The Carrotbox

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

Alice Matsumoto · Vancouver, BC

While the shop is metal-free, the blog is not! Links are never repeated so there's always something new.

I post only what interests me. No ads, no paid promos.

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Please pardon any formatting issues in the archives (caused by changes to the template over the years).

Blog > February 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

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:

Friday, February 25, 2011

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:

Thursday, February 24, 2011

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:

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

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 and crosses.

Even more jewellery:

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

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:

Monday, February 21, 2011



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:

Friday, February 18, 2011

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:

Thursday, February 17, 2011



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:

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

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:

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

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:

Monday, February 14, 2011

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:

Friday, February 11, 2011

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:

Thursday, February 10, 2011

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:

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

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:

Tuesday, February 8, 2011


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:

Monday, February 7, 2011

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:

Friday, February 4, 2011

We had Memorings on Wednesday — today, Memory Rings. I'll let French lacquer designer Eve Vautier explain her "Reminiscence" series herself:

Reminiscence represents a radical re-interpretation of lacquer exploring its poetic possibilities for contemporary jewellery.... [T]he craft of lacquer is slowly disappearing due to dramatic life style changes and shifts in its traditional clientele. The Reminiscence project researches the 'memory' of lacquer and the multiple layers of culture and history embedded within it, to generate new identities in the realm of jewellery. The collection uses the concepts of fossils, encapsulation and erosion to evoke the memory of lacquer on both a physical and abstract level offering wearable artefacts that are unfamiliar yet desirable.


Bonus link:
for urushi lacquer dome rings, see Japan's Hibiki. Their online shop offers a dazzling array of colours (plus patterned versions) that they developed in addition to the traditional red and black.

Even more jewellery:

Thursday, February 3, 2011

If yesterday's rings don't have enough geek-cred for you, check out Israel's Kedmi Hanan. Her rings feature computer heat sinks, contrasting the cold, modern aluminum parts with soft, warm felt.


Bonus link:
Romania's Biba Bijoux (Andreea Vaduva) also contrasts felt with something cold and hard — in her case, glass pebbles. For this particular style, visit the gallery on her blog.

Even more jewellery:

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

For happy memories only! The "Memoring" (not to be confused with this Memoring) is one of the perkier USB rings I've seen, with form just as important as function. Cute, colourful and completely wearable (too bad it's sold out!). By Japan's Gung.


Bonus link:
Dutch jeweller Frank van Zwicht's rings remind me of an erstwhile storage device: compact discs. Visit his site for modern jewellery in silver, gold and titanium.

Even more jewellery:

Tuesday, February 1, 2011


I love a title with double meaning. "Overlook" is the name of this series by Thailand's Lohameka Studio (Vinit Koosolmanomai); it's an ode to eyelashes and how "people always overlook something close to themselves."


Bonus link:
If you think your own lashes are too easy to overlook and prefer to glue on the falsies, here's a ring specifically made to hold your lash glue! Created by Salon System.

Even more jewellery:

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