How to search for the perfect jewelry? Try looking at jewelry with unique design or jewelry with unusual motifs.
An ideal ring doesn’t necessarily need to be expensive, but rather unique in some way. Uniqueness can be found in unique designs and gems, or it can be in some motifs that are imbued with deep cultural and symbolic meanings.
You can find below a list of jewelry with unique design and unusual motifs that carry symbolic significance rooted in our civilization.
Gimmel ring
The Gimmel ring is a famous betrothal ring that belongs to the group of European, most precisely Ancient Roman rings, called Fede rings. Fede rings are famous for having two hands clasp, symbolizing friendship, betrothal, and love, hence the Latin name – mani in fede – hands clasped together in faith.
The most interesting one of these is probably the Gimmel ring, which works like a puzzle. It has two or three hops joined together. It’s often worn by the engaged couple symbolizing their union in marriage. This type of ring was especially fashionable in 16th and 17th century England and also made appearances in Shakespeare’s Othello.
Mokume Gane Ring
Mokume Gane is a Japanese technique, originally developed for decorating swords in the 17th century, where layers of different colored metals are fused together and manipulated to create a wood-grain-like pattern. It is very rare to find masters of Mokume Gane techniques, which is also what makes the jewelry created using this technique special. These rings are known for their intricate and organic appearance.
You can find some really nice pieces from $170 to $330 on Etsy.
Spinner Ring
These rings have a unique design created of an inner band that can rotate freely around the outer band. They’re often used as stress or anxiety relief or meditation aids, as spinning the inner band can be soothing.
We found the best-looking spinner ring on Amazon and it’s only $32.
Greek Mythology-inspired Ring
There are two timeless designs when it comes to Greek-inspired jewelry: spiral and key. The spiral motif has been used for thousands of years in Greek culture, art, and architecture. It represents the eternity and the cycles of life. Combined with blue opal, it makes a mesmerizing jewelry symbolizing the eternal flow of time and the interconnectedness of all things.
Besides that, spirals are one of the fundamental concepts in nature and mathematics and have been engraved into art and studied in the ancient times.
The second motif – the Greek key, or the meander, also has been used since ancient times with the similar meanings of eternity, but its maze-like patterns further symbolize the journey of life, and connectedness between past, present, and future.
It also awakens the ancient myth of Minotaur and the labyrinth of Crete, where it represents the symbol of power or the journey of life, where one needs to confront their fears and find the way for growth and enlightenment.
You can find a fair collection of Greek-inspired jewelry made of silver and opal on Sirioti Jewelry website, at incredibly budget-friendly rates here.
Infinity ring
Also known as eternity ring. These rings are usually worn by women, and they symbolize the eternal love, so they are often gifted by a partner or a spouse on some special occasion. They usually have gems encircling the entire or half of the ring. In addition, they can be designed so that they include the infinity symbol (∞) or some kind of knot to further emphasize the never-ending love.
Toi et Moi Rings with Pomegranate Motifs
“Toi et Moi” is French for “You and Me,” and the Toi et Moi rings feature two gemstones set side by side, thus symbolizing the union of two people. They are often used for engagements or anniversaries. To make them unique, you can couple them with something symbolic – a pomegranate.
The pomegranate is one of the fruits that has such a strong symbolism in many cultures. It’s a symbol of fertility with its abundant seeds, but also a symbol of good fortune. It represents resurrection and life everlasting in Christian art and it’s the fruit of the goddesses in ancient Greek mythology.
There are many interesting pomegranate-inspired designs for jewelry, especially rings.
One interesting toi et moi ring with grains representations can be found for $45 on Etsy.