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Jewel of the Month: Empress Wu Dragon Ring

March 14, 2011 by WendyB

One of my favorite wicked royal ladies is the 7th century’s Wu Zetian, the only female emperor of China. She became known as Empress Wu after her death, but she ruled under a name she chose for herself — Emperor Shensheng.  I wrote about her in 2007:

  • Empress Wu, Part I
  • Empress Wu, Part II

Empress Wu is the kind of gal who simply must have a jewel named after her. Last year, I started working on a very elaborate mechanical piece in her honor. While I was slaving over the elaborate piece, my designing friend Zang Toi asked for dragon cufflinks. That was all the excuse I needed to temporarily set aside the high-tech Wu tribute to do a somewhat lower-tech one. I admit that I don’t like it when Wu is called a dragon lady because she wasn’t any more murderous than the male rulers of her time. If she’s going to be called a dragon lady, they should be called dragon men, no? Still, dragons are a powerful symbol in Chinese mythology and culture, and Wu deserves a jewel that properly represents her badass-ery.  As you can see from Zang’s links, below, “low-tech” for me is still very elaborate.

Empress Wu dragon cufflinks. Click for more information.

I told Zang that I wanted to add the dragon design to my line, which I sometimes do with customer-requested designs. I decided to start my personal dragon designs with a ring. Rings are my favorite pieces to do because the wearer can easily admire what she’s wearing. You can’t ogle your earrings unless you’re looking in the mirror. Necklaces are a challenge too. Even long ones must be viewed upside down. But you can spend all day staring at your hands if you want.

Zang had asked for his cufflinks to be highly polished white gold with South Sea pearls.  I decided to do something different for my collection so that Zang’s custom-ordered design would retain its uniqueness. I made my ring in 18K yellow gold, which is the material I work with most frequently. I like its warm color, which seems even warmer when a matte finish is applied. I also think it makes the diamond eyes really pop. Nearly 25 grams of gold were used in this piece. A Troy ounce is just over 31 grams, so the ring is about .80 ounce.

Instead of a pearl, I had lapis lazuli cut into a round shape and engraved to look like a globe. The continents are outlined in yellow gold. My Empress Wu rules the world!

Empress Wu dragon ring by Wendy Brandes. Photo by SquareMoose.

Of course, the globe turns! You should know me by now. I would never have a globe that didn’t turn.

Side view of Empress Wu dragon ring. Photo by SquareMoose.

When the dragon was a mere wax model, I made sure that the horns wouldn’t pierce the wearer’s finger. A fierce look is good; a ring that draws real blood is bad. Comfort is important to me. Now that I’ve worn the finished ring myself, I can testify that the horns stay safely off my hand, no matter how I move my fingers.

More information about this wearable work of art is available on my website. The price available upon request to serious buyers. In other words, if you’re on a tight budget, this isn’t the piece for you. I always feel bad when someone emails me about a “price upon request” piece and it turns out they’re looking for something in the $100 range. I hate to disappoint. (If you’re looking for something in the $50 to $500 range, I have plenty for you here.)

If you still want to know about the dragon, contact me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com. If you want something even more insane, wait till I finish the mechanical Wu tribute. Yep, it’s time to get back to that one.

* * *

The Huffington Post has posted a list of organizations that are aiding Japan in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Remember, donating money to such organizations is much more effective than trying to send food and clothing to places where there might not be much access.

UPDATED TO ADD: I added Empress Wu dragon earrings to my collection in December 2011. And Vogue Paris featured the Empress Wu ring on its website in August 2012.

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Filed Under: jewel of the month, my designs, queens, rings

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lara says

    March 14, 2011 at 11:48 am

    So this is why you’ve been a stranger on Twitter!
    LOVE it! The detail on the globe must have driven you mad!

    • WendyB says

      March 14, 2011 at 11:49 am

      Getting the globe to spin around was one of the hardest parts. Seems like it should be easy, but it’s not!

  2. Eli says

    March 14, 2011 at 11:56 am

    This is just truly a magical piece! I love the slight transformation from the cufflinks, but both designs are just so stunning. I cant stop staring at the globe!

  3. deja pseu says

    March 14, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    OMG, the globe turns!!!! Oh, too fabulous for words!!!

  4. Marian says

    March 14, 2011 at 1:40 pm

    Would love to see this on a hand!! Any documentation? The blue is beautiful.

    • WendyB says

      March 14, 2011 at 1:48 pm

      Soon!

  5. StefM says

    March 14, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    Badass! Love how you keep outdoing yourself! Bravo!

