Karen Vanmol / Aland Irène Designs

Sending us into the weekend is Belgium's Karen Vanmol, whose work in concrete, wood and silver contrasts urban and rural elements.

Bonus link:
If you're looking for wood that's a bit more stripped down and polished, check out Vancouver's Aland Irène Designs for this palm wood and silver ring.

Even more jewellery:

• Silvina Signes (Argentina) - metal & wood


• 1064° Goldsmith Guild (Russia) - porcelain & pearls


• Anna Gleeson (Japan) - giant earrings

Erica Leal / Antamina (Atsushi Yamamoto) / Alexandra Blak (Alexandra Anson)

Some women like to wear ice. Others, icebergs. This "miniature sculpture" iceberg ring in silver, topaz and magnets is Erica Leal's take on optical illusions. Also shown are the Halifax jeweller's constellation rings and rings based on that old Skip-It toy.

This ring, believe it or not, is a perfect fit.

It's an "over size" ring, another illusion, this time by Japan's Antamina (Atsushi Yamamoto). See more here.

Bonus link:
Here's another "oversize" ring that'll make you feel like you've got an iceberg of your own. Lucite ring by Australia's Alexandra Blak (Alexandra Anson).

Even more jewellery:

• Videre (California) - optical lenses


• MeDusa (Israel) - processed plastic


• Estelle Dévé (Australia) - metal & leather

Oh & Ah / Shere Design

Words cannot express the awesomeness of these hand-painted rings — but sounds can. Sounds like Oh & Ah. Visit the Malaysian design group for more!

Bonus link: for more rings in a cute, illustrative style (but in silver rather than painted wood), check out UK jeweller Helen Shere of Shere Design.

Even more jewellery:

• Tiger & Hare (Australia) - cute lasercuts


• Lindsay Grime (UK) - illustrated ceramic


• Susanne Zutter (Switzerland) - layered neckpieces

Arthus-Bertrand for Hoon / Silvene Froiun

You could say I'm all aboard these subway train rings (sorry). Created by French jeweller Arthus-Bertrand for Hoon, they're part of an urban-themed collection that also includes ghettoblasters, gun cylinders and funky robots.

Bonus link:
Take the train across the Chunnel to England, just as UK-based French jeweller Silvene Froiun did, to find her "endless train" ring complete with bridge and tunnel.

Even more jewellery:

• In Between (Illinois) - urban pendants


• Cheri Messerli (France) - flag necklaces


• Simone Bremner (UK) - glass & silver

Lisovsky Jewellery (Alina Jessipovich) / Bronagh Kennedy

Who knew getting kicked in the back was an occupational hazard for jewellers? That's what Estonian artist Alina Jessipovich has endured while scouring the streets of London for found objects — and then bending over to pick them up. The busy city supplies not only her materials but also her inspiration, as she coats the "small scale rubbish" in layers of gold and silver to create bustling landscapes as packed as the city itself. Visit her site, Lisovsky Jewellery.

Bonus link:
Also inspired by London is UK jeweller Bronagh Kennedy, whose rings feature accurate London street maps; place names are engraved inside the band.

Even more jewellery:

• TaliaSari by Talia Wiener (Israel) - cutout maps


• Heybabylons (Australia) - chunky beads


• Jade Ogden (UK) - recycled fabric

Snou / Michael Gayk / Sticks & Stones / Woodland Belle / Mariha / Helveta Vyotlag

Somewhere over the rainbow lies the weekend!

Pictured above:

· Red acrylic by Germany's Snou (Lucia Nieves Cortés).

· CAD-modelled orange by South Carolina's Michael Gayk.

· Painted yellow by Oregon's Sticks & Stones.

· Green succulents by North Carolina's Woodland Belle.

· Blue and indigo cabs by Japan's Mariha.

· Chunky violet wood by New York's Helveta Vyotlag.

Bonus link:
Check out California's Five and Two for awesome raw crystal jewellery, like these chunky rainbow crystal rings. Even better than a pot of gold.

