Engagement Rings by Helen Chantler, $1,250 and above

"In terms of design, I am inspired by the natural world and the motifs of indigenous cultures, particularly those from Europe. But I'm not limited extensively by tradition. In creating contemporary interpretations of classic motifs, I use a fabrication technique common in the American Southwest. I start with sheet metal which is cut and formed into a ring. A sheet of "royal yellow" 18K gold is soldered on to silver, which is then is subsequently oxidized. The dark behind the gold serves as a contrasting element to bring out the design." more