This week’s Britt’s Pick is a piece of emerald jewelry that looks like it could be (carefully) worn every day, and for a variety of occasions.
Perhaps Shakti Ellenwood’s Esma ring is an ideal wedding band or engagement ring (or all-in-one) for someone. After all, its heart-shape emerald center and bursts of etched details look celebratory of love. I love the idea of it adorning someone’s finger as a symbol of matrimony.
But I love it all the more as a self-purchased treasure, to be worn on the middle finger (or perhaps even the pinky?), a birthday treat to oneself for those born in May. Or perhaps I’m just thinking of myself.
The ring is like something you’d find while treasure hunting in a different country, a souvenir from a locale rich with history and abundant with folklore and fairy tales. According to Ellenwood’s website, though, the ring’s handstamped patterns are reminiscent of Native American–style jewelry. The designer’s aesthetic is self-described as “incorporating diverse influences including the sacred symbolism of amulets and talismans, the sentimentality of the Victorian era, folklore and ancient civilizations, as well as [my] own travels across the globe,” and I feel as if that aesthetic is represented well in this ring.
Though the ring is pictured here in 18k yellow gold, shoppers also have the option of white or rose gold, each of which would shed new light on the design. In standard yellow, I feel you get more of that almost antique flair, a desirable effect that highlights the ring’s beautiful handmade nature.
For those not born in May (or not partial to emerald), the center heart is also available as a ruby—certainly a fiery choice for the most romantic (or for those born in July, a month not far from now).
Each ring is handmade in Ellenwood’s studio in Devon, England, and 10 pounds ($14.20) from the sale of each piece is being donated to the Orangutan Foundation.
Top: Esma ring in 18k yellow gold with emerald, £2,598 ($3,690); Shakti Ellenwood
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