Moon Studies

The inspiration for this series took shape after witnessing a rare moonbow (lunar rainbow) while driving at dusk in the Far North on a drizzly night. Under the light of a full moon, I noticed the form and curve of a rainbow in the sky—its tonal nuances present, but devoid of colour. Stopping to appreciate this peculiar occurrence —a rainbow created entirely by moonlight— and with an existing curiosity and appreciation of the moon and how wildly luminous it’s reflective surface can be I set off on a tangent in making these moon studies.

The Moon Studies collection is a reflection on the moon, its phases, and the interplay of light and shadow that shapes our perception of it. Each ring in this series is a play on the moon as an orb like form suspended in space, visible to us only by light reflected off its surface from the sun- travelling 348,000 km’s and taking 1.3 seconds to reach us.

Each piece begins as an orb of wax, a moon of its own, its core removed to create a space for the wearer’s finger. Through the ancient art of lost wax casting, the wax is burned away, leaving a void that is filled with molten metal, transforming the wax moon into a metal one. This process—where form is both lost and reborn—imbues each ring with a sense of transformation, echoing the cycles of the moon itself.

Made in oxidised sterling silver, the first variation of these rings evokes the night sky, with diamonds for the shifting phases of the moon.The natural diamonds are stone—echoing the way we refer to the moon’s surface as moon rock—their facets reflecting light back to us, while black diamonds evoke the mysterious presence of the moon's dark side. A delicate gradient of white tones mirrors the nuanced interplay of light across the moon's rugged surface, tracing its deep pits and towering peaks.

The second variation of Moon Studies is a play on light as a surface layer- falling and covering a surface, following its contours. These are a shiny sterling silver orb with gently draped edges, capturing the soft, luminous flow of light as it blankets and defines the surfaces it touches. Inside, the orb holds a contrasting darkness- a reminder of the interplay between light and shadow that defines its beauty.

The oxidised silver, symbolic of the night, will evolve with wear, softening to reveal the natural silver beneath. This transformation reflects our human touch and its lasting impact. As the surface changes, the wearer becomes part of the story, leaving their mark on the piece.

Moon Studies is a collection of rings as well as a reflection on light in the context of the moon, and it’s ability to draw our attention on the vast distances, immense scale, and delicate insignificance of our existence beneath the infinite expanse of the night sky.