Iori Matsumoto / Johanneke van Helden

Do I even need to say that the designer is Japanese?

All pieces above by Japan's Iori Matsumoto (no relation — we are legion), whose merry rings (and Christmasy earrings) wish you a very happy holiday season. As do I!

This is my last post of 2012 so have a great New Year and I hope to see you back in 2013!

Bonus link:
Just like the song says, it's fiiiiive GOLD-en rings! Interlocking rings made for her family by Rotterdam's Johanneke van Helden.

Even more jewellery:

• Noelle (Germany) - polished horn
• Inge Rens (Netherlands) - metal & wood
• Bryony Gill (UK) - pretty plique-à-jour

Kirsty Pearson / Mikke Remikke

Yes, these pieces look like they might've been visited by Jack Frost (whose name is even more appropriate when you consider that it comes from the Old Norse "Jokul Frosti," meaning "Icicle Frost"). What they actually remind me of, however, is delicious mizuame (literally, "water candy")! Rings of glass on stainless steel wire by UK designer Kirsty Pearson.

Bonus link:
Tempting as it was to go the entire month of December without posting a Christmasy ring, here's a little gift from Japan's Mikke Remikke.

Even more jewellery:

• Anne M. Fiala (Indiana) - wire outlines
• Toby Eagle (Australia) - silver & leather
• Suzanna Dai (New York) - glam crystals

Young Geum Cho / Amandine Meunier

In "Hollow Wear," Stockholm-based Korean artist Young Geum Cho examines "the superficial story of identity in commercial culture" and the "reversed relationship between iconic packaging [such as Tiffany's blue box] and undistinguished actual product." In each successive ring, the package-shaped portion is larger, representing "how visible presentation has become more and more significant than actual substance." Visit her site to see them all.

Bonus link:
Here's another statement on commercial culture from Moroccan-born, Paris-based artist Amandine Meunier. The ring is made of 101 price tags.

Even more jewellery:

• Old Money Corp (South Carolina) - vintage coins
• Daniela Hedman (Sweden) - art jewellery
• Lily Kamper (UK) - cool pendants

Made in Metal / Ted Baker

Not to worry, these rings are actually made in metal.

By which I mean, Made in Metal.

Bonus link:
While that horse above may be rockin', here's a rocking horse! Rose gold-plated ring by London's Ted Baker, available at Ernest Jones.

Even more jewellery:

• Silverhästen (Sweden) - horses & riders
• Olivia Samples (Tennessee) - raw & rustic
• Bec Brittain (New York) - leather rope

Kelly Wearstler / Meg Darlington

Clear quartz usually comes in two flavours: raw and faceted. That's why this ring by California's Kelly Wearstler stands out: the crystal isn't exactly raw but it also hasn't been cut into a brilliant gem. Instead, it's quiet and restrained — making way for that perforated gunmetal!

Bonus link:
If you like the flat, clear "stone" but need something a little less conspicuous, there's this glass ring from UK jeweller Meg Darlington.

Even more jewellery:

• Friedasophie (California) - druzy quartz
• Theresa Capell (Halifax) - organic resin
• Coliac (Italy) - shapes on chains

LeJu / Vicky Davies

I'm all starry-eyed! These "Orion" rings feature horn encrusted with pyrite, then encased in resin, to gorgeous effect. Visit London's LeJu for more, like gold-plated horn and gem-crusted tagua.

Bonus link: if you haven't received a gold star since grade two, give yourself three of them with this cute little "charm star" ring by UK jeweller Vicky Davies.

Even more jewellery:

• Mailund (Denmark) - ceramic stars
• Aleksandra Milne (Ireland) - architectural brooches
• Tenielle (Toronto) - chains & hardware

Nellie Peoples / Balance Wu Design

Mmm, dodecadent. In the words of Australia's Nellie Peoples: "This series was based on Platonic Solids. They were named after the ancient philosopher Plato who theorised that the classical elements (fire, earth, air, water and spirit) were constructed from regular solids (tetrahedron, cubes, octahedron, dodecahedron and icosahedrons)."

I also like her flat stacks.

Bonus link: Taiwan's Balance Wu Design also has rings based on the Platonic solids; they come flat, ready to be folded. (You may remember her from AHead Creative.)

Even more jewellery:

• Lotus Lazuli (California) - Platonic solids
• Vivian Meller (Germany) - conceptual jewellery
• Gogo Philip (UK) - gold plated

Mirjam Dreher / Ops! Objects

These rings are more than just a pretty face(t).

