Britt’s Pick: Gyan Jaipur’s Ebony Wood Ring

The chunky gold ring, most often adorned with flush or burnish-set gems in a rounded style, has been holding on pretty tight as a popular setting with consumers (and designers love it too). We’ve seen so many different variations of a style that offers boundless opportunity, from choice and quantity of gemstones to gold texture. The use of alternative materials, which offer a distinct take on the setting, is a sight that’s seen less often, and an especially wonderful one at that. The perfect example: this piece from Indian jewelry house Gyan Jaipur’s new collection of one-of-a-kind rings.

Created using hand-carved ebony, each ring from the 14-piece collection is set with a gloriously colored gemstone, ranging from a rich emerald to an incredible purple star sapphire. My favorite, though, is the green amethyst. A fantastic, pistachio-esque green bezel-set in polished gold, this ring is glorious for fall (and all other seasons). I love the rustic pairing of the ebony wood and the center stone, a bright spark against its rich, dark setting.

The gemstones used in Gyan’s collection are each special, as is the wood—the rings are made using leftover ebony from the brand’s flagship store in Jaipur, India, ensuring the materials don’t go to waste (and not only have they not gone to waste, but they’ve been turned into something fantastic). “Making a ring from recycled ebony wood involves the stack-and-cut method using larger scraps according to the ring’s cast,” says brand director Nikhil Dhaddha. “Ebony wood is an extremely dense hardwood, so the idea is to have a durable and strong ring, both for men and women. Its classic and bold style can be paired easily with most outfits from simple activewear to dressy suits.”

The collection ranges in price from $4,500 to $35,000 and is available at The Conservatory in New York and Mayfair Rocks in East Hampton, N.Y.

Top: One-of-a-kind ring in 18k yellow gold with ebony wood and 2.33 ct. green amethyst, $3,600; Gyan Jaipur