russians Mila Kalnitskaya and Micha Maslennikov). Whether you're visiting them for the first or fifteenth time, their site is always worth the visit.

Below, a ring from their much-lauded frog series:

Bonus link: while some frogs ride helicopters, others like to rest easy on a dome of shiny quartz. Pictured is one of Italian Dada Arrigoni's signature "Happy Frog" rings.

Even more jewellery:

• Zoë Bassi (UK) - aquatic enamel


• Shareen Woodford (Toronto) - shiny ovals


• Bess Heitner (New York) - semiprecious beads


• Karry'O (France) - glam & vintage


• Werkstatt:Muenchen (Germany) - men's silver

Diego Bisso / Brigit Daamen

Having recently julienned the tip of my opposable thumb right off, I now see why those particular digits are constantly hailed as what separates us from other hamfisted mammals. Loss of thumb use gets in the way of activities like buttoning, hitting the space bar on a keyboard, and the general holding of things. Like pens. Which is why this ring by Barcelona-based Italian designer Diego Bisso would've come in really handy, no pun intended.

Below are his "environmental" rings:

Bonus link: for more felt-tipped rings (though not of the ink-filled variety), check out the wool jewellery of Dutch designer Brigit Daamen.

Even more jewellery:

• De Vera (NY/SanFran) - gold & gems


• Anastasia Kolos (UK) - fashion accessories


• Michaela Wiecek (Germany) - metal & quartz


• SAYK (Zsolt Székely) (Toronto) - contemporary metal


• Réminiscence (France) - busy beads

Anton Cepka / Arno Pancke / Studio Damm

For those mornings when you look yourself over in the mirror and think, "Hmm, this outfit could use a little more... Pythagoras," Slovakia's Anton Cepka has squared away a great collection of geometric jewellery.

Above: some more rings that look borne of a sheet of graph paper, courtesy of Germany's Arno Pancke. I especially love the telescoping one on the right!

Bonus link: more triangles! This multi-finger double equilateral ring is by German jeweller Christian Nadrau of Studio Damm.

Even more jewellery:

• Deka Ray (New York) - geometric coolness


• Florencia Gargiulo (Argentina) - modern silver


• Tutu Ferreira (Brazil) - chains & resin


• Unikat (Germany) - paper beads


• Freek Aalten (Netherlands) - mokumegane

Antoine la Mendola / Zuazu / Deadly Ponies

Exactly six months away from Christmas, I happen to post rings that look like mistletoe and holly berries — I guess my subconscious likes to think ahead. Or maybe it wants me to eat more fruits and vegetables. Above, green rings by Switzerland's Antoine la Mendola and red ring by Spain's Zuazu.

Bonus link: while my subconscious thinks ahead, my conscious is presently fixated on this 9k gold brain ring by New Zealand's Deadly Ponies.

Even more jewellery:

• Sarah Kettley (Scotland) - interactive networks


• DAL Designs (Vancouver) - lace on ceramic


• Ageeth Keyser (Netherlands) - contemporary silver


• Suzy Landa (New York) - studded gold


• Patricia Candido (California) - bead bracelets

Formglück / Uni-T Design (Takafumi Inuzuka)

In addition to jewellery, Germany's Formglück works in graphics and video — but I think their rings betray a hidden talent for furniture design, don't you? Pictured above, left, are pieces from their "konstrukt" series in smokey quartz, silk yarn, silver wire, lacquer and resin. Beside them are the Peter Stathis "Tube Top" lamp (top) and the "Salton" lamp from EQ3.

More of their work, in gold, below:

Bonus link: another furniture-y ring by Japanese designer Takafumi Inuzuka of Uni-T Design — it's like a little drafting table! Don't miss his L.E.D. brooches.

Even more jewellery:

• Dörte Dietrich (Germany) - organic enamel


• Pamela Tuohy (Sacramento, CA) - framed animals


• Verónica Alonso (Argentina) - contemporary metal


• Machteld van Joolingen (Netherlands) - art jewellery


• Ovanni (New York) - gems & metal

Moon Young Shin / Laia Calatrava

These rings aren't just decorative — they're supportive! UK-based Korean designer Moon Young Shin created these rings to "give the wearer a sense of hope and a feeling that someone is there to support him or her at all times." Be sure to check out the rest of the collection and view the RCA grad's other collections, too, including these "shut up" earplug rings and dyed acrylic brooch rings, below:

Bonus link: here's another ring that's meant to double as a brooch. By Spain's Laia Calatrava, from her "solitary ring" series.

