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.  View the entire collection HERE, view the matches HERE, and learn more HERE.