John Donald (British, b. 1928), Drum Ring, 1965, gold, diamonds

Audio Description

This gold and diamond ring was made in 1965 by British jeweler John Donald, who was born in 1928.

Made of textured gold, this ring has a round, drum shaped center. Inside the drum are marquise or ovoid shaped, small, faceted diamonds suspended on wires. The upper, drum-shaped part of the ring has many voids in it.

Label Copy

This gold and diamond ring was made in 1965 by British jeweler John Donald, who was born in 1928.

Organic shapes, rough crystals, and uneven surfaces were John Donald’s hallmark.  Smooth, faceted, precious stones never seduced him. The gems he used were always considered subordinate to the design. Donald’s style was born out of necessity as much as desire. This drum-style ring, also called his crown design, is an iconic form for Donald. The fine wires on which the diamonds are suspended inside the hollow were less expensive than more substantial materials, as were the square and round tubes of his earlier geometric work. Inspired largely by nature, Donald attempted to synthesize basic elements into geometric forms, replicating cellular structures.

Like other young designers of the period, Donald set out to create something completely different. He was not interested in the ‘rules’ of previous decades. Calling himself a designer and artist first, a jeweler second, he felt a piece of jewelry was not really alive until someone was wearing it.

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