Hope (Tier II)

The hand that refused to close, 2023

Origins

Late 2023. A monthly exclusive that changed everything about how I work. Hope was the first piece where I created each wax individually instead of using a master mould. More expensive, definitely more time consuming, but the level of detail finally matched what I’d been seeing in my head. A burning hand reaching through flames. Simple concept, complex execution.

Significance in the Studio’s History

This ring taught me that some ideas demand their own process. The individual wax method I developed for Hope became standard practice for everything that followed. Without figuring out this technique, pieces like A Cheerful Fate and Witness wouldn’t exist in their current forms. It’s weird looking back at how frustrated I was with the extra work. Now I can’t imagine doing it any other way.

Design Notes

Rectangular signet with a burning hand carved in relief. The flames wrap around each finger with the kind of detail you can only get from individual wax work. Inside the band, “HOPE” runs vertically next to 希望. The hand reaches for something beyond the frame that we never see. Despite the large face, it wears lighter than it looks. Took weeks of adjusting proportions to get that balance right.

Why It Returns for The Vault

First time I’ve brought this one back since 2023. Felt right to include the piece that started the technical evolution of the studio. Five days only, then back to the archives.