The Lyre Ring is named after a stringed instrument whose history reaches back to the ancient Greeks. The shape of this ring owes much to a lyre’s bodacious curved form, with a handmade glass or solid sterling silver bead slung across the finger in a kinetic setting.
Every Octave piece is thoughtfully handmade, and the Lyre is no exception. The base (and the sterling bead) was initially carved in hard wax, before being made into a mold and cast in solid sterling silver using the lost wax casting method.
Each glass bead is made at a tabletop torch using a technique called lampworking or flameworking. Each glass color comes in a solid rod, and is melted, stretched, and shaped over a super-hot flame before being annealed in a kiln overnight to settle the glass molecules and strengthen the material.
Once the beads are cooled, they’re carefully set so that the bead can spin freely, and the wire ends soldered and polished.
Voilà! The combination of two ancient techniques - lost wax casting and lampwork - resulting in a thoroughly modern ring.
The Lyre Ring is currently available in glass and solid Sterling Silver. It's also available in 14k gold and custom stone or glass by request. Looking for a version unique to you? Get in touch at hello@octavejewelry.com