Meskel Ring

The Ancient History

Inspired by the intricate geometry of the Ethiopian cross, translated into a single sculptural form.

Meskel is the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of the finding of the True Cross, observed every September for more than sixteen hundred years. The crosses of the Ethiopian Orthodox church carried in its processions are built from interwoven latticework, a tradition of Ethiopian metalwork in which a single continuous line is folded into geometry with no beginning and no end. Ethiopian crosses are often grouped with the Coptic cross tradition of Egypt, but the latticework is Ethiopia's own, and no two historic crosses repeat the same pattern.

This cross ring translates that latticework into a pattern cut into the face rather than applied to it, so the geometry reads as part of the metal. A unisex ring by design, made across the full range of hands, and an heirloom form older than most nations.

Jewelry Details

Cast in solid 18k gold, yellow or white. Set with four natural gemstones or diamonds of your choice around one center lab diamond. Alternative stones available in blue sapphire, ruby, white diamond, and black diamond; custom stone combinations available upon request.

• Dimensions: cross motif approximately 7mm tall, 11mm wide. Cross design size stays the same across sizes
• Weight: 6.3 grams solid 18k gold at size 6.75, 5.5 grams at pinky size 3.25 (excluding stones). Weight scales with ring size, and larger sizes require more gold and are priced accordingly.
• Stones: five prong set rounds. One 1mm diamond at center, two 1.5mm and two 2mm in your choice of diamond or gemstone.
• Sizing: made to order from pinky sizes through men's size 14
• Custom engraving available, $45

Quarter sizes available on request. Made to order. Pieces require four to six weeks to produce before shipping.

Ethiopian processional cross, held by priests. Lalibela, Ethiopia, 1969