art nouveau love

While looking for my own Art Nouveau pendant, I stumbled across this stunning Art Nouveau ring created by Georges Fouquet!  The design and details on this ring is absolutely magnificent.  This led me down an internet rabbit hole of looking at his other works as well as the work of his father.  Such magnificent examples of Art Nouveau jewels!

in mourning

Very much in love with mourning rings lately and newly added to my wishlist!  I have been searching hard for one to buy that is my size (they usually cannot be resized based on the enamel design around the ring) and within my price range but am having a hard time finding ones without hair in the design (hair from the deceased beloved was often woven and used in the design of these rings).  Confession time... hair art completely creeps me out!  I am so in love with these enamel designs though, that I will continue to hunt for just the right piece!  (Above are two examples of mourning ring designs that I am head over heels in love with, from here and here.)

for June babies

June babies probably have the most hypnotic of birthstones out there, as well as the most to choose from, from Alexandrite to Moonstone to Pearl!  Alexandrite, an extremely rare and valuable stone, can shift from green or bluish-green in daylight, and turns a soft shade of red, purplish-red or raspberry red in incandescent light.  The ring featured above features a purple to teal green color change!
                          
Moonstone has its play of light called adularescence, shimmering pale blue on an almost translucent background.  This antique ring, dubbed the Man in the Moon, plays on this shimmer beautifully.

                         
And last, but not least, the pearl, who boosts its own iridescent qualities.  The shimmer of the pearl in this antique ring certainly doesn't take second stage to the rose cut diamonds in this setting!

growing collection

This year I have aspired to grow my antique ring collection.  I have been very busy feverishly checking everywhere I can think and continuously searching sites to find just the right rings for just the right price.  It has become a slight obsession but the hunt and the eventual find is thrilling.  I have successfully found and added these stunning rings to my collection... Art Nouveau sapphire and seed pearl rose gold ring, Antique turquoise and seed pearl navette gold ring, Edwardian sapphire and diamond scroll shank gold ring, Antique diamond buttercup rose gold ring, Antique engraved signet gold ring, and, hopefully soon to be added to the collection, Victorian garnet gold ring!

beloved

Happy belated Mama's Day to all the mothers out there!  As a treat to myself for Mother's Day, I gave myself some time in my studio to make this lovely ring.  This hammered oxidized ring has Beloved stamped on one side, with my daughter's name stamped on the other.  This ring works wonderfully as a stacking ring with it's narrow top and I have been pairing it with a thin diamond band to represent my daughter's birthstone.  I love the rough, hand wrought texture of this band in contrast with the refined dainty nature of the diamond band.  This is my first attempt at making a ring that sits higher than it is wide, so there were a lot of learns, but overall I am very happy with the outcome.  And of course I love commemorating special days with jewelry!

for May babies

Look at this knockout!  I honestly feel like every emerald stone induces a feeling of sheer awe.  The color is unmatched and absolutely stunning. Particularly in the more translucent varieties, it looks like a light is glowing from inside the stone.  Truly magical for all those lucky May babies out there!

ring crush

Hardcore crushing on this double tourmaline ring!  Sadly it appears the vendor is closing down her etsy shop.  Hoping to convince her to make one last revival of this beautiful ring for me!