By Sarah Willcocks
Of all the different varieties of jewellery that we adorn ourselves with, a ring is the most symbolic. It can signify love, eternity, friendship, allegiance to a group or, most importantly, if it happens to be cocktail hour. I think one of the simplest ways to feel a little more fabulous when I am feeling down is to throw on an epic, hulking dress ring and channel Dynasty-era Joan Collins. These days, choosing a signature ring is becoming a personal reward for ourselves without relying on or waiting for someone to offer us one. Consider any of the independent jewellery designers below and consider your ring fingers a transient miniature art gallery.
1. I adore this Resin Rose Ring by Rebecca Roth (please forgive the unavoidable alliteration) for its less girlish take on the classic floral style. The emerald-hued piece seems as if it was carved from a chunk of kryptonite; a fitting foil for Superman that doesn’t compromise on aesthetics if you are inclined to become an evildoer. The Tasmanian designer favours working primarily with resin.
2. When you are after a piece that channels a vintage, “lady of means” appearance, look to Samantha Wills. The designer is a darling of the fashionable Sydney social set and creates baubles that are certainly not demure. Appropriate then that this piece is called the “Empress Ring” as the intricate filigree detailing and exaggerated feature stone make it fit for a queen.
3. Forget band-aids emblazoned with Sesame Street or Mr. Men characters. This “Band Aid ring” by Toby Jones leaves a much longer lasting impression. Many of his pieces have quirky humour behind them or are based on mundane everyday objects. Who would have thought a burnt match, a lost jigsaw puzzle piece or a bread bag tag could be turned into statement jewellery?
4. Sydney jeweller Kate Sandford takes medieval, gothic designs and makes them modern. I think the idea behind her “thought ring” is so simple as to be genius. The piece can be embossed with any words you like; a poem, a love letter, your favourite quotation or, if you are as scattered as I can be, perhaps a constant reminder to pick up a carton of milk?
5. Of all our jewellery a ring should really be something special rather than a mass produced trinket. These “Obi” rings by Joolz are covered with scarce vintage remnants of silk and so they are limited edition by their very nature. Who knows what else that material could have been made into? With their Eastern feel perhaps the rest of the silk was destined to adorn a geisha’s waist in the distant past. I guess that mysterious history is part of these rings’ charm.
