Carnival Shop / Gal Barash

In case the Playmobil model isn't enough to hook you, let me explain what it is, exactly, that you're looking at: Toblerone rings. Toblerone, people! Alongside cheese and pizza, part of the trifecta of wedge-shaped foods! (Cake, of course, being disqualified due to the threat of coconut.) More fun below, including the "rock star" ring with nostalgic cassette; all pieces available from Singapore's Carnival Shop.

Bonus link: if you grew up with the Slinky instead of with Playmobil, you might appreciate Tel Aviv jeweller Gal Barash and his industrial designs, including a series based on the classic toy.

Even more jewellery:

• Sabine Reichert (Germany) - bright colour


• Tamar Rappapot (Israel) - stone discs


• Julie Hedges (UK) - braided textiles


• Lee Angelo Marraccini (Virginia) - gold & gems


• Fausto Maria Franchi (Italy) - playful forms

Verena Klette (Renitent/Ringen) / Anna Martinsson / Andrea Fielitz / Andrea Zatarai

It is, last I checked, 2009. Yesterday's flower child is now in her 60s. Are we not yet at a point in time where we can kill the phrase, "not your grandmother's pearls"? Because I think these could be your grandmother's pearls, especially if your grandmother has a birthday coming up.

Above: German jeweller Verena Klette of Renitent keeps her pearl rings light but sturdy with the use of capped wire.

Pink pearls and eroded bands from Sweden's Anna Martinsson.

Pearls and matte silver from Germany's Andrea Fielitz.

A burst of pearls from Massachusetts' Andrea Zatarai, whose one-of-a-kind pendants should not be missed!

Bonus link: check out Verena Klette's other project, Ringen, where you can "spin the wheel" on each of the four "quadrants" of a ring and get a random design combination, which she'll custom make for you.

Even more jewellery:

• Elizabeth Bower (New York) - bridal pearls


• Gemma Davis (UK) - pretty plastic


• Rakelle (Ralf Kellenberger) (Germany) - silver charms


• Rachik (France) - white gold


• Amy Roper Lyons (New Jersey) - enamelled nature

Catherine Abrial / Cendrillon

From square mood rings to the Three Little Pigs' houses in three different metals, French jeweller Catherine Abrial offers up a trove of charming treasures.

Bonus link:
Another French jeweller with square face rings — albeit of an entirely different kind — is Cendrillon, who works in polymer clay.

Even more jewellery:

• Viviana Carriquiry (Argentina) - modern silver


• Cara Lyndon (San Francisco) - carved flowers


• Pamela Argentieri (Ohio) - cloisonné enamel


• Georges & Rosalie (France) - wearable dolls


• Mia (Ireland) - beads & pearls

Dieter Dill Design / G. Phil Poirier

Every time I get on my treadmill, I feel like I'm performing some kind of hackneyed paean to the modern rat race. Capturing that feeling in exquisite, non-hackneyed ring form are these "bridge" and "crossroads" rings, above, by Germany's Dieter Dill Design. Scale the image down to size in your mind and think of how tiny those people must really be!

Bonus link:
Here are some more "bridge" rings (minus the drudging herd) by New Mexico goldsmith G. Phil Poirier.

Even more jewellery:

• Isabell Schaupp (Germany) - art pieces


• Leila Jewelry (San Diego, CA) - leather & hardware


• Fiona Thornton (Ireland) - enamel & silver


• Jessica Elliot (Los Angeles) - modern metal


• Jules Jules (UK) - fused glass

Luz Arias / Núria Farré Pàmpols / Emma Kidson

What do accordions, honeycombs, boxes, flutes and 18th century French painter Jean-Antoine Watteau have in common? They all have pleats named after them! Luckily, you don't have to be able to differentiate them in order to enjoy them. Rings with pleats (and other shapes) from Argentina's Luz Arias, above, and Spain's Núria Farré Pàmpols, below.

Bonus link:
If you prefer a simple, minimal fold, check out Australia's Emma Kidson and her origami box rings.

Even more jewellery:

• Papermode (France) - folded paper


• Barbara Weiss (Germany) - clean & matte


• Andy Farrow (UK) - bold gold


• Matthew Crawford (Colorado) - metal & gems


• Miguel Ases (New York) - beads & pearls

Pilar Cotter / Theresia Konrad

White and chocolate porcelain get all dressed up with just the right amounts of silver and gold. Rings by Spain's Pilar Cotter.

Bonus link:
For more porcelain, check out the aptly-named "cumulus" ring by German jeweller Theresia Konrad.

