Yasushi Jona / Gloria Carlos

Buried treasure: Japan's Yasushi Jona makes roughly-textured jewellery meant to evoke pieces that have long been buried under sand (by some pirates with fabulous taste, no doubt).

Bonus link:
For more intentionally distressed, weathered jewellery, like this piece in iron and gold, see UK sculptor and jeweller Gloria Carlos.

Even more jewellery:

• Darcy Miro (New York) - distressed metal


• Francisca Bauzá (Germany) - big & boxy


• Celie Fago (Vermont) - tribal & archaeological

Molly Epstein / RGB Laboratory

In "Attaining Homeostasis", Seattle's Molly Epstein hearkens back to a time when jewellery was worn as protection against evil spirits and disease. Visit her site to read more about this intriguing collection.

Bonus link: here's a ring made of something used as protection against drivers (who may or may not be evil spirits). Bike reflector ring by Japan's RGB Laboratory.

Even more jewellery:

• LML 2.0 by Lindsey Marie (Texas) - anti-bacterial


• Vagabunda - Eloise Kerr (Scotland) - modern metal


• Natasha Overholzer (Illinois) - silver & pearls

d_luxe (Karie Higgins & Megan Oliver) / Jam Home Made / Tamawa / Marijoli (Marielle Byworth)

Headgear for your fingers, including those iconic Mickey/Minnie ears, by New Zealand's d_luxe (Karie Higgins & Megan Oliver, who met while studying architecture).

Then there's those iconic Mickey hands. Rings by Japan's Jam Home Made, viewable in their shop.

Also reminiscent of that famous mouse are these Bakelite ball rings by Belgium's Tamawa (tama means "ball" or "bead" and wa means "ring" in Japanese). The tama come in eight colours and nine styles.

Bonus link:
French jeweller Marielle Byworth of Marijoli notes that her rhodium-plated "Maying" ring is often interpreted as representing Mickey Mouse.

Even more jewellery:

• Violette Van Parys (France) - Disney & porcelain


• Amelia Toelke (Wisconsin) - Rorschach & banners


• Geo by YWB (New York) - metal & cabs

Repossi / Royal Order

I've never wanted to be a princess but this is making me rethink my position. While this oxidized gold stunner might look like something from a hot young designer in New York, it's actually from the 90-year-old company that's the official jeweller to the Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Gaia Repossi, great-granddaughter of the founder of Maison Repossi, now serves as its artistic director; the ring above was created in collaboration with designer Alexander Wang for his A/W 2010/11 show.

Above, multi-band ring from her collaboration with another fashion designer, Joseph Altuzarra, and pieces from the "Maure" and "Nérée" collections.

Bonus link: if, unlike me, you do have royal aspirations, pick up a crown ring from Royal Order (California's Cheryl Rixon Davis). Other regal themes also available, like lions, crests & crosses.

Even more jewellery:

• Tim Royall (New Zealand) - carved stone


• Ek Thongprasert (Belgium) - fabulous necklaces


• Willa Designs (Toronto) - contemporary metal

Katie Poterala / Julia Groos

On this day of twos (2/22), a series of two rings fused together.

I love the diamond-tipped tubes. Did you notice them?

How about now?

All rings above (and much more in her portfolio!) by Arizona's Katie Poterala.

Bonus link:
Speaking of diamond-tipped tubes, here's a ring that's made entirely of nothing but! Pictured is the "Constellation" ring by Boston's Julia Groos (Halo Designs).

Even more jewellery:

• Gebrüder Schaffrath (Germany) - modern diamonds


• Labthreeofive (Australia) - playful lasercuts


• Sula (Finland) - silver & glass

Bettina Nissen / Punk Bunny Designs

In the words of UK-based designer Bettina Nissen, her "Make A Wish" ring "interprets the moment of happiness when blowing out the candles on a cake. The iconic birthday cake candleholder is transformed into a piece of jewelry that serves as a keepsake of a special day. Buried in a cake as surprise or presented in its beautiful packaging, 'Make A Wish' will turn anyone's birthday into a memorable event." And don't worry, your ring won't melt away — they're actually made of 3D-printed metal or nylon.

Bonus link:
Not your birthday? You can still make a wish upon a ring with this shooting star from California's Punk Bunny Designs.

Even more jewellery:

• Worldmoon (Netherlands) - conceptual moon


• Leonore Jock (Germany) - art jewellery


• Jessica Preston (UK) - fabric brooches

Atelier Hogaraka (Hiroaki Sato) / Flóra Vági

Perfection. Though not my usual aesthetic, I can't take my eyes off the work of Japan's Hiroaki Sato, whose shibuichi jewellery seems impeccably crafted, flawlessly finished and balanced to a T. Like I said, perfection. To view more, visit his site, Atelier Hogaraka.

(He also does colour.)

Bonus link: Hungarian artist Flóra Vági also has some gorgeous shibuichi rings (like these) but the highlights of her portfolio are her work in wood and paper. Go see!

Even more jewellery:

• Robert Farrell (Florida) - shibuichi & silver


• Paul Sarz (Greece) - little charms


• Keen Jewellery (Germany) - clean & minimal

Paola Argine / Miss Be Designs / Little Slave (Amanda Nakalevu) / Hiroko Suzuki

Scrooge McDuck may have enjoyed swimming in piles of money but I dream of swimming in piles of resin. Resin piles above, top to bottom, by Italy's Paola Argine, Australia's Miss Be Designs and Amanda Nakalevu of Little Slave, also from Australia.

