What Is a Statement Ring? Meet Our Newest Enamel Statement

Bario Neal’s new enamel rings — the Arc Sapphire Halo Ring with Sun Crush Enamel and the Arc Band with Sun Crush Enamel — combine an ancient fine jewelry technique, exacting ethical standards for sourcing precious metals and gemstones, and a handcrafted modern aesthetic. This statement ring and matching band will make even the most caffeine-deprived jewelry lover shout, “Rise and shine!”

What’s a statement ring? Well, the term is typically used to refer to a bold and expressive design, and the piece is often worn for special occasions. “Because the Arc Sapphire Halo Ring with Sun Crush Enamel is quite big on the hand with bold colors, you might not wear it every day. But when you do decide to wear it for a special occasion--whatever ‘special occasion’ means to you--you’re putting something of yourself out there.” says Bario Neal Principal + Lead Designer Page Neal. “At Bario Neal, we like to think of wearing statement jewelry as a way to share your internal vision with the world.”

“We wanted to go big but in a different direction than our larger gemstone cluster ring designs,” Page says. “Instead of the focus being on the geometries and colors of the gemstones, we instead made the central idea the metal while the sapphire is more of an accent.” (Statement Rings Tip: See what else geometry and a focus on the shaping of metal can lead to with Bario Neal’s Trillion Dyad White Sapphire Ring and Half-Moon Dyad White Sapphire Ring.)  

“I have always loved vibrant colors and how transformative and evocative they can be. We named these rings Sun Crush because the color evokes an endless summer vibe,” Page says. “My initial inspiration came when I was playing around with this color palette in watercolor. With the enamel technique, we were able to mimic not just those colors but also the amorphous effect of a watercolor painting. We designed both the Arc Enamel rings to be celebrations of Summer and Winter Solstices. With the peachy warm hues, the Arc Apricot Sapphire Halo Ring with Sun Crush Enamel is an ode to the long warm days of the summer that bring us in greater connection to our communities and the Arc Diamond Halo Ring with Robin’s Egg Blue Enamel honors the short cold days of the winter that give us space to rest.”

The result: Even if you live in a place where fall means first snow or winter means frigid temps, slip on one of these enamel rings and instantly feel enveloped in the warm joy of summer. (Statement Rings Tip: If spring is the season that makes you feel most alive, go pale pink with our Kalmia Rose Cut Morganite Ring or Aira Oko Morganite Marquise Ring).

“I wanted the form of these enamel rings to communicate that these are handmade objects,” Page says. “They embrace the intentionality and beauty of a wabi-sabi aesthetic.” 

The ethically sourced apricot sapphire burnished into the center of the Arc Sapphire Halo Ring with Sun Crush Enamel is surrounded by translucent glass enamel over opaque white glass enamel that will make you envision your favorite sunrise. (Statement Rings Tip: If you love popping-with-color statement rings and halo rings, you’ll also be a fan of Bario Neal’s Dasha Opal with Emerald Halo Ring and Dez Opal with Rainbow Halo Ring.)  

Bario Neal’s enameling process is done by hand, so the pattern will vary slightly. With enameling, glass is applied to a metal surface in powder form. The ring is then put into a kiln and fired at a temperature that makes the powder slushy. Each layer gets smoothed with a sanding tool, before more glass is added. (Read more about enamel jewelry design and how to care for enamel jewelry.) Enameled rings aren’t common, but the Bario Neal team appreciates the history and the beauty of one of the oldest forms of surface decoration. 

When it came to selecting which ethically sourced gemstone to work with on the Sun Crush halo, Page says, the big decision was about whether to complement or contrast the enamel color.

“The reference for Sun Crush is our Arc Diamond Halo Ring with Robin's Egg Blue Enamel, which has a burnished diamond. With this new design, we considered white diamonds, champagne diamonds, a pink sapphire, and a blue sapphire,” she explains. “Ultimately, we decided that we liked the apricot sapphire best because we were drawn to the blend of pinks and oranges.” 

The Arc Band with Sun Crush Enamel with its same color-drenched enameling treatment can be worn with the Arc Sapphire Halo Ring with Sun Crush Enamel or make a subtler hue-fueled splash all on its own.  

Indeed, handcrafting is at the center of Bario Neal fine jewelry, whether an ancient technique like enameling is involved or not. Whether you’re interested in a new colorful enamel ring or our statement ring tips above inspired you to custom design your own ring, contact us today. Fill out our custom design questionnaire or make an appointment to visit a showroom in Philadelphia or New York City. We also work with remote clients around the world via virtual appointments and by phone.