Even more jewellery:

• Cloud8 (Claudia Stebler) (Switzerland) - clusters & gum


• Blake & Janette Mackinnon (UK) - colourful ceramic


• Daan Brouwer (Netherlands) - sculptural silver


• DKD Studio (Clarence, NY) - remade vintage


• Leslie Safley (San Francisco) - chain necklaces

Johanna Bauer / Lena Hülsmeier / Stuart Bannocks

From the junk drawer to your accessories drawer: ribbon rings (above) and rubber band rings (below) from Germany's Johanna Bauer and Lena Hülsmeier, respectively.

Bonus link: if you think of rubber bands more as weapons than accessories, this ring sight can help you improve your aim. From UK designer Stuart Bannocks of As Well As Design.

Even more jewellery:

• Lassy Fair (Germany) - lasercut silhouettes


• Carmen Ekvall (Denmark) - modern classics


• Caroline Royal (UK) - silver rectangles


• Rachel Burklund (Seattle) - chains & stones


• Alexis Romeo (Rochester, NY) - traditional metal

au lait / Bohnjuwelen

Coffee, shoes and books: for some, the holy trinity. For Japan's au lait, the inspiration for their "milk" collection, an adorable line of gold and silver jewellery featuring the "mushroom hair" girls.

Bonus link: speaking of coffee, it's all about the vaunted bean at Germany's Bohnjuwelen, a coffee-themed collection from last month's Sonja Pfingst Bischof.

Even more jewellery:

• Julia Muellers (Germany) - silver & gems


• Stash Jewellery (UK) - bees & peas


• Elk Accessories (Australia) - resin & wood


• Abra Couture (New York) - semiprecious beads


• La Femme Mimi (Czech Republic) - cute brooches

Ricarda Enderweit / Shompole Collection

There's something vaguely macabre about having a cow at rest inside a piece of what I presume is cow-bone. But the ring is named "Cow Enjoys the View" so, if the cow's cool with it, moo on. More from German jeweller Ricarda Enderweit below; as always, visit her site to view the rest!

Bonus link:
Lots of bone (sans cow), horn and gold at the Shompole Collection, where you'll find jewellery and housewares made by African artisans.

Even more jewellery:

• Natalya Pinchuk (Virginia) - woolly growths


• Faible for Label (Germany) - interchangeable magnets


• Diana Kane (New York) - simple metal


• Madeleine Chalfant Yates (San Francisco) - patinated silver


• Redjuliet (Belgium) - retro images

Jacqueline Ryan / Cucú Joyas / Gitta Pielcke

The word "clusters" always makes me want to eat cereal. Well, I'd better get my bowl and spoon because here are some clusters in assorted shapes and metals. First up: gorgeous blue enamel coupled with gold by London-born Jacqueline Ryan, who now makes her home in Italy.

Second but not least, clustered silver by Spain's Cucú Joyas:

Bonus link: more clusters! This ring is a cluster of pods, each set with a different colour gemstone. By German jeweller Gitta Pielcke (who has a thing for frogs and turtles).

Even more jewellery:

• Marta Boan (Spain) - tiny & minimal


• Angie Young (Scotland) - modern metal


• Jenny Dayco (Los Angeles) - bold necklaces


• Doris Gassmann (Germany) - classic jewels


• Nina Nguyen (Florida) - briolette clusters

Sofia Björkman / Hi Octane

The "Closer" series by Sweden's Sofia Björkman is molded from a common everyday object. Can you guess what it is? Did it come to you automatically? Or should I steer you in the right direction? Do you get what I'm driving at? Sorry, is this getting tiring? More from the artist below:

Bonus link: here's a ring that more obviously owes its shape to a car. This 1967 VW Luv Bug is just one of many models available from California's Hi Octane.

Even more jewellery:

• Daniel Kamman (Massachusetts) - industrial jewelry


• Sunday's Best (New York) - knots & clocks


• Christo Kiffer (Brazil) - grilles & diamonds


• Pauline Payne (UK) - modern silver


• Karyn Chopik (Langley, BC) - forged metal

Estela Saez Vilanova / Dollybird Design

These jewellery objects may not have been specifically designed to be rings but I'm going to take the liberty of saying they could be rings. (It might help if you squint and tilt your head a bit.) Any excuse to post these amazing creations in glass, sand, clay, iron, silver, seaweed and more by Spanish-born, Amsterdam-based Estela Saez Vilanova.

Bonus link:
Another piece that originates in part from the sea is this fossilized sand dollar ring from Chicago's Dollybird Design (US$225).

Even more jewellery:

• Seaweed Boutique (Hawaii) - metal shells


• Nature vs Machine (Madison, WI) - modern silver


• Lilakacemi (Paris) - silk & tulle


• Hratch Babikian (Pennsylvania) - sea urchins


• Madeleine Brown (Australia) - custom engagement

Anne Zellien / Amélie Blaise / Mireille Lalive d'Epinay

I have to confess I'm not big on inspirational phrases (unless it's a chant of "go, Canucks, go!"). All that hoping and dreaming and flying and dancing and wishing and laughing? Exhausting. This inscription, though, with its simple statement of fact, hits the right note for me. Ring from the "messages" series by Belgian jeweller Anne Zellien.