Bonus link:
One last pile of resin from Japan's Hiroko Originale (by Hiroko Suzuki). I love her use of giant gems and bright, candy-like, highly contrasting colours.

Even more jewellery:

• Sun-Woong Bang (Australia) - resin & silver


• Passionflower Jewelry (Oregon) - patterned shrinkydinks


• Kelacala Q (New York) - metal & chains

Mirjam Hiller / Monique Rancourt / Roque Jewelry / Alice Robson / Joke Dubbeldam

Rings that remind me of food, edition #72: sesame-crusted snacks, served up by Germany's Mirjam Hiller.

Above, some more granulated rings by Boston's Monique Rancourt (top), California's Roque Jewelry (bottom left), UK jeweller Alice Robson (thin silver bands) and the Netherlands' Joke Dubbeldam (bottom right).

Bonus link:
Here's a silver ring studded with larger, bubbly granules, by Brooklyn jeweller Katherine Lincoln. Visit her site for statement pieces in bronze and stone.

Even more jewellery:

• René Talmon L'Armée (France) - granulated silver


• Jessica Turrell (UK) - modern enamel


• Bastian Inverun (Germany) - contemporary classics

talitali (Zhao Li) / Soda Can Earrings Co.

Instant favourite: "Finding Neverland" rings in silver, textiles and medical-grade plastic by talitali (Belgium's Zhao Li).

Bonus link: more flowery, colourful plastic rings — the EveryRing in recycled plastic by Pennsylvania's Soda Can Earrings Co. By the way, they also make soda can earrings.

Even more jewellery:

• Loet Gescher (Netherlands) - playful plastic


• Pear Shaped (Australia) - patterns in resin


• Lilian Asterfield by Nicole Deponte (Boston) - recycled ties

Laura Gravestock / LSD Fashion LAB / Lindsay Pearson / Flavie Furst

Valentine's: love it or hate it? Rings above by the UK's Laura Gravestock.

"Love Floats" ring by California's LSD Fashion LAB.

"L.O.V.E. Letters" ring by London's Lindsay Pearson.

Bonus link:
Here's another "love" ring, this time by Flavie Furst, who started her career in Paris working for such houses as Chloe and YSL before moving to Florida.

Even more jewellery:

• O fée (France) - hearts & stars


• Paula Bianco (UK) - deco style


• lissaBjewelled (Toronto) - knit metal

Brad Walsh / Barbara í Gongini / Be Christensen / Marina Elenskaya / Holloow

Let's make it a Black Friday, starting with this "Lovely Bones" ring in lacquered coral by New York musician Brad Walsh.

Rubber spike rings by Danish designer Barbara í Gongini.

Blackened silver from Denmark's Be Christensen.

Ebony and crystal ring by Amsterdam's Marina Elenskaya.

More blackened silver from Japan's Holloow.

Bonus link:
For one last hit of black, check out this reptile-skin "Gator" ring. It's from the aptly-named "Noir" collection by New York jeweller Sarah Chloe.

Even more jewellery:

• And O Designs (Australia) - black porcelain


• Ilene Kay (Texas) - contemporary metal


• Ela Tudoran (Romania) - enamel brooches

Raluca Buzura / Joanne Davis

Is this what Ted Stevens imagined the internet looks like? Cool. This series of tubes brought to you by Romania's Raluca Buzura.

Bonus link:
Pictured is one of Joanne Davis's niobium tube rings but my favourite pieces are from the UK jeweller's playful, scribbly "niobium cloud" collection.

Even more jewellery:

• Ashleigh Christina Tucker (California) - tubes & feathers


• Aiko Kojima (Japan) - clustered circles


• Ioana Matei (Romania) - sculptural glass

Catherine Chester / Ghostlove

What goes nicely with yesterday's shoes? Legs, legs, legs!

Not to mention girls, girls, girls! UK artist Catherine Chester explores Victorian peepshows and more. Go peep for yourself.

Bonus link: for a touch of Victorian gothic, check out this ring featuring black lace and a German porcelain bisque doll head. By New Jersey's Ghostlove, purveyors of gothic lolita, noir and steampunk accessories.

Even more jewellery:

• Extasia (California) - Victorian cameos


• La Raffinerie (Montreal) - vintage & textiles


• Lucie Ellen (UK) - pictures on wood

HiNGE Dept. (Liisa Hashimoto) / Nicolina Royale

Holy sh..oe! Bringing new meaning to "spike heels" is Japan's HiNGE Dept. (Liisa Hashimoto). One more from her must-see portfolio below:

Bonus link: if spiked heels aren't your thing, what about spiked bows? Black leather spiked bow knuckle ring by Hollywood jeweller Nicolina Royale.

Even more jewellery:

• Rebekah Frank (Texas) - spike heels


• Cynics (Australia) - zippers & hardware


• Diego Percossi Papi (Italy) - stately & opulent

MicroWorks (Shunsuke Umiyama) / Kate Hopwood

While diamond silhouettes are a popular jewellery motif, these rings are actually drawing on a dual inspiration. Diamond rings and...

...keyholes! Rings by Japanese product designer Shunsuke Umiyama, aka MicroWorks.

Bonus link:
For keyholes and keys, check out England's Kate Hopwood. These rings are from a collection based on the Bluebeard fairytale.

Even more jewellery:

• Arms and Armory (New York) - keys & skulls


• Nikita Collections (Australia) - modular cubes


• A Little Luster (Turkey) - ovals & clouds

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