Lena Echelle | Tephrocactus joya

Artist:  Lena Echelle, Argentina
Materials: Goatskin, silk, sterling silver, yerba mate dye, acrylic paint, soap, acrylic resin
Size: 6.5 (Can't be resized / Can be replicated)

Limited Edition

Artist Statement: Tephrocactus, or paper spine cactus, is a native genus of cactus in the deserts of Northwestern Argentina. In Argentina, “joya” does not only mean jewel but also great, beautiful, awesome, precious in general -- without any necessary reference to monetary value. This fantasy genus and species of ring suggests that wild plants and places might be considered the greatest “joya” of all.

Artist Bio: Originally a jeweler/metalsmith from the US, I moved to the mountains of La Rioja, Argentina, from Dallas, Texas, in 2009. The Northwestern region of Argentina is extensively mined for precious metals, but I was surprised to discover it was impossible to acquire them without travelling across the country to Buenos Aires. Eventually, I fell in love with the beauty of the hardy native plants and wide-open landscapes and began to work primarily with locally sourced, upcycled materials.

Team Shanks - Representing Team - Susie Ganch

This ring is part of Battle of the Rings: Ring Smackdown 2026, an exhibition and online competition. All the rings are available for purchase. View the entire collection HERE, view the matches HERE, and learn more HERE. All purchased rings will be held by the gallery until the exhibition is complete June 17, 2026.