Do you ever find that you’re just in the mood for something—or suddenly, you really want some sort of product—and you’re not really sure why or what inspired you to feel that way? I’m sort of having that relationship with animal jewelry at the moment.

I haven’t been seeing a ton of it in stores or online, the way trends so often seem to seep into your subconscious so that, before you know it, you’re adding them to your list (and shopping carts). But my recent creature craving isn’t coming totally out-of-nowhere: I’ve been watching Planet Earth II on Netflix as a respite from the other dramatic programs we tend to favor (on television and IRL), and so animals of all sorts are just a wonderful, warming sight at the moment.

That’s why it’s a fabulous thing that animal jewelry is never too hard to find—though really clever, visually interesting versions may be. I want something that is wild, or cute, or majestic, but not just a piece featuring an animal. Finicky at my finest, surely I’d tire of just any straightforward piece, and that’s why I love this Roberto Coin Hedgehog ring.

From the designer’s Animalier collection, this cute little guy makes your heart melt, but it does more than that. Underneath a mountain of black sapphires set culet-up (to resemble the soft spikes of the little critter) peeks its diamond-accented face, complete with adorable ears and a black sapphire nose. You could wear the ring with the tiny visage facing inward, and many would be none the wiser than it’s even an animal at all—not just an edgy, glittery piece that looks really cool. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for.

(Animalier collection Hedgehog ring in 18k rose and black gold with 7.09 cts. t.w. black sapphires and 0.02 ct. t.w. brown diamonds, price on request)

Brittany Siminitz

JCK Contributing Editor