Coin Ring - Differences Unite Us

Materials: Japanese coin, oyster shell cab and sterling
Dimensions: 1 1/2 inch square

A modern 5 yen Japanese coin with a 5 mm oyster shell cabochon in a silver ring uniting the oriental rice flower with touch of the sea and silver.

Photo credit: Lyle Ang

Lyle Ang
Living Stones Creations
Mill City, Oregon. USA

As an artist I am simply having fun in my retirement from the USDA Forest Service. Ten years ago I took a couple of weeks of classes from the California Federation of Gem and Mineralogical Societies. Going from a rockhound to a silversmith my wife, Vivian Ang, and I show our work at art shows in Oregon and Washington through the summer. My inspiration comes from my mother, Maggie Haigh of Valley Center, CA, who taught us wire wrapping. I combine my love for coin collecting and lapidary to create whimsical expressions of my love for Nature.


Ganoksin hosts the jewelry list Orchid, with over 13,000 list members from all over the world, speaking from a wide range of technical and aesthetic experiences. The exhibition theme grew out of a desire to celebrate the creativity encompassed in this wide variety.

Artists were free to interpret the theme in any way they chose. Each artist could submit up to six pieces. Interpretations include uniting different materials into one cohesive form; intellectual and emotional “unitings”, where the meaning of the piece unites multiple concepts; the uniting of time - past, present and future; and a number that focus on the harmony created when uniting multiple materials and/or concepts.

The work submitted involved a wide range of jewelry techniques, from very traditional to very cutting edge, as well as using materials from traditional precious metals and gemstones to “re-purposed” and “up-cycled” materials.

The exhibition showcases 330 images chosen from entries from over 111 artists representing 26 countries.

Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Serbia, Spain, Trinidad, Turkey, UK, USA, Venezuela, and the Virgin Islands

Many of the participants began their interest in jewelry at a young age. Some are relative newcomers to the field, and some have over 35 years of experience as professional jewelers and goldsmiths. While some grew up in families that were goldsmiths, and followed in those footsteps, others only began creating jewelry as adults.