January 31, 2024
The Knot Ring
Mary MacGill
Interview by Carly Casazza
CC: What inspired the knot ring?
MM: Initially, a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art one afternoon. I spotted this incredibly simple ring, made of a single cut of wire wrapped around itself at the top, like two arms, to form a crude knot. It was described as a lover’s ring, a simple gesture from one to another. It was created somewhere between the 1st and 4th Century in France, this perfectly simple thought.
CC: Are there any specific themes/motifs that influenced the design?
MM: Impacted by the design at the MET, I wanted to create a modern artifact and started testing out different ways to loop and secure two ends of wire to create my own version of the ring. I’m always thinking about waves and line quality, so I’m not surprised that that’s how I resolved the design of the knot closure – a wave wrapped on itself, or a line starting and finding its way back intuitively.
CC: Are there any unique techniques or challenges you faced when creating the design?
MM: It’s always a challenge to figure out how to secure pieces without soldering, a balance between hammering the gold enough to harden it in place, and with enough finesse so as not to break the wire.
CC: Has the knot ring evolved over time? In Design? In Meaning?
MM: As for design, the knots change with every single ring; no two are the same. I also decided to add a more substantial version that could stand alone as a wedding band, and a version called the “Mermaid Ring” adorned with a Keshi pearl – I like to think of these being made under the water with small treasures.
I find that the most simple designs are the ones that stick with me. They tend to hold infinite meaning and lend themselves to many iterations. This is where it’s fun to play and extend the idea, sort of like personal growth – you start with one solid form and it grows in all kinds of directions.
CC: What do you see the knot ring symbolizing?
MM: Unadorned, intuitive love, a path that always finds its way back, two ends meandering and meeting, strength in vulnerability.
CC: How does the knot ring fit into your experience working with people's engagement process?
MM: Designing engagement rings alongside clients is one of the best parts of my job. Clients put so much trust into my hands, eyes, and heart to create something lasting and indicative of their unique characteristics. The knot ring is sort of this universal language that molds and tells the story of all love, which is why I sometimes suggest it as a “promise ring” if a partner is on the fence about landing on a final design before including their loved one in the process. It also works as a stacked wedding band and nestles beautifully with an engagement ring to “seal” a marriage.
CC: Why did you choose the knot ring as your wedding band?
MM: Truth be known, I made myself a few wedding bands, but landed on the knot ring in a thicker gauge 18k gold to match my engagement rings. I chose it in the end because of the symbolism, the wearability, and it just felt like our love.
