Tube S ring

Tube was born within the Unsuitable collection, which came about at a time when Maite was rather fed up with having to fit into every social paradigm: either you live and dress within certain norms, or you are unsuitable. Unsuitable is her answer.

The small ring takes that idea somewhere very simple: a metaphor about what constricts and what doesn't. It is like a wedding band, but doubled. As a single wire it would be just another band; doubled, it lets Maite play with what a wedding band means, something that so often encloses and tightens.

The question was how to give the idea of union some air, so it doesn't constrict. That is why it is adjustable: once you part the two wires it no longer looks like a wedding band, but like a different ring, with an opening.

Over time, Tube evolved until it was pared back to its essence: two rings, the L and the S, which are now part of the Silence collection, alongside the Tubos series.

It is one of the few pieces from the workshop with a polished finish. Maite hardly ever works with it, because she prefers the subtlety of matte, but here the metaphor of contradiction only worked if the piece shone much more and took centre stage.

The ring is made of two 1.2 mm wires with 24-carat gold plating, with no enamel and no colour: all its strength lies in the line.

It is made on Calle Alameda, in the Barrio de las Letras, in a workshop you are welcome to visit. If you come by, you will probably see the next one being made.

It is adjustable: part the two wires slightly and it adapts to your finger and, opened up, it no longer looks like a wedding band. Being polished, it shines more than almost anything else from the workshop: it works on its own, alongside the Tube L or with matte rings to play with the contrast.

The hypoallergenic coating protects the piece from contact with skin and perfume. A polished finish shows fingerprints more than matte: if it loses its shine, give it a wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Keep it dry and stored separately, and avoid putting on scent while wearing it. With normal wear and this care, the gold plating lasts for years.