Hayley Zierold / J Collier

Here's a hypothesis that needs no testing: these "Wearable Specimen" rings are awesome. Check out UK artist Hayley Zierold for more, including some great kaleidoscope rings.

Bonus link:
If your favourite branch of science is genetics, you may appreciate this "Felix Helix" in etched damascus steel, copper and brass by Texas metalsmith J Collier.

Even more jewellery:

• Morphologica (Australia) - science & geekery


• Alex Jay (Ottawa) - contemporary silver


• Grażyna Bieganik (Poland) - ruffles & silver

Belinda Chang / Shanka

It looks like a cuff...

...and it's even big enough to be a cuff. But it's better. It's a ring!

All rings above, in iron, copper and enamel, by UK-based Belinda Chang, who was inspired by "tong lau" buildings in her native Hong Kong.

Bonus link: Shanka is another Hong Kong jeweller — actually a duo, Thomas (aka Kakin) and "S." They make fabulous resin pieces, including chunky faceted bangles and skull rings.

Even more jewellery:

• Kusion (Hong Kong) - silver & enamel


• Doris Viñas (Argentina) - zipper teeth


• Maslinda (Greece) - leather fringe

Noam Bar Yochai / Frolick Jewelry

A ding here, a scratch there — bad for your car, but it's all good when it comes to these "Oroko" rings by London-based Israeli designer Noam Bar Yochai. Consisting of polymer and goldleaf in millefeuille layers, the rings were designed to wear away over the lifetime of the wearer, according to each owner's unique experience.

Bonus link: speaking of the passage of time, clockfaces are becoming a less common sight thanks to digital displays and the waning need for watches. Change that with this cute clock ring from California's Frolick Jewelry.

Even more jewellery:

• So Little Time Co. (Australia) - cute wood


• LLEV (Czech Republic) - black glass


• Claire Haines (UK) - fluid silver

Charlotte Larsen / Elements Jill Schwartz

These pretty rings by Denmark's Charlotte Larsen are reminiscent of vintage buttons cast in silver and oxidized silver.

Above, some of her more colourful rings.

Bonus link:
For more jewellery incorporating vintage parts, including buttons (like this resin rose ring), check out Elements Jill Schwartz of Massachusetts.

Even more jewellery:

• Dejarnette New Orleans (Louisiana) - vintage style


• Caroline Cloughley (UK) - butterfly wings


• Julie Mineau (Quebec) - contemporary silver

Ilze Ķībure / Yurga Lago

Ice and polystyrene — one has a lifespan of minutes, the other of centuries. Rings of varying permanence by Latvia's Ilze Ķībure.

Bonus link:
For another Latvian jeweller, see Yurga Lago, whose gold and silver pieces have a slightly playful touch (like her signature birds).

Even more jewellery:

• XauXau (Latvia) - colourful crochet


• Silke Trekel (Germany) - modern metal


• Georgina Bolton (UK) - lines on pendants

Peder Musse / Dorte Lausten

These rings by Danish artist Peder Musse are rather "retro science"-y in a way I can't quite put my finger on. I half expect someone in a lab coat to start teaching me about microwave towers while Happy Go Lively kicks up in the background. Not that that would be a bad thing, because I know next to nothing about microwave towers.

Bonus link:
For another Danish jeweller, check out silversmith Dorte Lausten, who has some nice, oxidized pieces (as well as these rooster and chick rings).

Even more jewellery:

• Danior (Denmark) - contemporary classics


• Liliana Aguilera (Florida) - gold & leather


• Amanda J. Frazier (Texas) - metal art

Stephanie Bates / Brent Emily

They may be spray-painted in psychedlic colours but we're not dealing with hallucinatory states here. Rather, these are the "Changing States" rings from England's Stephanie Bates.

Bonus link:
Speaking of states, put your favourite U.S. state front and centre with one of Indiana jeweller Brent Emily's coin rings. I love the way he turns the coins into bands.

