Ring Story of the Year 2026
Crafting Rings that Embrace Every Individual in Happiness — In Celebration of the "Ring Story of the Year" —
In an age that changes at an overwhelming pace,
we continue to believe in one value that remains unchanged.
The moment a person meets someone and decides to share a life together.
We believe that is not optimisation, but an irreplaceable and deeply personal choice.
Wedding and engagement rings give form to that choice,
remaining by one’s side while continuing to affirm its meaning throughout the years ahead.
To share that value with more people,
we present stories that stay in the heart through the “Ring Story of the Year.”
May one of a kind rings bring true meaning and happiness
to life’s most important moments.
We will continue to take responsibility for every story held within each ring,
creating rings that remain close for years to come.
About Ring Story of the Year 2026
This project was first launched last year to mark ith’s 10th anniversary.
It was created from the desire to once again share the thoughts and stories held within each ring.
From the rings selected in each category, members of the team vote for the rings that especially “left an impression” on them or “taught them something” from their own individual perspectives.
At ith, we value the idea of “treasuring one rather than many,” and for that reason, this project is not intended to determine superiority or rank.
This year, two new categories have also been introduced.
One is a special selection chosen by the craftsmen who dedicate themselves to making rings each day.
The other is a special selection by Takahashi, the founder who has watched over the brand since its very beginning.
These two recognitions represent the spirit of ith, that regardless of whether someone meets the customer directly or not, countless thoughts and feelings come together within a single ring.
Selection Criteria
Rings were selected from customers who granted permission for their photos to be featured.
Categories
・Episode of the Year
・Design of the Year
・Engraving of the Year
・Proposal of the Year
・Craftsman’s Choice of the Year
・Founder’s Choice of the Year
Selection Process
The entries were determined through a vote by approximately 100 ith team members from both Japan and overseas.
Episode of the Year
Every ring created for our customers carries a story unique to them alone.
This category recognises rings filled with especially memorable and moving episodes.
A diamond entrusted by parents, carrying hopes for the future of twin children.
A ring where inherited light begins to weave a new story.
Story
Two diamonds lovingly passed down from her parents. One had been set in her mother’s engagement ring, and the other carefully kept as her father’s tie pin. Together, they were remade into a single ring. That same year, she gave birth to twin children. To reflect their presence, special attention was given to the positioning of the two diamonds, so they would appear gently side by side. So the ring could be worn naturally in everyday life, many conversations were shared at the atelier, refining every detail with care — from the height of the settings to the width and thickness of the band. The deep love inherited from her parents, and the future her family will continue to weave together, are all quietly connected within this one of a kind ring, created to carry those feelings gently into the future.
Rings
婚約指輪：オーダーメイド
地金：Pt950
Customer's Voice
From Staff
I still vividly remember the warm and lively atmosphere of the day you visited the atelier with your twin children. The love passed down from your parents has transformed into a new kind of love for your family, becoming rings that can bring a quiet smile not only on special occasions, but also in everyday moments when you happen to glance at your hands. It truly means a great deal to have been part of creating rings so uniquely reflective of the two of you.
Design of the Year
In the process of fulfilling each customer’s wishes, rings are sometimes born from ideas and designs beyond even our own imagination.
This category highlights especially memorable arrangements and designs.
The memory of a grandmother’s ring gently engraved into the pattern itself.
A wedding ring shaped from a childhood admiration.
Story
“My grandmother used to wear a Japanese hand carved ring, and I always thought it looked incredibly beautiful.” Guided by the memory of that ring once worn by his grandmother, the couple came to ith in search of something that could carry the same spirit. As they looked through countless reference materials together, they began by recalling the details of the ring she had once worn. And as the design gradually took shape, they decided to create something uniquely their own through engraving that could only be expressed across two wedding rings worn together. The wisteria and plum trees, likely motifs found in his grandmother’s ring as well, bloom across the space between the two rings. And the Japanese bush warblers resting within each tree are positioned so that, when the rings are placed together, they appear to gaze gently toward one another. The powerful variation in the engraved lines is one of the defining elements that gives the design its unmistakable sense of traditional Japanese hand carving.
Rings
Engagement Ring: Quattro
Bullion: K18CG
Customer's Voice
From Staff
The time spent tracing the warm memories of your grandmother together and giving them shape has become something truly precious to me as well.
Rather than simply recreating the original design, the engraving came to hold a story unique to the two of you — when the rings are brought together, wisteria and plum blossoms bloom, and two Japanese bush warblers gaze at one another.
As your concierge, it brings me heartfelt joy to know that the powerful texture of the artisan’s Japanese hand carving became a ring that gently accompanies both the feelings passed down through generations and the beginning of your new chapter together.
Engraving of the Year
Engravings placed inside or outside the rings are one of the true joys of made to order, allowing personal memories and ideas to take form.
This category celebrates deeply meaningful and story filled engraving designs.
The warmth captured in a photograph, sealed within a ring.
An engraving shaped around the moment two hands overlap.
Story
The couple shared that they wanted “an illustration of holding hands” engraved into their rings.
Since they felt they were not good at drawing, they began searching through free illustration materials instead.
Together with the concierge, they looked through countless designs, But none of them truly felt right.
