Custom for S & N

She is Iranian, he is Punjabi. I was asked to make an engagement ring that held both of their histories. Both rings are inspired by ancient ring forms.

I researched Iranian stone carving and found a lotus relief at Persepolis that became the source for the turquoise lotus carved on the inside of her band (in Persian tradition, turquoise should always touch the skin). Her name means lotus in Persian. The central stone is a saffron sapphire, saffron being a thread shared between both cultures. The granulation on her band is set in that same tradition of fine goldwork.

When she saw the ring she wanted one made for him. I designed his ring in response to hers: the same square outer geometry, the same hidden turquoise touching the skin, and the inside motif carved in the same pattern as her granulation. Where hers uses granulation, his uses hand-carved gold, a reference to the carved architecture of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's throne, a defining artifact of Punjabi culture. The two techniques are of equivalent age and weight.

I love how these ring feels both ancient and fresh. I love how they echo and complement one another. I love how the patina on the 22kt gold will continue to soften & change as the years go by—a living symbol of a shared life.

∙ Client brief development and cultural research (Iranian and Punjabi history, material traditions)
∙ Research into Persepolis stone carving; lotus symbolism in Persian culture; Maharaja Ranjit Singh's throne; Punjabi goldwork
∙ Original ring design for her according to set budget: form, stone selection, granulation motif, hidden turquoise element
∙ Original ring design for him according to set budget: designed in response to hers, with formal and hidden shared elements
∙ Designing private, skin-contact elements in both pieces
∙ Cross-cultural symbolism embedded in material and color choices (saffron sapphire, turquoise)
∙ Managing production with master artisans in Jaipur
∙ Direct client relationship throughout design process