RELATED STORY
For cult jeweller Hannah Martin, alternative engagement rings have always been problematic. ‘I find the general concept rather a tricky one,’ she admits. ‘So designing this collection was a challenge to myself in that I had to find a way to make the idea of a ring, as a symbol of commitment, relevant to my own beliefs.’
By expanding the focus from engagement to a more general celebration of love, Martin was able to create a collection which stayed faithful to her sculptural design aesthetic. ‘I called the pieces ‘Rings For Lovers’ and I think the shift in concept also created a shift in design. They aren’t designed for a specific gender, or a specific occasion. They are symbols of an enduring emotion, a commitment – but that commitment can be whatever those involved choose it to be. I hope that the designs reflect this. That being said, I will of course be delighted for them to be used as engagement rings.’
The rings themselves cast loops of gold and diamonds in offbeat silhouettes; in one piece, baguette-cut diamonds form a sensual V; in another, an elegant shackle becomes a golden whorl. Martin’s unexpected placement of the diamonds adds a mischievous edge to classic design – a single baguette-cut diamond is held, askew, in a knife-edged band, while in another piece, a diamond hangs suspended in waves of gold
Martin adds: ‘These rings are intentionally stripped back in design. I wanted them to feel like the ‘essence’, whatever that is. Nothing unnecessary. I was looking for forms that were powerful, showed strength, but had a certain tactility and sensuality to them at the same time. So it was more a feeling that inspired them, rather than any particular object or style. I wanted them to capture, in their own way, the strength and power of a deep emotional connection.’
INFORMATION
-
You can now buy Toyota’s robotised micro-bus, with more autonomy coming soonThe Toyota e-Palette is the urban transport of the future, a multifunctional autonomous vehicle designed to cover several roles in the same day
-
Central Park’s revitalised Delacorte Theater gears up for a new futureEnnead Architects helmed an ambitious renovation process that has given the New York City cultural landmark a vibrant and more accessible future
-
This Hyderabad bar and kitchen mixes tropical brutalism with lush social courtyardsBabylon, a brewery and kitchen in Jubilee Hills, is what concrete dreams are made of
-
Art takes London: Tiffany & Co, Damien Hirst and artists take over Selfridges' windowsFour British contemporary artists celebrate Tiffany & Co's pioneering history with a series of storied window displays
-
All smiles: How a grillz jewellery making class in London became an international hitWhat started as a passion project quickly exploded in popularity. We get the story behind the grillz-making workshop at Cockpit London
-
Emerging jewellery designers to get to knowThese independent, new and emerging jewellery designers and brands from New York to Paris are firmly on our radar
-
Playing it cool: pearls are having a momentWe've been deep-diving into boutiques around the world to find the very best calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form. It seems jewellers have been busy rethinking pearls, with contemporary (and often affordable) results
-
Eternity rings for the modern coupleEternity rings, whether sleekly minimalist or sprinkled in diamonds, can be a chic and contemporary love token
-
CryptoPunks come to life on Tiffany & Co pendantsTiffany & Co has partnered with blockchain infrastructure company Chain to create custom pendants and NFTiffs
-
Order of the day: Pomellato’s high jewellery takes us from dawn to duskPomellato’s new high jewellery collection, La Gioia, tells the story of a day in precious stones
-
Anklets welded onto the body make romantic and enduring jewellery tokensAtelier VM’s ‘L’Essenziale’ jewellery collection now includes slender gold anklets
