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The Return of the Pinky Ring
Whether statement-making or secretive, reasons for wearing pinky rings have switched over the centuries. As it makes its returns to our jewellery boxes, we take a look at their extensive history and why they’ve never looked better
19.10.2019
By Ross Aston
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image credit i shutterstock
We can all recall the solemn oath of a childhood pinky promise and its use of the hand's littlest finger is certainly no accident. The digit and the wearing of rings on it to convey messages has a storied history that goes back centuries, recently returning to our jewellery boxes with new meaning.
With its origins in ancient Egypt, the pinky ring has cropped up throughout the ages as both a decorative and practical accessory. The unique intaglio engraved into the flat bezel of a signet was pressed into melted wax as a family’s personal stamp of approval. The seal of the Byzantine officer Michael Zorianos, part of New York’s Met Museum collection, goes back to 1300. And as its usage to denote ancestry fell out of favour, Elizabethan men and women set their pinkies with precious gems. Later, at the turn of the 19th century, the wearing of one on the left hand signalled to others that, though single, marriage wasn’t a priority.
In more recent years, Maison Margiela’s signet design - with its blank surface - has become a cult hit and though the trend for royal men to stack together their wedding band and signet halted in the early 20th century, Princess Diana reportedly loved a pinky. Fast forward to the 21st century and Lil Pump raps about his latest purchase, “Pinky ring, pinky ring, pinky ring… Spent 20 racks on a pinky ring.” His may be topped with a giant diamond, but the likes of Retrouvai and Alison Lou are designing modern signets capped with comical reliefs or glimmering with enamel.
"FAST FORWARD TO THE 21ST CENTURY AND LIL PUMP RAPS ABOUT HIS LATEST PURCHASE, “PINKY RING, PINKY RING, PINKY RING… SPENT 20 RACKS ON A PINKY RING.”
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Opening up a world of options, if a beloved antique find doesn’t fit your middle finger try it on your pinky - consider this a warning though, just because your Grandma’s tiny heirloom engagement ring fits your little finger, doesn’t necessarily mean it should be worn there. It’s a vulnerable spot for jewellery, prone to being knocked on walls and furniture, so be on the lookout for pieces set with stones high on the Mohs scale. Used as a measurement of hardiness - diamonds are a 10 Mohs and the mineral Talc is a one - this handy barometer will help you avoid any heartbreak. Sidestep any gems below seven, including opals and pearls; one fell knock on that 5.5 Mohs Lapis Lazuli and forget handing it down to your progeny. Exposed on the outer edge of the hand, rings with pavé shanks or chunky accents are also more likely to catch on your clothing so opt for smooth bands.
As eye-catching as they are conspicuous, its location on the body makes it a subtler, more unexpected choice. Whether finished off with a delicate heraldic engraving or a giant gemstone, these pieces sit in an anachronistic middle ground between modern and traditional. Perhaps this is the key to its charms, with other brands such as Sophie Buhai, Noor Fares and Dina Kamal all utilising its multi-layered past to create contemporary incarnations of the style. Then, as now, these rings can convey whatever the wearer desires, today’s comeback being just another part of its story.
THE BURO. PINKY RiNG EDIT
Elaborate, fantastical, other-worldly – you need a thesaurus to find the words to describe Gaudí’s masterpiece, or let a killer photograph do it for you. The façade is rich in interesting shots – all angular stonework and surprising bursts of colour – but the best composition comes from a small park facing the oldest side: perch on the wall in front of the pond (bonus Likes for reflections). Other notable snaps? Inside, where stained glass produces kaleidoscopic light patterns, or from the rooftop of the Ayre Hotel Rosellón – the best terrace, hands down, for Sagrada shots.
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The city’s most romantic street art, which translates as ‘The world begins with every kiss’, was only supposed to be temporary. That was in 2014. From afar, it’s an 8m kiss; on closer inspection it’s actually a 4,000-photo mosaic – compiled after artist Joan Fontcuberta asked people to send him snaps of moments where they felt complete freedom. Once located (look for a small square opposite the cathedral), you usually only have to wait a couple of turns to get a solo shot in the limelight – well, lip light.
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If you like colourful mosaics anywhere near as much as architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner did, this choral music hall is like a double espresso for your eyes. From the street, it’s beautiful but hard to shoot – the light never quite works. Inside, however, it is magic. The auditorium is an explosion of roses, chandeliers and drama, while the shot is snapped among the patterned pillars on the terrace off Sala Lluís Millet.
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Barcelona has no shortage of photogenic food haunts: El Nacional for Art Deco interiors (even the loos are sexy), Eat My Trip for fantastic flatlays, Espai Joliu for coffee, cacti and, er, beards. But Baldomero is the one to snap now – a new, under-the-radar beauty of a lunch spot with pink walls, fresh flowers, a palm-y terrace and the warm vibe of your grandma’s kitchen.
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It wasn’t long ago that only locals knew about the epic panoramic cityscape from this old military bunker. Today, it’s an institution for anyone and everyone to clamber up with a bottle of wine or some beers and dangle perilously over the edge at sunset. For attempted serenity, see it at sunrise instead – take bus 22 from Passeig de Gràcia to Gran Vista, or walk 20 minutes up from Alfons X metro station. Brace yourself: it’s steep, but golden – literally.
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Whether you’re inside it or out, there’s no escaping how iconic the W hotel is on Barcelona’s coastline. Shot from Barceloneta beach, it’s like a giant, shimmering shark’s fin that towers majestically above the bathers and skateboarders. Though it’s the view from the bedrooms that really ups the Instagram ante – each room faces out onto the sea, providing on-tap access to the ultimate pastel-hued golden hour. Clear space in your camera roll.
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Despite the designer stores on Barcelona’s glitzy flagship shopping street, it’s Casa Batlló that will truly stop you in your tracks. Beautiful and bonkers, it’s been likened to Claude Monet’s Water Lilies – only with a dragon on the roof. Shoot from across the street for the best perspective. If you’re lucky (ie early), you’ll miss the crowds; if not, aim above their heads and you’ll hardly lose any building in the process. There are attention-grabbing shots aplenty within (particularly the blue stairwell) – but, surprisingly, no great rooftop views.
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If Lucky and Inés, the owners of this house covered in more than 60 plant pots, received a euro every time someone papped their front door, they’d probably be on the Forbes rich list. Their notoriety may not have been monetised (yet?), but their El Born address is widely considered the most Instagrammable house in the city – heaving with greenery in that beautiful, bohemian, artistically dishevelled way. And it’s super-easy to shoot as you stroll by.
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Not only found in Paris, Barcelona’s take on a city gate is just as impressive – standing tall and strapping, like a handsome bouncer on the door of the leafy Ciutadella Park. The chance of shooting it people-free is slim-to-none, but that’s kind of the point: capturing the street performers, the older generation playing bowls and the kids and dogs chasing bubbles blown from giant wands is what this pretty pedestrianised area is all about.
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If you want a one-stop shop that’s going to give you the most Insta bang for your buck, it’s Montjuïc. This hill is home to myriad attractions, giving you film fodder for days. There’s the stunning MNAC (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya), which sits, palace-like, at the top of a view-rich staircase. Plus a cable car, a botanical garden, a castle, a swimming pool with an insane cityscape (search: Piscina Municipal de Montjuic), plus a very IG-friendly cactus garden called Jardins Mossèn Costa i Llobera. One thing: pick the shoes that feel comfy all day, not the new ones that pinch walking across your hotel room.
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IMAGE CREDIT I SHUTTERSTOCK
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