While I can usually resist rather well splashing money on clothes and accessories, I often feel the irresistible urge to buy a piece of faux jewellery.
I usually make most of my necklaces, but I’m not so good with rings, so, if I ever feel the need to buy a new piece, my choice often falls on this category.
During the last few months I have also been obsessed with two ideas, architecture and weapons, yet I couldn't find any rings characterised by architectural shapes that also had something subtly violent about them.
Then, a few days ago, while on my way to Florence’s city centre, I stumbled upon a small jewellery shop called Parsifal and I saw in its window exactly what I was looking for.
Florence-based jewellery designer Patrick Wandaël has been working on a series of rings inspired by local monuments. The first one he made is a ring featuring the cupola (dome) of Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence’s Duomo).
This is the third largest cathedral in the world begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to the design of Arnolfo di Cambio and completed in 1436 with the octagonal self-supporting dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi.
The most interesting feature of the 114-metre dome (including the crowning lantern) is indeed the fact that it was built without the use of fixed centring.
Patrick made a few different models of this ring (prices varies according to the model, mine was €35), and the one I chose has a sort of armour-like feature that allows you to adjust the ring according to the size of your finger.
Being the dome rather pointy, the ring has got the perfect weapon-like added value about it (very useful to threaten with it some obnoxious characters working in the fashion industry…).
Patrick told me he’s working on further pieces and promised that the next time I visit his shop I’ll find a Ponte Vecchio knuckleduster (can't wait to see it!).
I guess airport authorities won’t be happy with me, but I can always try and distract them with a brief (yet verbose) lecture on art and architecture in Florence...
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