Australian creatives show us their ring stacks
IMAGE VIA @MANNEQUIN.HANDS/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“There are no rules. The problem is I don’t have enough fingers.”
There’s a definitive art to curating a ring stack. Not only are there endless combinations to choose from, but there’s also a plethora of talented local jewellers producing fresh creations every day. How do you choose between a minimalistic gold-band combination and an all-out bejewelled “pirate hand” (à la Emily Nolan)?
For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.
In short, you don’t. As the creatives below have taught us, there’s a ring stack for every occasion. Whether you’re gathering wedding inspiration or wondering how to adorn your hands on the next night out, scroll on to see how seven Australian creatives style their rings.
Ruby Kannava, founder of Kannava Jewels
I am definitely a more-is-more gal! My stacks are always changing because I run my own jewellery label and I’m always making new things I love and want to keep for myself. At the moment, I’m favouring diamonds and pink and lilac sapphires. [I’m] always a gold girl, almost no exceptions. On my ring finger is a ring I made myself [and] my mum for my 30th this year, it is my favourite. It’s a pink cushion-cut sapphire flanked by diamonds and other sapphires in 18ct gold. She has a matching one with blue sapphires.
I wear it with my grandfather’s wedding band. On my middle finger is one of my Orb Rings customised with a lilac sapphire and some diamonds, and on my pointer is my Cupid’s Heart ring with sapphires and diamonds. I do change these up depending on my outfits. These are all super femme and I’m not always feeling that, so I do swap them out for other rings which have rubies, black sapphires and [also] a signet. I made all of these, but I’m lucky to have some really beautiful sentimental family rings which I wear on special occasions too.
Emily Nolan, creative director and founder at E Nolan
My left hand is all Bella Clark, it’s my fancy hand. Bella is my favourite jeweller. She is quick to tell me which stones are ‘Em-proof’ and will put up with my clumsy hard-wearing hands. [These are] a Bella Clark Baguette Signet Ring, and a custom Bella Clark cluster ring, which is two rings that slot together. A birthday present from my folks. [Also a] custom Bella Clark ring. Bella worked with heirloom repurposed diamonds from a ring of my granny’s. There’s a secret citrine on the inside, why should all the glam always be on show?
My right hand is a pirate party: A smoky quartz (on my ring finger). This is my great-grandmother’s, I have worn it every day since finishing school. And a Fiorina Gladiator Skull Ring, I got this from my best friends for my 18th birthday. And a smokey quartz pinky ring
I mix metals constantly. There are no rules. The problem is I don’t have enough fingers. My granny’s repurposed stones and my smoking quartz rings are my favourite, I never take them off. I feel like I’m in the nuddy without them.
Rong Jake Chen, consultant and founder at Graedance
I’m wearing pieces from my first collection for Graedance – my new project focused on highlighting our experiences within our societal ‘grey area’, [and] the liminal landscape in between the binary constructs our culture creates. Because in between black and white, there’s an expansive landscape of grey and we all make up such unique gradients.
As for the designs, our pieces are made with consideration of changes in the wearer’s body and mood, allowing the equipment of jewellery that evolves with you. At the core of our rings, we design with adaptive sizing, allowing for pieces to be worn across most fingers and between your distal and middle phalanx. I’m wearing on the left hand (left to right) the Seven Ring, Arpo Ring and Desire Ring. On the right hand (left to right), [I’m wearing the] Seren Ring, Desir Ring (backside), Arpo Ring, Claw Ring (an unreleased sample) and Gravity Ring.
My basic intention for wearing rings is to create depth and dimension across your fingers. Honestly, I’ve always believed in the transformative nature of jewellery and fashion, so most of the time I allow my mood and needs to dictate what my stack will be for the day…
A particularly sentimental ring I have here is the design of the Arpo Ring. It’s modelled off a piece of gum that a friend wrapped around my finger years ago as a child to be held as a promise ring. The shape of the design takes light references [from] what I vaguely recall from that day, but I’d like to imagine the ring to be a reflection of two souls bound close together.
Victoria Houllis, nail artist and founder at Mannequin Hands
I have a couple of rules with rings. I tend to buy gold rings and ones I never have to take off because I’ll lose them. I wear gloves all day at work, so they have to be fine or flat enough to fit under gloves and not plated so they don’t tarnish.
On my left-hand ring finger is the Orb Ring by Kannava Jewels and on my pointer is a new addition by My Name is Star Flower, I was obsessed when I saw the way the jewels were set pointed-side up.
On my right hand, I have a Laura Miers ring, I love the way she sets jewels in the flat top and sides. And underneath is my grandma’s wedding ring. I keep them stacked because I can’t stand the idea of accidentally losing it! On my pinkie is a cute and simple signet from Popular Jewellery in NYC.
My favourite is definitely my grandma’s wedding ring. My Aunty trusted me with it just recently and it feels so special to have something from her with me every day.
Liv Brown, founder at Rattle Style
The rings featured on my stack are my wedding rings! I eloped in Hawaii this year and these are the rings I designed with the beautiful Bella from Bella Clark Jewellery. I have had my eyes on her designs for years and always wanted her to design my wedding rings. I love my jewellery to be sentimental, so I took inspo from my mum’s first wedding ring that she has given me and added in my husband’s, my toddler’s and my birthstones. This is definitely my favourite ring, I love the design and it also reminds me of all my favourite people.
Tory Price, stylist
I am definitely a gold girl, but with rings, I like to have a lot of fun and go for colour above all else! I am such a sucker for glass rings which are impractical but very hot. I love going all out with rings and maximising every bit of space on my fingers!
So the stack: my ring finger has a plastic rainbow ring from the Sacred Heart Op Shop. This is my fave! I remember having one just like this when I was younger so it feels extra special. And a colourful gem ring from Lovisa, which I actually bought for a shoot and just had to keep for myself. It goes with everything!
My middle finger is a blue plastic circle ring, [which was] another op shop find! And an orange bedazzled ring, which was given to me by a cute friend. I don’t wear it as often as I should.
My index finger has a blue glass ring from my local Salvos store, I am so obsessed with blue! And the yellow stone ring was a gift from my twin.
Kayla Moon, floral artist and founder at Xxflos and Stay Soft Studio
My ring stack is full of quirky, thick wonderful bands by my fave local jewellers, Sacreflux, Millie Savage and Jake Cheeseman. I love dripping in jewels when I can. I wear the Jake Cheeseman and the Sacreflux every day. As a florist, I’m using my hands a lot, so I can’t drip-drip all the time! But these two keep me safe and warm and ready to run biz and take numbers.
When I’m having fun and dressing up, I’ll add the Millie Savage yumz. I curated it through my love of silver and fun jewels. They all have a story, one I couldn’t let go of from a photo shoot, one was an unwanted 30th gift I bought back off the receiver, so on and so forth.
My love heart ring from Sacreflux is the first ring I was able to wear after I’d lost my great-grandmother’s ring a few years before. I couldn’t wear a ring for so long, then I spotted it on a shoot we were doing and instantly fell in love. Its been my sweet saviour ever since.
For advice on curating your own ring stack, head here.
Liked this? You’ll love these...
