Yichen Dong

A set of rings suitable for different stages of a relationship. The ring becomes more wearable, stable and complete as the relationship grows.

Marriage/relationship is never as simple as a ring.
Inspired by the shape of springs. The complexity and tension in a relationship are like springs.

A wedding ring is a symbol of eternal, loyal and faithful love. However, being dedicated to love is a difficult task sometimes. This is a set of wedding rings symbolizing unfaithfulness.

'We can't fall any further
If we can't feel ordinary love
And we can't reach any higher
If we can't deal with ordinary love...' - Ordinary Love, U2, 2013

The diamond can move freely in the glass tube ring, and it always hides under the finger when worn because of the gravity.

Please wear wedding rings to protect your marriage. It is important to put it on.
Inspired by the symbol of condom.

A wedding ring is a.....protection or restriction?
Marriage is like a fortress besieged: those who are outside want to get in, and those who are inside want to get out.

A ring will be expired when a relationship ends

Wedding rings, are one of the most common categories of jewellery, have a simple and straightforward shape, but contain a lot of specific and strong symbolic meanings within their form. They are symbols of love, marriage and commemoration. I want to use this as a metaphor to express my thoughts and explorations about human feelings. In the jewelry store, most of the customers prefer the wedding ring of the classic style, symbolizing eternal love. In my opinion, a wedding ring is a commodity attached to love. Like any commodity in the supermarket, love has a time limit. I engraved the Best Before Date which printed on the food in the grocery. The date of expiration is Tomorrow (ie, the taste period is before tomorrow), making it an eternal ring. This is my expectation for love. I hope that love will never expire. Lovers can cherish the best ‘Today’ in every shelf life.

A relationship might be 'expired', but there is a way to keep it fresh with 'Love preservative'. It is an exploration about the value of jewellery in a relationship through out time.

Some jelly beans never expire.
Amber is an ancient material in historical and traditional jewellery, and it is a symbol of longevity. I carved amber into jelly beans and sweets as they have very similar colour and gloss. The contrast of material and shelf life subverts the perception.

I reversed the material of the diamond ring. The gold is carved into the stone, and the stone becomes the ring. I want to question the value of the jwewellery and love.