Even more jewellery:

• Emanuela Duca (New York) - fluid metal


• Rachel Galley (UK) - balls & teardrops


• A Figurinista (Brazil) - eclectic necklaces


• Pomellato (Italy) - modern luxe


• Eigenmann (Netherlands) - fine contemporary

Karina Jean / Nicotine / G de Joyas

Weekend quickie: take a peak. Left to right: sterling "summit" ring by Australia's Karina Jean, stainless steel ring by Spain's Nicotine (available in many colours) and gold "degradé" ring by G de Joyas, also of Spain.

Ingeborg Vandamme / Delphine-Charlotte Parmentier

In case you were wondering, it turns out that pyramids, ladders, miniature men and accordioned paper do go together. Figural rings in silver by Amsterdam's Ingeborg Vandamme, who also makes wonderful brooches.

Bonus link: for a more wearable incarnation of pyramids, check out this tiara-like band from French jeweller Delphine-Charlotte Parmentier.

Even more jewellery:

• Kath Inglis (Australia) - carved pvc


• Lizzie Fortunato (New York) - cords & beads


• Miliemillebijoux (France) - beads & pearls


• FIVA (Netherlands) - beads & crystals


• Spiderlily (UK) - dramatic neckpieces

Jasmine Watson / Uzuki Jewelry School

I'm starting to realize I have a weakness for radiating geometric patterns. (This might explain why I prefer slices of cheesecake over square-cut brownies.) New Zealand's Jasmine Watson, a costume designer who's worked on such projects as the recent Lord of the Rings triology, presents a pretty collection of pierced silhouttes based on Asian florals and arabesques.

Bonus link: another ring featuring pierced floral silhouettes. This one is from the student gallery of Tokyo's Uzuki Jewelry School.

Even more jewellery:

• Maria Diana (Italy) - fresh & colourful


• Dominiek Steinmeijer (Netherlands) - anodized titanium


• Lost&Found (UK) - kitschy charms


• Miaji (Sweden) - smiles & hearts


• Arsmania (Switzerland) - polymer clay

Nagi Nakajima / Tinctory

These lovely rings are like tiny silk scarves for your fingers! Well, except for the part where they're made of aluminum. Pleated rings in a rainbow of hues by Japan's Nagi Nakajima.

Bonus link: for more colourful, shibori-style pleats — but in fabric instead of aluminum — check out Tinctory of Birmingham, England.

Even more jewellery:

• Tine De Ruysser (Belgium) - folded metal


• Camille Young (Tucson, AZ) - fabulous flowers


• Marloe Bakx (Netherlands) - graphic necklaces


• Carol Taylor (New York) - semiprecious beads


• Markus Engert (Germany) - bold & contemporary

Machteld Heylen / Wilhelm Tasso Mattar

The water is a source of inspiration for many artists but I've never seen one so concerned with water safety. Belgium's Machteld Heylen plays with the idea of security in her collection full of boats, life preservers and red crosses. Pictured above are the "save me from drowning" boat ring (€300) and "care" silver band (€130).

Bonus link: carved amber boat ring by Spain's Wilhelm Tasso Mattar. His site is full of interesting pieces, particularly in the "museum" section.

Even more jewellery:

• Shamane (London) - red crosses


• Jessica Cushman (Connecticut) - modern scrimshaw


• Cynthia Bach (Los Angeles) - ornate gold


• Steven Brixner (San Diego, CA) - chunky & contemporary


• Silverfish (New Zealand) - silver & copper

Yuwen Lu / Kitsch Katch

On the rare occasion that I think of finger puppets, I'll never think of finger puppets the same way again. This piece by London's Yuwen Lu is designed so that the nervous motion of drumming one's fingers is manifested in the movements of the two attached figures. Brilliant. (I'm thinking that red cloud must rain down crimson nailpolish, because I don't know how else to explain that manicure.) There's tons to explore on this artist's site, so get goin'!

Above: her one-size-fits-all ring, meant to be squeezed on to fit.

Bonus link: if you've never been one to drum your fingers, you can still piano and saxaphone them with this musical jumble ring from Kitsch Katch (£14). Talk about jazz hands!

Even more jewellery:

• Alter Ego (San Francisco) - hello kitty


• Wear and Tear (Hong Kong) - chains & crochet


• Suzanne Otwell Nègre (France) - contemporary twotone


• Erik Kuiper (Netherlands) - art brooches


• Nathalie Insomby (Switzerland) - simple ceramic

Betony Vernon

Weekend quickie: jewellery with classical themes by Virginia native Betony Vernon, now based in Milan.

Marian Sturkenboom / Elisabeth Leenknegt

If you really want to see these rings, you'll have to turn off the lights. Dutch artist Marian Sturkenboom colours silicone with photochromatic — that's glow-in-the-dark — dye, creating ethereal work reminiscent of jellyfish. Also pictured above are shots of one piece under different lights, to give you an idea of the effect.

