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Monday, July 7, 2008

Today is lucky 7/7 — and I bet the Vegas slot machines are extra busy. If you're looking for that winning advantage, try boosting your luck by donning one of these casino-themed pieces from Gamblers Jewels. Who knows? The one-armed bandit just might reward you for your style. (The collection is by Germany's Andreas Zidek, whom I also wrote about a couple of years ago.)

Bonus link: for a more subtle "bar" ring, try this band from Brooklyn's Jennifer Kellogg. Also shown are the "casino" bracelets.

Even more jewellery:

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Friday, July 4, 2008

Some Fourth of July fireworks for the Americans out there, courtesy of Sweden's Annika Hauser. Enjoy your weekend!

Bonus link: in keeping with the Fourth of July spirit, here's a burger ring by Texas metalsmith Kristin Freeman, thoughtfully pre-bitten for you.

Even more jewellery:

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Thursday, July 3, 2008

If you woke up today craving some modern metalsmithing from Argentina, you're in luck! Check out Soledad Kussrow (above) and Helena Rezenda (below).

Bonus link: one more from the Argentinian archives: silver "precious stone" ring by Buenos Aires jeweller Tamara Lisenberg.

Even more jewellery:

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Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Since I focussed on Canada yesterday, I thought I'd go with my Japanese side today. Specifically, my dainty, Japanese, claw- setting side. Above, top: antique rhinestone ring by Cornu (also available in red, white and yellow). Middle: Dutch glass asterisk cabs from andante* (left) and blue topaz ring by Mariko Yamashita of imago. Bottom: "pebble" rings by Niiichini (left) and Swarovski crystal rings by citron.

Bonus link: wrap-around ring with glass stones, each in its own claw setting, by Japan's Frapbois (available in clear, pink and green).

Even more jewellery:

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Tuesday, July 1, 2008

July 1st is Canada Day, so... guess what? I'm going to post rings by some fellow Canadians! I know, you're like, "How did she come up with such an amazing idea?" I can't explain it but I think it must be something in this Canadian water. Anyhoo...

Top row: spray paint "graff cap" ring and interlocking "play, pause, record" ring from the "Soundpieces" collection by Danielle Crampsie. Middle: slide-like anodized niobium rings by Tarah Zaczyk of Crush Lane. The two-finger rock crystal piece on the right is letter-punched with the words, "This Is Your Lucky Gemstone Today." Bottom row: "Pilo-pilo" cushion rings for the resting of the face, by Ming Lo and Sae Shigeto of Downstairs Studio.

Bonus link: he may not be Canadian but UK jeweller Thomas Nayler has a graffiti-centric collection that should get together with the graff cap ring above.

Even more jewellery:

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Monday, June 30, 2008

If you have even half a teaspoon of interest in conceptual art jewellery, you'll already know the name Mi-Mi Moscow (Russians Mila Kalnitskaya and Micha Maslennikov). Whether you're visiting them for the first or fifteenth time, their site is always worth the visit.

Below, a ring from their much-lauded frog series:


Bonus link: while some frogs ride helicopters, others like to rest easy on a dome of shiny quartz. Pictured is one of Italian Dada Arrigoni's signature "Happy Frog" rings.

Even more jewellery:

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Friday, June 27, 2008

Having recently julienned the tip of my opposable thumb right off, I now see why those particular digits are constantly hailed as what separates us from other hamfisted mammals. Loss of thumb use gets in the way of activities like buttoning, hitting the space bar on a keyboard, and the general holding of things. Like pens. Which is why this ring by Barcelona-based Italian designer Diego Bisso would've come in really handy, no pun intended.

Below are his "environmental" rings:

Bonus link: for more felt-tipped rings (though not of the ink-filled variety), check out the wool jewellery of Dutch designer Brigit Daamen.

Even more jewellery:

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Thursday, June 26, 2008

For those mornings when you look yourself over in the mirror and think, "Hmm, this outfit could use a little more... Pythagoras," Slovakia's Anton Cepka has squared away a great collection of geometric jewellery.

Above: some more rings that look borne of a sheet of graph paper, courtesy of Germany's Arno Pancke. I especially love the telescoping one on the right!

Bonus link: more triangles! This multi-finger double equilateral ring is by German jeweller Christian Nadrau of Studio Damm.

Even more jewellery:

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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Exactly six months away from Christmas, I happen to post rings that look like mistletoe and holly berries — I guess my subconscious likes to think ahead. Or maybe it wants me to eat more fruits and vegetables. Above, green rings by Switzerland's Antoine la Mendola and red ring by Spain's Zuazu.

Bonus link: while my subconscious thinks ahead, my conscious is presently fixated on this 9k gold brain ring by New Zealand's Deadly Ponies.

