Leaf, vine and seed pod rings, the stones and metals that suit them, and the long history of botanical engagement rings
Why would anyone choose a nature inspired engagement ring over a diamond solitaire?
A diamond solitaire tells everyone you’re engaged. A nature inspired engagement ring tells them who you are.
I’ll declare my interest first, because that’s how I work. Anitanja Lawaetz is my friend. I didn’t plan to write about rings at all, but her pieces changed how I think about nature inspired engagement rings, and about what a ring is for.
A nature inspired engagement ring takes its shape from something alive, a leaf, a vine, a branch, a seed pod, a pebble, and asks you to promise on it. That’s an old idea. Older than the solitaire by a long way.
What are nature inspired engagement rings?
Nature inspired engagement rings are engagement rings whose band, setting or stone arrangement imitates a natural form, such as a leaf, a vine, a flower, a seed pod or a pebble. Jewellers also call them botanical engagement rings, organic engagement rings or leaf engagement rings.
In a solitaire, the metal disappears so the stone can shine. In a botanical ring, the metal is the point. It’s cast and finished to look grown, not made.
Which nature motifs work best on an engagement ring?
The motifs that work best on an engagement ring are leaves, vines, branches, flowers and seed pods, because each one can wrap the finger without snagging and still reads clearly from across a room.
Are leaf and vine engagement rings practical?
Leaf and vine engagement rings are practical when the leaves sit on the shoulders of the ring rather than the underside of the band, where they’d catch on knitwear and hair.
Are floral engagement rings old fashioned?
Floral engagement rings aren’t old fashioned, they’re the oldest romantic design there is. Petals of small stones around a centre, or a single flower cast in metal, still read as a love token at a glance.
Why choose a branch or twig ring?
A branch or twig ring hides everyday scratches better than a polished band, because its surface is already textured like bark.
What does a seed pod ring mean?
A seed pod ring means potential, because a seed holds everything that will grow. Anitanja’s cocoa pod stacking rings repeat the ridged shape of the cacao pod around the band, and the full cocoa story is in cocoa pod earrings and the history of cocoa.
Can a pebble or water ring be an engagement ring?
A pebble or water ring can be an engagement ring if it speaks to where you met or where you belong. The pebble cluster ring gathers smooth forms across the finger like stones in a riverbed. I wrote more about ocean rings.
Have nature inspired engagement rings always existed?
Nature inspired engagement rings have existed for centuries: Victorian jewellers used flowers, leaves and serpents to carry sentiment, and Queen Victoria’s own engagement ring from Prince Albert was a gold serpent set with an emerald.
The Art Nouveau jewellers took it further. René Lalique made the organic line the whole design: dragonflies, orchids, stems of gold and enamel. So when someone calls a leaf ring unconventional, they’re about a hundred and fifty years late.
Which stones suit a nature inspired engagement ring?
Diamonds and sapphires suit a nature inspired engagement ring best for daily wear, because they sit at 10 and 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, while green stones such as emerald, tourmaline and moss agate echo foliage but need more care.
| Stone | Mohs hardness | Daily wear | Nature it echoes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond | 10 | Excellent | Dew, light on water |
| Sapphire | 9 | Excellent | Sea, lagoons |
| Emerald | 7.5 to 8 | Good, with care | Leaves, rainforest |
| Tourmaline | 7 to 7.5 | Good | Leaves, sea glass |
| Moss agate | 6.5 to 7 | Fair, with care | Moss, ferns |
| Pearl | 2.5 to 4.5 | Occasional | Shells, the sea |
Emeralds often contain inclusions, so a protective setting matters. Salt and pepper diamonds, with their dark flecks, look like stone and sand, which is lovely on a textured band. Pearls grow in shells, so they’re the most literal nature gem, and the softest.
Which metal is best for a botanical ring?
Solid yellow gold or rose gold is the best metal for a botanical engagement ring, because it doesn’t tarnish and its warmth flatters leaf and pod shapes. Sterling silver suits water and stone designs and needs the odd polish. Gold plate over brass or silver suits stacking and fashion rings, and the plating wears gradually with friction.
What should you ask before buying a nature inspired engagement ring?
You should ask where the ring is made, what the metal is, where the stone comes from and whether the ring can be resized, because those four answers tell you more about a jeweller than any photo.
This is my day job, so here’s the checklist I’d use.
- Where is it designed, and where is it made? A real answer names a place, not just the word handcrafted.
- What exactly is the metal? Solid gold, gold plate, vermeil and sterling silver wear very differently.
- Where does the stone come from, and can they tell you?
- Can the band be resized, and does a textured or sculpted band limit that?
- What happens if a leaf or prong catches and bends?
Anitanja answers the first one without being asked: designed in St Lucia, made by hand by artisans in Bali, shipped from the UK. That’s rarer than it should be.
How do you pair a nature inspired ring with a wedding band?
You pair a nature inspired engagement ring with a wedding band by choosing a curved contour band that sits flush against the leaf or vine, or by treating stacking rings as the set.
What ring size should you choose for a textured band?
For a textured or wide band, size up slightly. Fingers swell in heat and shrink in cold, so measure at the end of the day. If in doubt, ask before you order.
Does Anitanja Lawaetz make engagement rings?
Anitanja Lawaetz makes nature inspired rings, the cocoa pod stacking rings and the pebble cluster ring, which people wear as promise rings, stacking rings or companions to an engagement ring. Every piece is designed in St Lucia and made by hand by artisans in Bali. For anything beyond what’s listed, write to her directly.
So which piece would I choose first?
The cocoa pod stacking rings. A seed pod on your finger is the most honest promise I can think of. Browse every nature inspired ring and choose the shape that’s yours.
Thanks for reading! @queenofvitality
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