Below, some more of her gorgeous rings:

Bonus link: we go from jellyfish to jellybeans with this ring from the "Sweet Memories" collection of Belgian jeweller Elisabeth Leenknegt. Visit her site for a lot more sweet pieces in glass and silver!

Even more jewellery:

• Geertje Bruyninckx (Belgium) - Rorschach brooches


• Astrid Eckert (Germany) - soccer & flags


• Erin Dolman (Roberts Creek, BC) - birds & butterflies


• Jeri Cohen (New York) - fine gems


• Marie Seguy (Paris) - fashion necklaces

Anthony Roussel / Studio AMF

With their thick, wavy manes, these rings fit Newsradio Beth's definition of "gorgeous." Linear pattern rings of lasercut wood by British designer Anthony Roussel.

Bonus link: for more chunky wooden rings, check out the handmade pieces at Studio AMF, by Allison Ford of Indianapolis.

Even more jewellery:

• aforest-design (Portugal) - rubber bracelets


• Breil (Italy) - gold nuggets


• Anneli Aaltosen/Pyry Tammisen (Finland) - pearl pendants


• Emanuela Aureli (Santa Fe, NM) - coils & geometry


• Charming by Ti Sento (Netherlands) - charms galore

Cluster Rings - Various Artists

A cluster of clusters.
Top row, L-R:
Sassa Held (Germany),
Bettina Stark (Switzerland),
Julie Rouault (Spain).
Middle row, L-R:
Katrien Cambré (Belgium),
Hannah Bedford (UK)
Naja & Merveilles (France).
Bottom row, L-R:
Claire Antill (UK),
Christa Reniers (Belgium),
Branch (Michele Scholnick, California).

Bonus link: for clusters of colour, check out the glass bead "roe" rings from Virginia's Poppi (US$66 or US$70 for large).

Even more jewellery:

• Martin Hardt (Germany) - heavy silver


• Anneke Bruin (Netherlands) - glass & copper


• Sully's Design Studio (Indianapolis) - framed pendants


• Petra Bishai (UK) - silver flowers


• Kaarin Bonde Jensen (Finland) - ocean necklaces

Roos van Soest / Gayle Friedman / Heike Schirmer

Someone alert Stephen Colbert — it's another bbbbbbEAR! Sad little "Bravo!" ring in gold, silver and paint by Dutch artist Roos van Soest.

More ursine goodies, above: reclaimed fur and plastic bear hug (though she calls it a kitty) by Washington, DC's Gayle Friedman, who also has a nice cocoa pod collection.

Bonus link: get all chained up (without enslaving a bear in the process) with this ball-chain ring by Heike Schirmer of Germany's Detail 3 Gallery.

Even more jewellery:

• Marion Mille (France) - chain necklaces


• Constanze Schreiber (Netherlands) - metal & fur


• Fabiana Gadano (Argentina) - enamel & silver


• Erich Maria Egger (Germany) - metal & moonstone


• Monika Peczeli (Toronto) - intricate beading

Barbara Walter / Michelle Fantaci

I know exactly how this bear feels — I, too was bowled over by the work of Syracuse, New York metalsmith Barbara Walter.

Above: her "spy decoder" ring. Below: her "egg samples" series and a piece from her "bearing bear-ring" pun collection. Yes, it's a bear bearing bearings. On a ring. Can you stand it? Check out her site for much, much more!

Bonus link: there are ten pairs of feet in this post but this shoe won't fit any of them. Gold horseshoe ring by Brooklyn's Michelle Fantaci.

Even more jewellery:

• Sari Liimatta (Finland) - bejeweled animals


• Eva Dora Lamm (Denmark) - silver & glass


• Gretchen Comly (New York) - chunky necklaces


• Susanne Francis (Germany) - metal & gems


• Betsy Frost Design (Ipswich, MA) - contemporary silver

Phoenix Rose (Guy Rozenstrich)

Weekend quickie: stone-within-a-stone. 22k citrine ring with black diamond, US$725, by New York designer Guy Rozenstrich of Phoenix Rose.

Rhyannan Hurst / Bea Reseigh

Organic pods of perforated silver and porcelain with muted glazing — I'm in heaven. Inspired by her surroundings (that would be the south-eastern coast of England), Rhyannan Hurst casts her pieces from materials collected on the beach. Like shells:

Bonus link: creating silver shell rings on the south-western coast of England is Cornwall's Bea Reseigh.

Even more jewellery:

• Anaïs Carde (France) - organic crochet


• Beckermans (New York) - playful pendants


• Vilaiwan (Los Angeles) - dramatic necklaces


• Greetje van Helmond (UK) - sugar crystals


• Petra Georg-Achenbach (Germany) - textured metal

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