Even more jewellery:

• Sensylo by Laura Farbiarz (France) - rainbow bangles


• Lazy Jane (Singapore) - happy colours


• Michaela Gottstein (German) - black & gold

Chris Boland / Dalia Jurado

Similar in shape to yesterday's rings but using gems in place of glass are these rings by UK metalsmith Chris Boland. He considers gemstones "a visual punctuation mark" (I'm guessing exclamation point more than hyphen).

Bonus link:
This ring would fit right in with the above collection, with its similar flat, wide, angular style of oxidized silver band. Ring by Spain's Dalia Jurado.

Even more jewellery:

• Fiona Hermse (UK) - modern metal


• Spontaneity (Illinois) - crochet earrings


• Anne Walker (Georgia) - contemporary silver

Pavel Novak / Alba Polenghi Lisca

Better have your smelling salts handy because Pavel Novak will have you swooning! The New Jersey-based Czech jeweller combines silver and hand-cut optical glass, creating these cool, geometric rings (and other jewellery). I'm obsessed.

Bonus link:
For sleek, faceted metal rather than glass, check out these rings from the "Geometrie" collection by Italian jeweller Alba Polenghi Lisca.

Even more jewellery:

• Nae Design (Maryland) - fused glass


• Luciana Barrandeguy (Argentina) - colourful leather


• Catherine Melo (New Zealand) - woven metal

Jonathan Mathew Boyd / Jung Yun Yoon

I can't seem to formulate a post about these rings so I'm going to blame my writer's block on UK jeweller Jonathan Mathew Boyd. I mean, clearly, he's sucked the words right out of my typewriter. Because that's how I blog — I dictate out loud while my pet monkey jabs away at her Smith Corona. Somehow, you are not surprised.

Bonus link: inspired by a song, Korea's Jung Yun Yoon designed this ring with inner letters to leave an impression on your finger. Custom messages available.

Even more jewellery:

• Type Key (Australia) - typewriter keys


• Yasar Aydin (Sweden) - porcelain art


• Oki Tokki (California) - hangul earrings

Alyssa Feather / Wellenzauber / Ksoaga

Is it hot in here or is it just me Pennsylvania's Alyssa Feather?

Germany's Wellenzauber (Andrea Debernitz) likes to play with fire, too.

Bonus link: if you want to let your inner pyromaniac burn through even more, Poland's Ksoaga (Agata Bieńkowska) has a blazing set that includes a pendant, a bangle and the ring pictured here.

Even more jewellery:

• Steel Flame (California) - biker skulls


• Beige (Montreal) - b&w lasercuts


• Jennie Hancox (UK) - strung metal

CamerAg (Hyun-Seok Sim) / Red Freckles (Lisa Shulman)

Four out of five dentists recommend this ring.

When not creating silver beauties like the rings above, Korea's Hyun-Seok Sim is busy sculpting amazing cameras. Check them out on his site, CamerAg (as in camera + Ag, the chemical symbol for silver).

Bonus link: here's another one for the dentists by Los Angeles jeweller Lisa Shulman, aka Red Freckles. This gold-plated "grill" double ring was molded after the designer's own molars.

Even more jewellery:

• Mary White (Pennsylvania) - teeth & bullets


• Celine Sway (France) - acrylic pendants


• Little Miss Drama (Massachusetts) - semiprecious stones

Elena Salmistraro / Claire Marfisi

I can handle matching my eyeshadow to my rings. Matching my skin? That could take some getting used to. Then again, who would notice? Everyone would be too busy checking out the wild ceramic creations on my fingers. Rings above by Italian fashion and product designer Elena Salmistraro of Alla's Design and Alkostudio.

Bonus link:
For spots of colour on darker ceramic, check out these "ding dong" rings by French jeweller Claire Marfisi.

Even more jewellery:

• Mrs Peterson Pottery (Australia) - stamped ceramic


• Gioielli by Liat (Israel) - simple & modern


• Virginie Monroe (France) - beads & charms

Lore Van Keer / Dana Bloom / Annie Cracknell / Matt Mackeson

A lovely display of linear thinking from Belgium's Lore Van Keer (top), Israel's Dana Bloom (middle left), the UK's Annie Cracknell (middle right) and London's Matt Mackeson (bottom).