That was when a suggestion was made:
why not use their actual hands?
Right there in the atelier, the couple held hands, a photograph was taken, and the outline of that moment was engraved inside the rings.
The finished rings became something truly one of a kind, carrying the warmth of their joined hands.
And in fact, beside his hand is engraved her name, and beside her hand is engraved his.
As though they are forever holding each other’s hands, calling one another by name, and staying close side by side.
Rings
Engagement Ring: Croccante
Bullion: K18CG / K18PG
Customer's Voice
From Staff
These rings hold the gentle warmth of the two of you
and the irreplaceable moment of your marriage.
Even decades from now, I can imagine the two of you still walking hand in hand,
and it brought me great joy to see these become a truly one of a kind pair of wedding rings,
a world that only the two of you could create.
I am deeply grateful to have shared in the time spent choosing rings
that gave shape to your feelings and story together.
Proposal of the Year
A proposal is a moment to express irreplaceable feelings to someone dear.
This category reflects our belief that because a ring is something tangible, it can also carry emotions that cannot be seen.
The lingering feeling of a proposal, remaining at the fingertips forever.
An engagement ring where the bouquet from that moment continues to bloom eternally.
Story
Set into the engagement ring were two gentle gemstones in pink and blue. They reflected the colours of the bouquet he had given her during the proposal. As the consultations continued and they spoke about wanting to incorporate something meaningful, the conversation turned to whether the colours of the stones could be changed. That was when she happily shared a photograph she had carefully kept of the bouquet from that day, saying how much she had loved its colours. She also shared her wish to wear the ring comfortably for many years to come. To honour that feeling, the design was arranged with softly rounded edges for a gentler fit against the hand. The couple’s memories, deep affection, and desire to continue cherishing one another were all carefully woven into the ring. When they saw the finished piece, they smiled and said, “These are the colours of that bouquet,” fondly remembering the day of the proposal. That quiet and gentle moment still seems to live on within the ring today.
Rings
Engagement Ring: Oblique
Bullion: Pt950
Customer's Voice
From Staff
The moment we decided together to capture the colours of “that day” within the rings, I felt that they had truly become your rings.
Seeing the two of you smile so softly as you admired the finished rings from every angle brought me genuine happiness as the person who had the privilege of supporting their creation.
May these rings, filled with your feelings and memories, continue to gently colour your future together.
Craftsman’s Choice of the Year
A special recognition chosen by the craftsmen who devote themselves to creating each ring,
for the rings that moved them during the making process.
Behind the words, “I don’t need one.”
An engagement ring created to quietly deliver feelings that still wished to be expressed.
Story
At one point, she had said that she “didn’t need an engagement ring.” But after a conversation during the formal engagement meeting, he quietly began to wonder, “Maybe she truly did want one after all.” From that gentle thought came a surprise engagement ring, prepared to be given on their wedding day. The ring was crafted with a wave inspired design, symbolising happiness that continues endlessly without interruption. While keeping a shared sensibility with the wedding bands, a blue diamond was set to one side of the otherwise classic design, carrying the wish that “no matter where the future leads, it will continue to shine beautifully.” In a quiet moment shared together before the ceremony, the engagement ring was presented alongside a heartfelt letter. It is a memorable story of ring making that symbolises both his continued thoughtfulness toward her and the journey they walk together.
Rings
Engagement Ring: Onda
Bullion: Pt950
Customer's Voice
From Staff
The engagement ring presented on the special day of your wedding, surrounded by the blessings of so many loved ones, carries his gentle and heartfelt feelings within it.
As a concierge, it truly meant a great deal to be part of the moment where the story of the time you have shared, and the future you will continue to build together, was given form through this ring.
Founder’s Choice of the Year
A special recognition selected by ith founder Takahashi, celebrating rings where the ideas of the ring coordinators, the “concierges” who face customers each day, truly shine.
A feeling tied together like a knot that can never come undone.
Engraved within is a ribbon illustration symbolising the bond of a family.
Story
The couple poured just as much care into the exterior of their rings, truly enjoying every moment of the ring making process at ith. For the engraving inside, they decided to quietly express their gratitude. “We had our parents write our names when we were born, so we thought it would be meaningful to include them in rings we’ll wear for a lifetime as well.” From that thought came the idea of engraving their names using handwriting from their parents — the hiragana written by their mothers, and the kanji by their fathers. “We’ve been together with marriage in mind from the beginning, and everything just fell into place naturally,” she shared with a smile. To reflect that feeling, a suggestion was made for the two of them to each draw half of a ribbon, a symbol of connecting people and hearts together. One especially memorable moment was watching the two of them happily refine the design together over and over again, enjoying every step of the process.
Rings
婚約指輪：フォレスタ
地金：K18PG
Customer's Voice
From Staff
At the centre of the rings are your precious names, handwritten by your parents, alongside a ribbon illustration drawn by the two of you together, each completing one half of the knot.
To me, it feels like an engraving that truly gives form to the idea of “because it is for a lifetime.”
Having these rings selected by Takahashi for the special recognition brings me great joy, and more than anything, the first thing that came to mind was how excited I am to share the news with the two of you and see your smiles once again.
過去に開催された指輪大賞はこちら
