Artist: Julian De La Garza
Materials: sterling silver, garnet, quartz carbuncle, gold leaf, sea snake skin, taxidermy’d snake
Size: 6.5
Dimensions: 2” x 2” x 2"

Artist Statement:
I am a studio jeweler based in Rhode Island. I graduated with my BA in Jewelry/Metals from Rhode Island College and went on to recently finish my MFA in Jewelry Artisanry from University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. In between degrees I worked in the industry as a stone setter for Tiffany & Co. and then as a Model Maker working on David Yurman, Tiffany & Co. and Haverhill Leech. Now I create and sell my own one of a kind and limited production jewelry works.

Artist Bio:
This ring is inspired by rose windows, reliquaries and baroque jewelry. The ring itself is two components that set in place a circle of sea snake skin coated in gold leaf. The top face of the ring is set with garnets and a clear round quartz carbuncle that protects a piece of preserved snake. The garnets can be used in meditation similarly to Mala beads or rosary beads for counting or rubbing to achieve a meditative state. The underside of the ring shows the vibrant sea snake skin and the angular shank that is pointed, but very comfortable. I wanted this ring to be ostentatious, but very wearable.

This ring is part of Battle of the Rings: Ring Smackdown 2021, an online exhibition and competition. Shop the entire collection , view the matches , and learn more .