Even more jewellery:

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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

In addition to jewellery, Germany's Formglück works in graphics and video — but I think their rings betray a hidden talent for furniture design, don't you? Pictured above, left, are pieces from their "konstrukt" series in smokey quartz, silk yarn, silver wire, lacquer and resin. Beside them are the Peter Stathis "Tube Top" lamp (top) and the "Salton" lamp from EQ3.

More of their work, in gold, below:


Bonus link: another furniture-y ring by Japanese designer Takafumi Inuzuka of Uni-T Design — it's like a little drafting table! Don't miss his L.E.D. brooches.

Even more jewellery:

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Monday, June 23, 2008

These rings aren't just decorative — they're supportive! UK-based Korean designer Moon Young Shin created these rings to "give the wearer a sense of hope and a feeling that someone is there to support him or her at all times." Be sure to check out the rest of the collection and view the RCA grad's other collections, too, including these "shut up" earplug rings and dyed acrylic brooch rings, below:



Bonus link: here's another ring that's meant to double as a brooch. By Spain's Laia Calatrava, from her "solitary ring" series.

Even more jewellery:

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Saturday, June 21, 2008

Weekend quickie: take a peak. Left to right: sterling "summit" ring by Australia's Karina Jean, stainless steel ring by Spain's Nicotine (available in many colours) and gold "degradé" ring by G de Joyas, also of Spain.

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Friday, June 20, 2008

In case you were wondering, it turns out that pyramids, ladders, miniature men and accordioned paper do go together. Figural rings in silver by Amsterdam's Ingeborg Vandamme, who also makes wonderful brooches.

Bonus link: for a more wearable incarnation of pyramids, check out this tiara-like band from French jeweller Delphine-Charlotte Parmentier.

Even more jewellery:

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Thursday, June 19, 2008

I'm starting to realize I have a weakness for radiating geometric patterns. (This might explain why I prefer slices of cheesecake over square-cut brownies.) New Zealand's Jasmine Watson, a costume designer who's worked on such projects as the recent Lord of the Rings triology, presents a pretty collection of pierced silhouttes based on Asian florals and arabesques.

Bonus link: another ring featuring pierced floral silhouettes. This one is from the student gallery of Tokyo's Uzuki Jewelry School.

Even more jewellery:

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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

These lovely rings are like tiny silk scarves for your fingers! Well, except for the part where they're made of aluminum. Pleated rings in a rainbow of hues by Japan's Nagi Nakajima.

Bonus link: for more colourful, shibori-style pleats — but in fabric instead of aluminum — check out Tinctory of Birmingham, England.

Even more jewellery:

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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The water is a source of inspiration for many artists but I've never seen one so concerned with water safety. Belgium's Machteld Heylen plays with the idea of security in her collection full of boats, life preservers and red crosses. Pictured above are the "save me from drowning" boat ring (€300) and "care" silver band (€130).

Bonus link: carved amber boat ring by Spain's Wilhelm Tasso Mattar. His site is full of interesting pieces, particularly in the "museum" section.

Even more jewellery:

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Monday, June 16, 2008

On the rare occasion that I think of finger puppets, I'll never think of finger puppets the same way again. This piece by London's Yuwen Lu is designed so that the nervous motion of drumming one's fingers is manifested in the movements of the two attached figures. Brilliant. (I'm thinking that red cloud must rain down crimson nailpolish, because I don't know how else to explain that manicure.) There's tons to explore on this artist's site, so get goin'!

Above: her one-size-fits-all ring, meant to be squeezed on to fit.

Bonus link: if you've never been one to drum your fingers, you can still piano and saxaphone them with this musical jumble ring from Kitsch Katch (£14). Talk about jazz hands!

Even more jewellery:

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Saturday, June 14, 2008

Weekend quickie: jewellery with classical themes by Virginia native Betony Vernon, now based in Milan.

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Friday, June 13, 2008

If you really want to see these rings, you'll have to turn off the lights. Dutch artist Marian Sturkenboom colours silicone with photochromatic — that's glow-in-the-dark — dye, creating ethereal work reminiscent of jellyfish. Also pictured above are shots of one piece under different lights, to give you an idea of the effect.

Below, some more of her gorgeous rings:

Bonus link: we go from jellyfish to jellybeans with this ring from the "Sweet Memories" collection of Belgian jeweller Elisabeth Leenknegt. Visit her site for a lot more sweet pieces in glass and silver!

Even more jewellery:

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Thursday, June 12, 2008

With their thick, wavy manes, these rings fit Newsradio Beth's definition of "gorgeous." Linear pattern rings of lasercut wood by British designer Anthony Roussel.

