Wētā Workshop was intrinsically involved in the design and physical effects manufacture for all three films of The Lord of the Rings™ trilogy.
Primary: Sterling Silver
Secondary: 22k Gold, Tourmaline
A relic from before the First Age, it bore serpents intwined in a form both ancient and unbroken, the emerald between them carrying the memory of older days. Through long history it came at last to Aragorn, when his lineage was revealed, as a token of kingship restored. An oath and a promise, which not even time could erase.
Some pieces begin not with a drawing but with a page. The ring Aragorn wears is one of deep history within Middle-earth, an heirloom of his line, and so Jasmine Watson began where she always does, with the books. From there she took her direction from costume designer Ngila Dickson, shaping the words on the page into something that could be worn and believed.
What the text gives is a form both ancient and meaningful: two serpents entwined beneath a crown golden flowers, a green stone set within. It is a ring meant to read as older than the story around it, a relic carried down through ages until it reached the hand of the king.
The making is patient and entirely by hand. The ring begins in wax, and the engraving begins there too, the first detail cut before the piece is ever cast. From the wax it is taken to sterling silver, and then the work returns to it, the finest lines engraved into the metal after casting. "It has a lot of fine engraving, particularly on the faces of the snake and the detailing of the bodies," Jasmine explains. Each serpent is worked until it seems alive in the metal, its face sharp enough to suggest watchfulness, its body fluid enough to seem caught mid-coil.
The golden flowers are a craft of their own. Each is cut from sheet silver and engraved by hand, cast in 22k gold, then soldered into facets left in the band so they rest around the heads of the serpents. Between the snakes sits a tourmaline, the green heart the ring is built to hold. This is work that resists haste, where the difference between good and right is measured in fractions and made by experience alone.
Made once more by master jeweller Jasmine Watson, the Ring of Aragorn carries the weight its story asks of it. Worn as a token of kingship restored, and a promise that even time could not wear away.
FEATURES
JASMINE WATSON
Jasmine Watson is a master jeweller whose lifelong dedication to making began in childhood, evolving into a dual practice that spans both studio jewellery and internationally renowned film work. As principal jeweller for The Lord of the Rings and contributor to productions including Narnia, Mulan and The Rings of Power, she brings cinematic storytelling and meticulous craftsmanship to every piece she creates. Her work bridges traditional enamelling and contemporary methods, resulting in finely detailed jewellery that reflects both artistic heritage and imaginative design.
Engraving by hand takes a lot of skill, and a lot of time. You're constantly sharpening the engraver and going back in to re-engrave. But you get incredible control. For all the other processes I've tried, I've always come back to hand engraving, because it gives me the look I'm after.
*Each ring is made to order, to the size requested within the given sizing limits.
PLEASE NOTE: Minor variations will occur as this is a handmade ring.
Every ring is carefully packed in a velvet lined jewellery box for the safest possible delivery.
A Certificate of Authenticity signed by Jasmine Watson will also be enclosed.
MASTER JEWELLER’S COLLECTION
Patience is the greatest tool on the jeweller's bench. Under close light and a steady hand, each piece is brought into being, shaped and set with a precision that allows no approximation.
These pieces of jewellery for The Lord of the Rings were created by master jeweller Jasmine Watson, under the direction of costume designer Ngila Dickson. Twenty-six years on, Jasmine has returned to that work, recreating a selection of her pieces for the Master Jeweller’s Collection. Nothing about the method has been shortcut. The same processes and intent; the same hands guide the work; each decision led by experience rather than haste.
The aim is simple: to make each replica as it was, and as it should be. To hold one is to hold the closest expression of the original that can exist.
PRICING
Ring of Aragorn: USD $13,999
HOW TO ORDER
Orders can be placed by e-mail. Please include the following information:
Freight costs vary according to destination. Your order will be shipped directly from Wētā Workshop in Wellington, New Zealand. Any Import Duties and Taxes due are the responsibility of the Purchaser.
As this is a made-to-order item, there are no Wētā Dollars available for this item, nor can Wētā Dollars be used to purchase it.
