Sakura Ring
Michael Young
When Michael set out to create a ring, his goal was to move beyond a simple single-stone band and to make a visually moving three-dimensional sculpture for the hand. There is a deeply expressive, emotional concept that embodies several techniques, stemming from a depth of knowledge gained over time.
The ring features an original design centred on a motif close to Michael’s heart. After starting his career in Tokyo, his obsession with Sakura, the cherry blossoms of Japan, is a national symbol celebrated for beauty and cultural significance. They represent the ephemeral nature of life. They are the flowers of ornamental cherry trees, grown for their blooms rather than fruit. Sakura is associated with themes of renewal and optimism. They also have historical ties to the Samurai code.
Historically, they represented the brief but colourful life of the samurai, warriors of feudal Japan. They lived by a strict moral code of respect, honour, and a discipline known as Bushido. The duty of exemplifying and preserving the virtues is to be fearless warriors even in the face of death. Fallen cherry blossoms or petals symbolised the end of the samurai’s short life.
Five of these historic blossoms are cast in 18-carat gold. At the centre of the arrangement sits a central diamond. A personal touch lies at the centre of each surrounding blossom; instead of more diamonds, they are set with custom-cut sapphires and emeralds. Each stone matches the colours of children’s eyes, making the ring a permanent, wearable portrait of a family.
This piece continues the studio’s exploration of craft and technology, building on the Sakura blossom shape featured in their previous Craft x Tech work. The process echoes the same method used for the Blossom Links project: the form was sculpted digitally, 3D-printed in castable wax, and then brought to life not through Nambu Tekki but, in this instance, the age-old art of lost-wax casting.
It is a testament to how modern design can retain profound, personal meaning.
The studio has created a special sector to create commissioned Sakura-based decorative jewellery.
For further information, please contact alice@michael-young.com.
Michael Young: https://www.michael-young.com/
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