Cocktails and cocktail rings, they’ve always been quite the pair, haven’t they? One is not quite right without the other. That’s what makes Tessa Packard‘s Hammered & Stoned collection so delightful—not to mention its perfect play on words.

Set to be released on Oct. 11, this new collection of fine jewelry takes its inspiration from “cocktails, liqueurs, and all things alcoholic,” stirs it, shakes it, and pours out fun, fabulously wearable fine jewelry.

This delicious Manhattan ring (pictured above and below) kicks off the cocktail party. Like its collection name, the title of this ring serves as a homonym: Referring to the delectable combination of vermouth, whiskey, and bitters, while at the same time representing the Big Apple.

The scene: A glamorous night out, illuminated by the city’s towering buildings, alight against a dark blue night sky. A woman enters the room, clad in a ruffled dress with colorful, swinging earrings. She sidles up to the bar and coolly orders two Manhattans—one for her, one for her companion. Two jumbo-size martini glasses. They say, “Cheers”: Clink. They sip. An evening like only New York City can provide has begun. A sultry 1980s song, something jazzy, plays in the background (your choice—I was born in the mid-80’s, and when I was old enough to appreciate music, my favorite song was Escape Club’s “Wild Wild West,” so, yeah).

That story—with whatever details, beginning, middle, and end that you choose to give it—lives in this ring. You can see the inky sky in its lapis lazuli construction, witness the glimmer of Manhattan’s skyscrapers in its golden silhouette. Feel the pulse of the city as it dives deeper into the night.

The London-based Tessa Packard had the idea of a cocktail party at dusk in mind when she created the collection. “I’ve always aspired to design jewelry that makes people smile, but ultimately makes them question the traditional boundaries of fine jewelry, whether that be in theme or design,” says Packard. “To me, elegance is boring without playfulness, and whimsy is superficial without the gravitas of timelessness.”

“As a collection, Hammered & Stoned really speaks to the DNA of the brand,” she continues. “It takes the idea of an ’80s cocktail hour—in all its bright, theatrical glory—and re-creates it as contemporary sculpture in miniature, complete with giant lemon slices, miniature bottles filled with vodka, and diamond-encrusted chopsticks. It’s bold, it’s fun, and it’s very me. And, ultimately, everyone loves a cocktail (especially a Manhattan).”

The collection is due to be online and in store on Thursday, but for inquiries now, please contact info@tessapackard.com.

Top: Manhattan ring in 18k yellow gold with lapis lazuli, $8,500

Brittany Siminitz

JCK Contributing Editor