1: The Lust, Caution ring, by Cartier
Featuring a 6.1-carat pink diamond nestled within two circles of smaller sparklers, this ring inspired gasps of lust from women when it appeared onscreen during a pivotal scene in the 2007 drama helmed by director Lee Ang and starring Chinese actress Tang Wei.
Cartier made this 1930s-style ring specially for the movie and it reportedly cost about $5 million.It is, however, not for sale but is on display in Cartier's Paris museum.
2: The Trinity ring, by Cartier
Created in 1924, these three intertwined bands of white, pink and yellow gold - sparklier versions come paved in diamonds - have become one of the most enduring hallmarks of this French jeweller. This ring was designed to embody the different phases of a relationship: The white symbolises friendship, the pink love and the yellow fidelity, and the intertwining of the three bands stands for ties that cannot be broken. Prices start from $1,240.
3: The Louis Vuitton Cut ring, by Louis Vuitton
If you have ever been loco for logos, it is likely you will be familiar with the flower and star motifs from Louis Vuitton's famous Monogram canvas.
Thanks to Lorenz Baumer, the newly appointed artistic director of the French brand's fine jewellery division, these iconic motifs now serve as the inspiration behind the year-old Flower Cut and Star Cut. Diamonds that undergo these complex cuts offer exceptional brilliance as light passes through the different facets. Prices start from $50,000.
4: The Destinee ring, by Lee Hwa
A popular engagement ring launched in 1994, this piece is known for a signature cut that gives the centrepiece diamond 57 facets. This captures all the light around the stone and refracts it within the diamond for extra brilliance.
The newest design for the Destinee ring features a petal-shaped setting and a diamond-studded double band of white gold. Prices start from $6,918.
5: The Tiffany Setting ring, by Tiffany & Co
First introduced in 1886, this has been lauded as the world's favourite engagement ring by ardent fans of the American jeweller. The discreet six-prong design that holds the diamond shows off the stone with minimum obstruction, allowing light to shine through to create maximum brilliance. Prices start from $2,250.
6: The Arabesque ring, by Pomellato
This Milanese house was launched in 1967 and is a jewel of a brand for those who like their sparklers lush and lovely. The fairy tale-inspired Arabesque collection, launched last year, is all about delicate, delicious colours - the rings are wrought in pink gold and feature pale-hued gemstones like smoky quartz, rock crystal, amethyst and prasiolite. Prices start from $3,700.
7: The Gourmette de Dior ring, by Dior Joaillerie
This charming 2004 creation was inspired by the French tradition of gifting a newborn baby with a bracelet engraved with his name and date of birth. The bracelet is meant to accompany him through the joys and sorrows of life. The Dior version features chains handmade in Parisian workshops and the option of materials like white and yellow gold. Diamond-embellished versions are also available. Prices start from $2,200.
8: The B.Zero1 ring, by Bulgari
This piece, launched in 1999 and available in white and yellow gold, is characterised by a unique spiral design, as well as the engraved Bulgari logo on the two lateral rims. The spirals are a more modern and informal update of the Italian jeweller's signature Tubogas style, in which pieces are marked by elegantly coiled strips of gold. Prices start from $1,120.
9: The Jean Schlumberger 16-Stone ring, by Tiffany & Co
French jewellery designer Jean Schlumberger began his career by designing buttons for fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, but this beautiful piece he designed during his 20-year tenure at Tiffany & Co is certainly no mere trinket.
The ring features 16 stones - all-diamond versions as well as diamond and sapphire versions are available - separated by X-shaped bands in yellow gold or platinum. Prices start from $9,700.
10: The New Parentesi ring, by Bulgari
This ornate little number launched in 2006 allows you to carry a little piece of the eternal city with you at all times, as the interlocking components of the ring are inspired by the joints of Roman pavements. The ring is available in yellow and white gold, as well as versions paved in diamonds. Prices start from $1,870.
11: The Tiffany Somerset ring, by Tiffany & Co
For those with no patience for twee jewellery, this piece from Tiffany's Mesh collection is perfect. Micro-knit mesh made from yellow, white or rose gold or sterling silver - accented with diamonds, if you prefer - gives each piece a cool, almost rugged appeal. Prices start from $305.
12: The Quatre ring, by Boucheron
Launched in 2004, the Quatre collection is inspired by the four types of gold motifs often featured in collections by this French jeweller: white, yellow, rose and chocolate-hued gold layers are each rendered in different types of notching.
Diamond-embellished variations were launched in 2006 for this modern classic, and the four layers that make up each ring are joined with the Cheminee technique, which employs pressure rather than soldering to hold the four layers together. Prices start from $3,780.
13: The Trouble ring, by Boucheron
The serpent has been used in Boucheron collections since 1878 but it slithered into the Trouble collection in a big way when it was launched in 2006. With yellow gold twisted into a seductive serpentine form and studded with jewelled eyes, this piece is a must-have for sexy sirens and aggressive rock stars alike. Prices start from $3,990.
14: The Ice Cube ring, by Chopard
Ice never looked this nice. First rendered on a watch collection for this Swiss jeweller by watch and jewellery designer Fawaz Gruosi, this hip-to-be-square motif unveiled in 1999 revels in its simple geometric forms. The rings are available in gold and gold-and-diamond versions. Prices start from $2,130.
15: The Ultra ring, by Chanel
Launched in 2006 and inspired by brand founder Coco Chanel's passion for pairing black and white colours, the Ultra ring comes in black and white ceramic.
The sleek, stark look is accented with white gold and pricier options sparkle with diamonds. Layer different versions to achieve a modern, monochromatic look. Prices start from $2,300.
16: The Lotus ring, by Van Cleef & Arpels
The French jeweller calls this 2001 release a 'between-the-fingers ring' because the ornate design unfurls over your hand and a folding mechanism allows the ring to be worn on either one or two fingers. The central diamond that makes up this pricey blossom has a claw bezel setting and is surrounded by five circular sparklers. The diamonds in the 'leaves' are held by a grain setting. Prices start from $40,000.
17: The Happy Spirit ring, by Chopard
Concentric shapes form the basis of design for the six-year-old Happy Spirit collection, with rings featuring round, square, oval or heart-shaped motifs. A diamond is placed in the centre of these concentric gold shapes, which are fitted together in a way that enables them to move when the wearer moves her hand. Prices start from $4,780.
18: The La Strada ring, by Chopard
Modelled after a 1950s aesthetic, the La Strada collection is all about elegantly rendered curves and contrasts.
The ring, from a collection launched in 1994, features alternating bands of gold and diamonds. Prices start from $8,860.
19: The Micropave ring, by Harry Winston
This glamorous engagement ring from this American jeweller is known for its handcrafted micropave setting (the highly precise technique of setting very small diamonds using a microscope) and a luscious cushion-cut diamond (the name is derived from how the stone is cut to look like a plump over-stuffed cushion). Prices start from $40,000.
20: The Three-Stone Cluster ring, by Harry Winston
Featuring a dazzling trinity of three diamonds in three different cuts (the round brilliant, marquise and pear), this sparkler is not for wallflowers. Each stone is held by nearly invisible platinum settings, in order to capture the maximum amount of light.
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.
