ASCII

ASCII — a series of 12 silver signet rings. The name refers to the ASCII character set (1963): Scott Fallman created the first text emoticon using its characters in 1982—: -). Forty years later, the colon and parenthesis remain the shortest way to convey your feelings.

Each ring carries a single symbol: a colon, a parenthesis, a dash, or a letter. Individually, the sign means nothing—meaning emerges only when the rings are worn on adjacent fingers and read across the hand. The rings can be rearranged, and the message changes. The jewelry functions like a keyboard: a set of symbols from which the owner assembles the desired combination.

12 Rings · 925 Sterling Silver · ≈ 25g

The size 18 ring measures 23,2 × 16,9 × 26.3 mm and weighs approximately 25g in sterling silver (925).

1 Inner diameter (size 18) — 18.0 mm.2 Surface plate diameter — 16.0 mm.3 Head height above the finger — 6.5 mm.4 Ring width at the knuckle — 16.9 mm.5 Width and thickness of the bottom band — 4,0 × 1.8 mm.6 Chamfer on the edge of the plate — 0,15 × 45°.7 Engraving depth — 0.5 mm.8 Stroke width of the symbol — 1.3 mm.9 Symbol height — up to 9.9 mm.

The symbols were specifically designed for this series: a solid line of 1.3 mm, with rounded ends, and a maximum dimension of 10 × 10 mm. The minimum clearance between symbol elements is 1.5 mm to ensure the form is fully transferred into the engraving and that the enamel settles evenly. The 1.8 mm shank allows for a size adjustment tolerance of ± 0.5 after casting. The inner edges are rounded with a radius of 0.4 mm.

The ring is worn with the flat surface facing up, with the top of the symbol directed toward the nail. There are no fasteners or clasps—it is a seamless cast ring. The rings are worn as a set on adjacent fingers; on the right hand, the smiley face is read from left to right starting from the index finger.

The ring can be worn alone, like a standard signet ring. The massive head pulls the ring upward on the surface, while the narrow shank at the bottom does not impede finger compression or wearing rings side-by-side. The inner surface is polished, free of sharp or snagging edges.

The mass of one ring is approximately 25g; a set of three weighs about 75g.

The metal of the piece is 925 sterling silver (Ag 92,5%, Cu 7,5%). The volume of one ring is 2.42 cm³, with a weight of approximately 25 g. Brass is suitable for test castings (approximately 20.6 g). Stones, chains, and clasps are not used.

1 Sterling Silver 925 — metal for the piece: ≈ 25 g + 10–15 g for the casting mold (in circulation).2 Casting photopolymer — master model printing: ≈ 3 ml.3 Silicone for jewelry molds — working mold: ≈ 60–80 g per mold.4 Modeling wax — wax positives: ≈ 2.5 g.5 Casting paste — investment casting: by the volume of the mold.6 Cold jewelry enamel (5 colors) — filling symbols: a few drops.7 Abrasives P400–P1500, pastes — sanding, satin finishing, polishing: as needed.

The surface is matte, the symbol is filled with colored enamel, and the body is polished. There are no coatings (rhodium, gold plating).

1 Surface — satin finish, fingertip striation: a smooth, matte plane.2 Edge chamfer — polished: a fine, glossy bevel.3 Engraving — cold enamel (red, blue, yellow, green, pink): a vivid, glossy symbol.4 Shoulders, spine, interior side — polished: a warm, soft sheen.

The enamel is applied last, after polishing and satinizing—this protects it from mechanical processing. The color is fixed to the symbol, so each ring in the «: -)» set receives its own color. The satin finish varies slightly from one piece to the next; this is an acceptable sign of handcraftsmanship.

The ring is a single, cast piece; no assembly is required. Production proceeds from the 3D model to investment casting.