Look closely and you'll see it's what's inside that's most interesting. Forgoing conventional mounting, Germany's Mirjam Dreher drills the silver right into the stones.

Bonus link: Italy's Ops! Objects also has somewhat unconventional gemstone rings. Their Ops!Forever (pictured) and Ops!Rock rings feature colourful polycarbonate bands and either a cz or Swarovski stone.

Even more jewellery:

• Larkspur & Hawk (New York) - big gems
• GGoriginal (California) - crystals & coils
• Neat Objects (Australia) - bamboo bangles

Caolina (Silvia Zampa) / Monika Hanečková

In "Heavy Mental," Italy's Silvia Zampa subverts biker jewellery by keeping the designs but changing the material (from metal to porcelain).

I also love her "Stone" rings. See more on her site, Caolina.

Bonus link:
For more porcelain with gold trim, check out Slovakia's Monika Hanečková. There's a lot more to explore on the artist's site so be sure to take your time!

Even more jewellery:

• Stephanie Earl (UK) - lace-printed porcelain
• Nina Mantra (Florida) - galactic geodes
• Sisco Berluti (Massachusetts) - beaded bracelets

Tamara Akcay / Finesse

Big.

Or small. Either way, Paris-based Tamara Akcay knows how to make an eye-catching ring.

Bonus link:
The rings from the Finesse line by Japan's Co*Starring definitely fall into the "small" category — this is the biggest of the bunch!

Even more jewellery:

• Rinka Room (Japan) - small & dainty
• Ortolan Designs (California) - shiny cuffs
• Kevin Brook (UK) - cogs & slots

Fathom and Form / Alberto Bossi

Fathom and Form are my new favourite F-words. Check out these beauties by San Francisco's Christopher Baas and Carleigh Wamberg.

Bonus link:
For more metal lines but without the angular geometry, check out the leaf outline rings by Alberto Bossi. The Italian-born jeweller is now based in New York.

Even more jewellery:

• Beth Naumann (California) - brass lines
• Kimberly Mullis (New York) - rope & chains
• Marsha Drew (UK) - silver leaves

Sculpturings / Lucie

For those of you who are extremely married.

You're looking at Sculpturings by Rebecca Rose, an artist who splits her time between Florida and California. See many more in her gallery!

Bonus link: before the over-the-top wedding ring, you might want this over-the-top engagement ring. The legs of the man on bended knee are meant to slip around your finger! By Japan's Lucie.

Even more jewellery:

• Erstwhile Jewelry (New York) - antique engagement
• H+H (UK) - nail jewels
• Jenny Bird (Ontario) - gold tassels

Nach / Patrick Mavros

It was literally just last week that I thought I'd seen the best animal rings in a while. Well, as soon as I say that, natch, I come across... Nach. Not only does the French brand make a varied assortment of animals...

...they also give them rockin' mullets!

Bonus link:
On the hunt for more crocodiles? Then you should definitely check out Zimbabwe's Patrick Mavros, whose work includes all sorts of African animals.

Even more jewellery:

• Karen Rothwell (UK) - Africa-inspired
• Iris van Daalen (Netherlands) - hair accessories
• Marcia Moran (California) - metal & druzy

Susanne Wein / Ikcha

Despite my feeble attempts of yesterday, the reality is that aside from the abundant evergreens, it's the season of bare branches. In the hands of Germany's Susanne Wein, that's not such a bad thing.

Above: the jeweller's "Capture of Europe" horn rings.

Bonus link:
While these also resemble bare branches, they're actually modelled after tipuana tipu trees. Rings by Mexico's Ikcha (Ely Garza); available in several finishes.

Even more jewellery:

• Sofia Landa (Mexico) - bare branches
• Sharleen Marius (UK) - steel & silver
• Nicole Kagan (Toronto) - beads on wire

Hagar Goldenberg / Laura Moore / Plant/Plant

I'm going to try to fend off December by posting some vernal greenery — but since it is December, I'll have to go with plastic. Ring by Israel's Hagar Goldenberg.

If plastic won't do it, maybe... string? Rings by UK jeweller Laura Moore.

Bonus link:
I should give up my attempts at a winter garden and turn instead to this botanical silhouette ring, called, uh, "Winter Garden," by Japan's Plant/Plant.

Even more jewellery:

• C.H. Mackellar (New York) - leaves & blossoms
• Free Time Industries (Seattle) - leather & wood
• Joanne Edwards (UK) - bright felt

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