  6. Susan Tiner says

    March 14, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    The ring is stunning! If I owned this ring I would while away the days admiring the diamond eyes and turning the globe.

  7. Madeleine Gallay says

    March 14, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    So cool … really really fierce.

  8. Amanda says

    March 14, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    This is amazing. The contrast of the warm gold and the cooler-toned lapis is what sells it for me visually.

    I’m a fairly longterm reader, but I’ve always wondered – since you hand-carve the initial wax models, did you have a trained background in sculpture, before your journalism work? I’m impressed at the detail in the models, even though I suppose wax is easier to carve than, say, wood.

    • WendyB says

      March 14, 2011 at 3:57 pm

      I’m a trained editor, definitely not a sculptor. 🙂 I do the designs and contract specialists to execute them for me. It’s more like how clothes get made for a big runway show than an arts and crafts type of experience. And it feels a lot like editing to me, pulling resources from all directions to communicate a specific idea. I had the original dragon wax redone 4 or 5 times before I approved it. I forget a few of the changes, but there was definitely no horn on the nose originally. So I added that. Then I changed the shape of the eyebrows. Then I scrapped the ENTIRE THING because I didn’t like the flat shape of the snout, and I started over. Etc. So that’s how it goes. The manufacturer has nothing to do with those decisions. He just obeys!

      • Amanda says

        March 14, 2011 at 4:21 pm

        Thanks for answer this one – I’ve been through a lot of your Get Smart posts trying to figure out if you’ve already covered it.

        And I remain impressed. Taking something as complex as a mechanical jewelry piece that exists, you know, in your brain, translating that so that someone else can see what you see is HARD. Were it me, it would involve a lot of, “Oh, wait, no – a little more…no, go back one…” (It’s the jewelry version of Eddie Izzard’s impression of the EU.)

      • WendyB says

        March 14, 2011 at 4:26 pm

        There’s a good quote, “Half of art is knowing when to stop.” http://thinkexist.com/quotation/half-of-art-is-knowing-when-to-stop/537402.html

      • Amanda says

        March 14, 2011 at 4:24 pm

        Blargl, “answer TO this one.” Prepositions are hiding from me today.

  9. Maddy says

    March 14, 2011 at 3:57 pm

    Wow! Exquisite! If that’s not a work of art, I don’t know what it! Beautiful design, Wendy! What a statement piece!

  10. mystyle says

    March 14, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    Hi my dear-you constantly excel yourself with your stunning designs and both designs are so intricate and exquisite, congratulations indeed xxx

  11. lisa says

    March 14, 2011 at 4:41 pm

    Gorgeous new design, Wendy!

  12. Make Do Style says

    March 14, 2011 at 4:55 pm

    Only you with the globe! Glorious piece and the intricacy is superb. The blue is striking with the gold and there will be a few takers for this one! xx

  13. Rosie says

    March 14, 2011 at 6:00 pm

    It’s truly fantastic! Every time you come out with a new piece, I’m amazed, but the next one is always even better. Can’t wait to see the mechanical one!

  14. savvygal says

    March 14, 2011 at 6:17 pm

    those cuff links are great. Is your friend Zang Toi from Malaysia? My friend has all her dresses made by him. : )

    • WendyB says

      March 14, 2011 at 6:21 pm

      Yes, Zang is from Malaysia.

  15. Fashionistable says

    March 14, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    I love these so, so much. Xxxx

  16. Winnie says

    March 14, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    Oh wow, I love how all your jewellery is a work of art Wendy and I love the stories and inspirations behind each one!

  17. Lexie says

    March 15, 2011 at 11:06 am

    i *love* lapis lazuli … beautiful craftswomanship, wendyb!

  18. georgeB says

    March 15, 2011 at 7:56 pm

    WB

    I just remembered you owe me a birthday present. This ring will do nicely.

    • WendyB says

      March 15, 2011 at 9:55 pm

      Oh yeah, we never had dinner. Let’s plan that and you can wear Empress Wu as a pinky ring while eating.

  19. ali says

    March 15, 2011 at 11:10 pm

    Oh my goodness!

    This is my second favorite after the Queen Min ring!!!

    the cleverness of this is perfect.

  20. stacy says

    March 16, 2011 at 1:35 am

    This ring!!!
    You’ve outdone yourself… never thought it was possible 🙂
    This is truly beautiful. The photo is quite good, but I’m sure it doesn’t do it justice.

  21. Jill says

    March 17, 2011 at 5:00 pm

    This ring needs to be in every magazine. Faboo, darling woman!!

  22. hiyaluv says

    March 20, 2011 at 8:33 pm

    you just get better and better…i am in awe:)
    gina

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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