Lily of the Valley Ring by Yi Xiong is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Silver A' Design Award in Jewelry Design Competition Category.
SilverJewelry· 2026
Lily of the Valley Ring
by Yi Xiong
Client: Aris Fine Studio
Silver A' Design Award Winner in Jewelry Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #183380The Design
About Lily of the Valley Ring
Lily of the Valley is a ring made of 18K gold, chrysoberyl and pink sapphire. The design is inspired by the symbiotic relationship between lily of the valley and wild strawberry. Layered gold branches form a controlled asymmetrical structure with an open construction. The open form replaces traditional enclosed gemstone settings and gives the ring a sense of lightness. Green and pink gemstones create a color contrast that acts as part of the structure. The open structure also allows the ring to fit a range of finger sizes.
The Recognition
About the Silver A' Design Award
Lily of the Valley Ring is a Silver A' Design Award winner, an extraordinarily prestigious recognition granted to top-of-the-line, gorgeous, and impressive designs. Silver winners are tremendously brilliant and exceedingly creative works that illustrate the outstanding expertise, talent, and acuity of their designers. Lily of the Valley Ring is expected to be a wonderful, showpiece work that is remarkably professional and profoundly innovative. This Silver A' Design Award-winning design is a highly notable, admired invention that benefits and advances the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. Lily of the Valley Ring is a vastly envied creation that evokes desires, introduces positive feelings, and sparks amazement and wonderment.
Interviews
Design Interview
What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
The core idea behind this design is growth, continuity, and vitality.
Much of my work explores the energy found in nature through upward movement, organic lines, and compositions that feel as though they are still growing beyond their physical form. Rather than creating static jewelry, I aim to create pieces that feel alive.
This design was inspired by the emotional bond between a mother and daughter. Through the symbolism of Lily of the Valley, I explored how personal memories can be translated into contemporary fine jewelry through color, structure, and movement. The contrast between soft pink gemstones and the green-gold chrysoberyl creates a sense of optimism and renewal, while the elongated composition reinforces the idea of life continuously unfolding.
What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
My goal was to create a piece that feels both emotionally meaningful and visually dynamic.
I wanted to move beyond traditional floral jewelry and explore how botanical elements could become part of a contemporary structure. The design balances softness and strength, femininity and movement.
Through the interaction of color, gemstone selection, and sculptural lines, I hoped to create a piece that feels optimistic, modern, and full of life while carrying a deeply personal narrative.
What are your future plans for this award winning design?
This design represents an important direction within my creative practice.
I plan to continue exploring themes of growth, memory, femininity, and emotional connection through future collection pieces and bespoke commissions. The project has inspired further research into how natural forms and personal stories can be translated into contemporary heirloom jewelry.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Inspired by the symbiotic relationship between lily of the valley and wild strawberry, this ring translates their organic growth into a controlled asymmetrical structure. Layered gold branches create a fluid spatial hierarchy, while the open construction departs from traditional enclosed gemstone settings.
This ring evokes a subtle sense of suspension, shifting it from mere adornment to an expression of emotion and personal presence, reflecting a balance between softness and structural strength. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Ring size: US 6.25 (inner diameter approx. 16.7 mm)
Center stone: 2.2 ct chrysoberyl
Material: 18K gold, total weight approx. 6 g
Custom sizing available upon request - Tags
- Organic Growth, Symbiotic Relationship, Asymmetrical Structure, Open Construction, Fluidity, Sense of Suspension, Gold Branches, Spatial Hierarchy, Sculptural Metal, Contemporary Femininity
- Production Technology
- Materials: 18K gold, chrysoberyl, and pink sapphire
Craftsmanship: This ring reinterprets botanical jewelry through structural abstraction rather than literal representation. Controlled asymmetry is introduced while maintaining visual balance, with visual weight distributed across an open form to create a sense of suspension. Sculptural metalwork is integrated with precise gemstone setting, while color contrast functions as a structural element rather than decoration. - Design Challenge
- The core challenge lies in achieving both structural stability and visual lightness within an open, asymmetrical form.
Through multiple rounds of structural testing, the support relationships between gold branches and the positioning of the gemstones were refined to ensure stability and durability during wear. The gemstones are integrated into the overall structural system, aligning visual expression with functional integrity and moving beyond the constraints of traditional jewelry construction. - Research
- This design explores how the logic of organic growth can be translated into a controlled asymmetrical structure. Through structural balance and a reconstructed spatial hierarchy, it captures the rhythm and fluidity of nature without directly replicating botanical forms.
The open structure maintains stability while introducing a sense of lightness and freedom, resulting in a dynamic yet restrained composition. It reflects the resilience and strength associated with contemporary femininity. - Inspiration
- Inspired by the symbiotic relationship between lily of the valley and wild strawberry, this ring does not replicate botanical forms directly, but instead translates their underlying growth logic into a dynamic structure.
The contrast between green and pink gemstones reflects the harmony and variation found in nature. An open construction combined with layered elements enhances fluidity and spatial balance, translating natural rhythms into a contemporary jewelry language. - Project Duration
- The project finished in February 2026 in New York.
- Operation Flow
- The open structure accommodates a range of finger sizes, allowing flexibility in wear.
The asymmetrical composition is carefully calibrated to maintain both visual harmony and structural stability.
As the wearer moves, subtle shifts in angle reveal changing spatial relationships, creating a dynamic visual experience.
Layered metal elements reduce visual density while maintaining structural clarity, balancing everyday wearability with artistic expression. - Team Members
- Yi Xiong
- Image Credits
- Aris Xiong (Yi Xiong)
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