Role
Concept & design
Project type
Bespoke engagement ring
Production
R.I.O.A. — Milan, Italy
Year
2004
Background
Sub Rosa Redouté is a bespoke engagement ring I designed for my then partner — now my wife of over
fifteen years —
and commissioned from an Italian master jeweller in Milan.
The design is conceived as a crown formed from roses and petals, blending symbolism, intimacy, and
sculptural
delicacy. The name draws from the Latin expression sub rosa, meaning “under the rose” — a
reference to
secrecy, trust, and the private language of love. The second part of the name pays homage to
Pierre-Joseph Redouté,
the celebrated Belgian botanical painter known as “le Raphaël des fleurs”, whose work became
a visual
inspiration due to her lifelong love of roses.
The result is a piece that balances romantic narrative with structural precision — an object designed
not only as
jewellery, but as a personal artefact.
Details
Round brilliant-cut solitaire with 0.3ct centre diamond, set in 18k white gold, featuring three
shoulder diamonds
and six-claw setting.