Even more jewellery:

• Spentz (UK) - cut coins


• Lidia Raymond (Quebec) - silver stickmen


• Christine Simpson-Forni (Illinois) - glass on copper

Eszter Imre / Casalinga

For some reason, I never tire of teacup jewellery, and Hungarian ceramicist Eszter Imre may be my favourite so far. She has a lovely collection with particularly eye-catching necklaces; be sure to check out the PDF files to see them all!

Above, her carved house rings, also in ceramic.

Bonus link:
If you love porcelain, you're probably already familiar with Denmark's Casalinga (Trine Weng), purveyor of modern housewares and jewellery.

Even more jewellery:

• Studio Kahn (Israel) - break-apart porcelain


• Christine Davies (UK) - grids & circles


• Melncoly Designs (Calgary) - body chains

Pony White / Annie Li

The "Bridge Duster" was born from "the idea of nature reclaiming back the land and entwining with man-made structures." Besides, nothing softens a punch like flowers! Ring by the UK's Pony White (Ilona White).

Bonus link:
For more pretty flowers, check out the "floreal" rings from another UK jeweller, Annie Li.

Even more jewellery:

• Thallo (Greece) - flowers & leaves


• Alynne Lavigne (Toronto) - new & vintage


• Sian Haigh-Brown (UK) - lacy brooches

Wendy Leah Dawson / Kayo Naruse

UK artist Wendy Leah Dawson invites us to examine her "observational jewellery," a series that investigates "scientific instruments, camera mechanisms and the aesthetic of tools and devices."

Bonus link:
If you've made a career of scientific observation (biological, to be specific), you may appreciate this silver "Petri" ring from Kayo Naruse of Kayo:NYC.

Even more jewellery:

• CJ Poupazis (UK) - dna helix


• ChristiJay (California) - leather necklaces


• Her Design - Heta Anderson (Finland) - circles & radials

Jenny Laidlaw / Susan Elnora

UK artist Jenny Laidlaw captures "the isolation of the winter landscape"... through photography. Only after that does she begin the process of metalwork, working to translate the raw images into jewellery. The result is gorgeous, as evidenced by these rings from her "Can't see the wood from the trees" series.

Bonus link:
Also taking her cue from nature is Minnesota's Susan Elnora, with these "raven branch" and "caribou antler" rings.

Even more jewellery:

• Rhona McCallum (UK) - sticks & stones


• Jedmax Seeds (Australia) - seeds & silver


• Julia Blaukopf with Angela Duffin (PA) - photo pendants

Allison Ullmer / Judicaël Cornu

Two things I always wear when I leave the house on foot: a pair of rings and a pair of earbuds. Oregon's Allison Ullmer just shaved a minute off my "getting dressed" time with these earbud rings from her "Disengage" series.

Bonus link:
Brussels-based French product designer Judicaël Cornu created "headphones" that conduct music through your bone tissue. Pictured is the spacer ring version.

Even more jewellery:

• Harlewood Studio (Australia) - music & sci-fi


• Philip van de Roq (Netherlands) - long chains


• Janet Allsebrook (UK) - paint & acorns

Tammy Young Eun Kim / Lovefool Designs

I think that brooch is onto something.

Yes. Both donut pieces by California's Tammy Young Eun Kim.

Bonus link:
Montreal's Lovefool Designs was inspired by her mother's and gradmother's shortbread cookies when making this "sugar cookie" heart ring.

Even more jewellery:

• Sweet Treats (Oregon) - candy charms


• Tiki Brighton (UK) - resin & bakelite


• Marcy Swanson (Oregon) - memories in metal

Wearable Futures / TheFutureFuture

Apparently, the future's going to be quite rocky (but pretty). Pictured above are "rock" rings from UK jeweller Julie Legault's "Wearable Futures" (first two rows) and 3D-printed "rock" rings from New York's TheFutureFuture (Brandt Graves & Carrie McKnelly).

Bonus link:
More rock rings, this time made of actual granite, from Sissi Westerberg, a Swedish artist (and sometime RISD instructor) who also makes many fleshy sculptures.