If you prefer a more abstract message, try the "etc" ring by Amélie Blaise. The Paris designer uses her own photography in her jewellery, most often drawing on images of birds, flowers, other plantlife... etc. As it were.

Bonus link: it's tough to see here but the removable top on this ring reveals the phrase, "force de ma vie." By Swiss jeweller Mireille Lalive d'Epinay of Mir Design.

Even more jewellery:

• Rikke Lunnemann (Denmark) - modern & delicate


• Bingo & Moo (Ireland) - beaded necklaces


• Nancy Caten (New York) - cool chains


• Metal Me Studio (Wisconsin) - metal cuffs


• Teresa Biagi (Ontario) - minimal traditional

Rosemary Lynn Mifsud / Metsa Design / Jenny Greco

Leaves made of wood are like... um... fingernails made of arms? I got nothing. What I do got is this stylized, sprouting "bloom" ring by Michigan's Rosemary Lynn Mifsud, whose "seed" collection uses silver and recycled post-industrial wood.

Above, more wood and silver (in 98% and 2% proportions, respectively, according to the "nutrition facts") from Food, an eco-conscious jewellery line by Toronto's Metsa Design.

Bonus link:
Want even more wood and silver? Check out another Toronto jeweller, Jenny Greco, for lots of chunky, modern pieces.

Even more jewellery:

• Modica (Portland, OR) - wood & resin


• Maria Luro (Argentina) - coral & ginkgo


• Carol Clift (UK) - silver & beads


• Diana Widman (Illinois) - gold & gems


• Cana (Germany) - contemporary metal

Mali Sabatasso / Biomo / Laurent Guillot

This post contains both natural and artificial colouring. Pastel gemstone clusters from California's Mali Sabatasso, above, and bright acrylic from Chile's Biomo, below.

Bonus link:
Want natural and artificial in the same ring? Paris jeweller Laurent Guillot combines clear acrylic with metal and stones (pictured is his pyrite ring).

Even more jewellery:

• Tod Pardon (New York) - colour & whimsy


• Vetrograd (Israel) - cellular glass


• It's My Scar (US) - cast scars


• Bettina Meyer (Germany) - donut pendants


• Barbara Berk (California) - woven gold

Mariana Shuk / Cyndie Smith

I was originally planning to post these "relaciones" rings alongside last Friday's rings, as the concepts are quite similar. Go contrast and compare (essay not required), then come back and enjoy a slice of silver and resin:

All rings above by Colombia's Mariana Shuk — visit her site for lots more!

Bonus link:
The ring above is a tube with bundles of silver; the ring to the left is a bundle of silver tubes! By Florida metalsmith Cyndie Smith.

Even more jewellery:

• Nicholas King (UK) - bold resin


• Nightingale Jewelry (Los Angeles) - briolettes & thread


• Lance Neirby (Millburn, NJ) - art brooches


• Fabrice de Lapparent (Spain) - contemporary silver


• Dean Harris (New York) - fine jewellery

Epiderme sur epiderme (Delphine Jaulhac) / Ashley Brodie

Delphine Jaulhac followed in her father's footsteps... and then veered a little to the left. While her dad was an ivory sculptor, Delphine creates jewellery using ivory of a different kind: tagua, aka vegetable ivory. See all the gorgeous pieces on her site, Epiderme Sur Epiderme.

Bonus link: for a bit of real ivory (recycled, of course), check out this "key ring" in recycled piano key ivory and sterling silver by North Carolina's Ashley Brodie, US$85.

Even more jewellery:

• Richard Marcus (Vancouver) - mammoth ivory


• Fiona Paxton (UK) - cool beading


• Robin Koffler (New York) - gold & cabs


• Kwilti (Julie Floersch) (New York) - recycled denim


• Mieke Weenink (Netherlands) - leather chokers

Margrit Linder / Andrew English

You are beholding a bit of whimsy in the form of sanded and dyed recycled plastic by Switzerland's Margrit Linder. Visit her site for more, including her experimental plastic bag series and this ring designed not just for two fingers, but two people:

Bonus link:
Another wide-span wing ring, this time in recycled silver, by London jeweller Andrew English.

Even more jewellery:

• Noémiah (Montreal) - feathers on chains


• Doris Berner (Switzerland) - organza & fabric


• Stanislava Grebeníčková (Czech Rep.) - geometric plastic


• Linda Uhlemann (Ireland) - flowers & spirals


• Susan Barth (New York) - gold & gems

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