Bonus link:
Here are some more lines from another Belgian jeweller, Hans Sonnaert. His xylophone-like "man-machine" ring features white gold and black diamonds.

Even more jewellery:

• Sonja Bene (UK) - lines & tubes


• Hanne Behrens (Denmark) - woven twotone


• Epheriell (Australia) - simple silver

Ute Kolar / Jo Candlish

Italy's Ute Kolar puts the petal to the metal — and the top must be down, because these beauties look wind-blown.

Bonus link:
Here's another ring featuring folded silver petals. Flower ring by UK silversmith Jo Candlish, who makes jewellery inspired by nature.

Even more jewellery:

• HAPPYsthlm (Sweden) - botanical silver


• Heather Keiko (Australia) - pleated felt


• Chris Hawkins (UK) - chunky & masculine

Bevel / Daduche (Daniella Zylbersztajn)

Most of us are familiar with Zeus, Aphrodite, Ares et al., but what about Xibalba, Camazotz and the hero twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque? Inspired by the writings of Joseph Campbell, New York's Bevel draws on figures from Mayan mythology in creating their cool, somewhat menacing pieces.

Bonus link:
Israel's Daduche (Daniella Zylbersztajn) makes gold jewellery with clean, simple lines, like the "Maya" rings pictured here. Wear them alone or stacked for a wave-like effect.

Even more jewellery:

• Maya Selway (UK) - organic metal


• Maria Nilsdotter (Sweden) - snakes & talons


• Arik Kastan (Israel) - rose gold

Isabelle Hertzeisen / Mollive

Getting ready to tie one on this weekend? Let Isabelle Hertzeisen help you out with these rings that look like golden twist-ties.

More from the Swiss jeweller above.

Bonus link: here's a ring with a different sort of twist from Japan's Mollive, designed by a former surfboard producer. You'll find it in the "Heavy Oz" collection.

Even more jewellery:

• Le Twist (New York) - shapeable jewellery


• Tarhuna Bijoux (Romania) - enamelled copper


• Jeanie Pratt (California) - woven insects

Joomi Lim / Linn Lømo / Lok'd Jewelry

While New York's Joomi Lim is known for her cool spin on spikes and pearls, I especially love the screw detail on the underside of each spike. (Phillips head is always a fine choice when it comes to jewellery, though a Torx would work nicely, too.)

Also designing with spikes and pearls (of metal) is Norway's Linn Lømo, who made the rings above (including that terrifying gaping-beak bird!).

Bonus link: for more spikes, but in safer plastic (LEGO, to be exact), check out Lok'd Jewelry by L.A.'s Jayson Calderon.

Even more jewellery:

• Bling Deenie (UK) - spikes & chains


• Lullaot (Israel) - lace & pearls


• Caterina Crepax (Italy) - paper spirals

Iker Ortíz / Brigitte Von Wysiecki

Iker Ortíz cuts no corners when it comes to cutting corners. The Mexican jeweller brings Corian and stainless steel out of the kitchen, using the materials to fashion sleek, modern, geometric rings.

Bonus link:
For more sleek stainless steel squares (including what she calls an "angle square"), see Germany's Brigitte Von Wysiecki

Even more jewellery:

• Auralma Design (Italy) - stainless steel & Corian


• Noon Passama (Netherlands) - shiny buttons


• Nancy Miller (New York) - texturized silver

I Am Dorkas / Steven Brownlee

The mighty oak makes for a mighty ring. Brooklyn's I Am Dorkas hand-carves oak and cedar to create statement rings that highlight that gorgeous natural wood grain.

Bonus link:
Florida's Steven Brownlee also works with wood (mahogany and tucum), preferring to both set it in and inlay it with silver.

Even more jewellery:

• Lemon Park (Vancouver) - wood & silver


• Deana Baker (UK) - anodized aluminum


• Rosato (Italy) - enamel & charms

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