Even more jewellery:

• Derek Birch & Son (UK) - granite & metal


• Whitley Designs (California) - crystals on gold


• Shades of Grey (Illinois) - vintage necklaces

Greg Sims / Duepunti

A "solitaire" solitaire, a sieve ring incapable of holding anything under 1ct diamonds, an engagement ring engagement ring, ring box rings... Halifax jeweller Greg Sims is a trove of clever treasures. Visit his site for much more!

Bonus link: for more unconventional diamond rings, see Italy's Duepunti, who sets their gems in silicone bands.

Even more jewellery:

• Studio Sora (Japan) - modern wedding


• Kristi Rae Wilson (Texas) - metal & textiles


• Louise West (UK) - lace & silver

Joanna Hemsley / Valérie Wyn

I'm a fan. Retractable folding rings in gold-plated silver and hand-dyed silk by UK jeweller Joanna Hemsley.

Bonus link:
Another jeweller mixing metal and fabric is Belgium's Valérie Wyn, who accents her silver pieces with bits of inlaid fabric in colourful patterns.

Even more jewellery:

• Doris Jurzak (Australia) - pleated pvc


• Cornelia Brustureanu (Romania) - textiles & leather


• HNDSM (Toronto) - minimalist metal

Farah Bandookwala / Kinkel Jewellery

I'm thinking of going platinum blonde — what do you think? Not your thing? There's blue and red hair options, too! Rings in silver and fake hair by New Zealand's Farah Bandookwala.

Bonus link:
Is blonde too boring for you? South Africa's Kinkel Jewellery (Marleen van Wyk) has hair rings in a whole assortment of colours and styles.

Even more jewellery:

• Kerry Howley (UK) - human hair


• Alienina (Italy) - knotty neckpieces


• JustJaynes (Michigan) - stamped silver

Roisin Connolly / Roisin Sheridan / Charlotte Lowe

A tale of two Roisins: silver photo-etched with urban scenes from Scotland's Roisin Connolly (top three rows) and Ireland's Roisin Sheridan.

Bonus link:
If you love photoetching as much as I do, keep the love going with another UK jeweller, Britain's Charlotte Lowe. She works with silver, gold and copper.

Even more jewellery:

• Shabana Jacobson (Australia) - photos & porcelain


• Charlotte Verity (UK) - clusters & bubbles


• Sława Tchórzewska (Poland) - busy & colourful

Grace Page / Rebecca

"Inspired by research into the different theories claiming that all humans can be divided into set characters or personality types, this piece illustrates my belief that we are all capable of playing many different characters in our everyday lives.
It is designed to be worn on the hand, with interchangeable lenses that can be screwed on depending on which character you are being that day. Each set of lenses changes and distorts the world you see through it, leading you to interact with it differently."

"Daily Spectacles" by UK artist Grace Page, whose conceptual jewellery may or may not be the cure to the melting polar ice caps. Check her site to find out.

Bonus link:
If you're more intrigued by her mustache than by her spectacles, get your own from Maryland shop Rebecca.

Even more jewellery:

• Familienbande (Germany) - personalized charms


• Emma Gale (UK) - crochet & lace


• Christy-Anne Bestwick (South Africa) - ornate verdigris

Kristal Romano / Deanna Ooley

While yesterday's cards are nice, you can't beat the versatility of an all-purpose credit card — even when it's cut up.

When she's not cutting up credit cards, she's cutting up coins.

Who is she? She's New Jersey metalsmith Kristal Romano, who also made this ring, which is of particular interest to this here blog.

(In case you couldn't tell, it's made of carrot.)

Bonus link:
For an entire body of work with financial and business themes, check out Texas artist Deanna Ooley. Her work mixes metals and US currency.

Even more jewellery:

• Carla Szabo (Romania) - financial crisis


• Miranda Keyes (UK) - fish & skin


• Romma (Argentina) - beads & 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