Story Behind the Piece: The Monarch Ring

Some designs arrive fully formed.

Others take time — years of knowing, months of making, and a lifetime of caring.

The Monarch Ring belongs to the latter.

A Species Carried With Me

Long before I became a full-time metalsmith, I worked as a wildlife biologist. In that former life, part of my work involved looking closely at data on species populations — including monarch butterflies — to understand long-term trends and whether protection might be needed as numbers declined.

Monarchs are not just beautiful; they are indicators. When their populations fall, it tells a larger story about habitat loss, climate shifts, and the fragile balance pollinators depend on to survive. Because of that, monarchs have always held a special place in my heart — not as an abstract symbol, but as something deeply real, studied, and worth protecting.

That awareness never really leaves you.

The Natural History of the Monarch

Monarch butterflies are known for one of the most extraordinary migrations in the natural world. Each year, they travel thousands of miles across North America, moving between breeding grounds and overwintering sites. What makes this journey remarkable is that no single butterfly completes the entire migration — it unfolds across generations.

Guided by light, instinct, and memory written into their biology, monarchs return year after year to the same places. Their survival depends on milkweed, open meadows, and intact landscapes — habitats that are increasingly fragmented or disappearing altogether.

Their story is one of resilience held lightly. Of movement paired with return.

From Idea to Metal

This ring lived in my head for months before it ever reached the bench.

I wanted to capture the delicate strength of a monarch wing — not in a literal way, but through texture and form. Something that felt quiet and intentional. Something you might notice slowly, the way you notice a butterfly resting nearby rather than in flight.

Through sketches, experiments, and refinements, the design gradually took shape. The wraparound form allows the wing texture to move with the hand, echoing the sense of motion that defines the monarch’s life.

A Moment of Light

At the center of the ring, a single 3mm diamond holds the form together.

It isn’t meant to dominate the design. Instead, it acts as a pause — a quiet dew drop resting between two wings. A moment of light that anchors movement and brings balance.

The ring is hand fabricated in Argentium® silver, chosen for its brightness, strength, and longevity — a fitting material for a piece inspired by endurance and survival.

Why Protection Matters

Monarch populations have experienced significant declines over the past several decades. Protecting them means protecting entire ecosystems: preserving milkweed, supporting pollinator-friendly landscapes, and paying attention to the subtle signals nature offers when balance begins to shift.

For me, this ring is not just jewelry. It’s a reminder — of the responsibility we share, of the beauty that exists because of interconnected systems, and of the quiet power found in paying attention.

Wearing the Story

The Monarch Ring is part of the Wildflower Meadow collection, inspired by pollinators, open fields, and fleeting moments of beauty carried on the breeze.

It’s meant to be worn as a talisman:

• for transformation

• for gentle resilience

• for light that guides us forward

And for the reminder that even the smallest lives can carry the longest journeys.

If this piece speaks to you, I invite you to carry the story a little further.

Organizations like the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation work quietly and tirelessly to protect pollinators — including monarch butterflies — through habitat restoration, science-based research, and education. Their work supports the very landscapes monarchs depend on to survive.

Whether through a donation, planting pollinator-friendly species, or simply learning more, every small action becomes part of a much larger migration toward protection and hope.

A portion of proceeds from this ring supports the Xerces Society and their work protecting monarchs and pollinators.