Bonus link: for more chunky wooden rings, check out the handmade pieces at Studio AMF, by Allison Ford of Indianapolis.

Even more jewellery:

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Wednesday, June 11, 2008

A cluster of clusters. Top row, L-R: Sassa Held (Germany), Bettina Stark (Switzerland), Julie Rouault (Spain). Middle row, L-R: Katrien Cambré (Belgium), Hannah Bedford (UK) Naja & Merveilles (France). Bottom row, L-R: Claire Antill (UK), Christa Reniers (Belgium), Branch (Michele Scholnick, California).

Bonus link: for clusters of colour, check out the glass bead "roe" rings from Virginia's Poppi (US$66 or US$70 for large).

Even more jewellery:

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Someone alert Stephen Colbert — it's another bbbbbbEAR! Sad little "Bravo!" ring in gold, silver and paint by Dutch artist Roos van Soest.

More ursine goodies, above: reclaimed fur and plastic bear hug (though she calls it a kitty) by Washington, DC's Gayle Friedman, who also has a nice cocoa pod collection.

Bonus link: get all chained up (without enslaving a bear in the process) with this ball-chain ring by Heike Schirmer of Germany's Detail 3 Gallery.

Even more jewellery:

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Monday, June 9, 2008

I know exactly how this bear feels — I, too was bowled over by the work of Syracuse, New York metalsmith Barbara Walter.

Above: her "spy decoder" ring. Below: her "egg samples" series and a piece from her "bearing bear-ring" pun collection. Yes, it's a bear bearing bearings. On a ring. Can you stand it? Check out her site for much, much more!

Bonus link: there are ten pairs of feet in this post but this shoe won't fit any of them. Gold horseshoe ring by Brooklyn's Michelle Fantaci.

Even more jewellery:

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Saturday, June 7, 2008

Weekend quickie: stone-within-a-stone. 22k citrine ring with black diamond, US$725, by New York designer Guy Rozenstrich of Phoenix Rose.

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Friday, June 6, 2008

Organic pods of perforated silver and porcelain with muted glazing — I'm in heaven. Inspired by her surroundings (that would be the south-eastern coast of England), Rhyannan Hurst casts her pieces from materials collected on the beach. Like shells:

Bonus link: creating silver shell rings on the south-western coast of England is Cornwall's Bea Reseigh.

Even more jewellery:

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Thursday, June 5, 2008

"At first they don't strike one as jewelry at all: the silver twig connected to a knitted container; the porcelain chicken heart, cut into pieces." As if the rings alone weren't enough, with an intro like that, it's hard not to be intrigued by the work of Dutch artist Iris Eichenberg. She had me at "porcelain chicken heart." Above are rings from her "blossom" collection, made of silver, rubber foam, the aforementioned porcelain and dental material.

Bonus link: which came first, the porcelain chicken or the acrylic egg? Hand-carved acrylic and silver egg ring by Catherine Pritchard Hughes of Wales.

Even more jewellery:

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Wednesday, June 4, 2008

These rings put me to sleep — but only because their pillowy shapes make me want to fluff them up, lay down my head and take a long nap. Mmm, cozy. Dutch designer Eelco Veenman creates pleasingly plump pieces in ebony (not pictured), silver and gold, like these "pile," "clover" and "shape" rings.

Bonus link: here's a real fabric pillow ring (probably more comfortable than solid silver) from another Dutch designer, Susanne Boger of 24carrots*.

Even more jewellery:

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Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Don't take another sip of that coffee! If you need a good head buzz, turn instead to Miette. The French jeweller plays with foam, beads, glass, metal and more, creating colourful, molecular structures for the body. The recycled paper and silver mesh rings pictured above aren't entirely representative of the collection, so be sure to visit her site (and view both the "handmade" and "concept" series).

Bonus link: more recycled paper rings, this time from Barcelona's Ciclus. Check out all their colourful pieces made from "neglected graphic materials."

Even more jewellery:

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Monday, June 2, 2008

If Darth Vader could live inside a flower, this would be it. I love these oxidized sterling rings with their simple lines yet commanding presence, like some nefarious space station with retractable entry portal. By Switzerland's Michèle Froidevaux.

If you explored my link to Turkish jeweller Ela Cindoruk last Tuesday, you may have seen the work of her studio partner Nazan Pak, who makes similar rings, but with colour:

Bonus link: for more, er, floral flowers, check out April Aultman; with bright pieces like this orchid ring, it's no surprise she's based in Florida.

Even more jewellery:




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The Carrotbox is obsessed with rings. Please enjoy your stay.

Alice Matsumoto · Vancouver, BC



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