Castro Smith 18k different minds ring with tungsten purple ceramic & white rhodium plating, size 7 1/2

What started out as an apprenticeship with the Goldsmith’s Company to further his work as an illustrator turned into a career for Smith, who is recognized today for his distinct aesthetic based on the ancient art of seal engraving.

In Smith's namesake line, the signature piece — a modern riff on the classic signet ring — features deep etchings of intricately detailed symbols and scenes on all facets. Drawing inspiration from mythology, history, flora and fauna, the East London-based Smith’s painterly designs reflect a fusion of the European and Japanese engraving techniques in which he was formally trained.

A recipient of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust scholarship in 2017, Smith studied metalworking, patination and engraving with Japanese masters under renowned silversmith Hiroshi Suzuki.