Rekindling Playfulness: The Gabo Ring by Ana Piazza

Revolutionizing Jewelry Design with Interactive Elements

Designed by Ana Piazza, the Gabo Ring is a unique piece of jewelry that encourages users to engage with it, much like a child would with a toy. Inspired by the simplicity and joy of childhood, Piazza sought to create a piece that would allow adults to experience the playful side of life once again. The design of the ring is reminiscent of a magic cube, chosen for its association with peaceful, absorbed play.

The Gabo Ring is not just a piece of jewelry, but an interactive experience. It features two rotating modules that users can align or misalign, creating a different ring each time. The design encourages users to play, aligning or mismatching the colors of the gemstones or the positions of the modules, much like a magic cube. The ring is a statement piece, reminding users to bring back the playful side to their life.

The creation of the Gabo Ring involved a meticulous process. A wax model was initially printed from a digital 3D model, which was then used to create a mold for casting a silver model. After several prototypes, the final ring was cast in gold and polished. The gemstones were manually set and a pin was inserted into the band and the modules to allow them to rotate. The ring was then assembled, laser welded, and polished once more. The materials used include 18K yellow gold and Brazilian colored gemstones.

The Gabo Ring is not just a testament to Piazza's innovative design approach, but also her technical prowess. The challenge was to design modules that would not bend over the ring band and to set the colored gemstones very close to each other, with minimal metal appearance between them. The modules also had to rotate easily for user convenience. These challenges were overcome through multiple 3D wax and silver models for testing before the final ring was cast in gold.

The Gabo Ring has been recognized for its innovative design, winning the Silver A' Jewelry, Eyewear, and Watch Design Award in 2020. This award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. The Gabo Ring certainly fits this description, with its unique interactive design and high-quality craftsmanship.

In conclusion, the Gabo Ring by Ana Piazza is a unique piece of jewelry that invites users to engage and play, reminding them of the joy and simplicity of childhood. Its innovative design and meticulous craftsmanship make it a deserving winner of the Silver A' Design Award.