High-tech, brilliant and just plain bizarre, these 31 rings aren’t exactly your standard precious gemstone set in a valuable metal band. Sterilized human teeth, living plants, replicas of food and creepily realistic representations of body parts challenge notions of beauty in jewelry while tiny projectors, pillows, books and programmed end dates provide unusual functions.

Teeth Rings by Polly van der Glas

(images via: vanderglas.com.au)

Outfit your fingers with four human teeth – complete with cavities and amalgam fillings – or go a little more subtle with three incisors or a single statement-making molar. These bizarre handmade creations by Australian artist Polly van der Glas are made with donated, sterilized teeth set onto silver rings. The artist (who also makes jewelry with human hair) says, “When attached to the body, we praise hair and teeth that adhere to the rules. They are key sites where body beauty is defined. Yet when they are shed, their meaning and value undergoes a dramatic transformation.  Polly’s work explores this transformation in meaning, and uses it to destabilise ideas about beauty.”

Projector Ring

(image via: lukejerram.com)

In a darkened room, shine a light through this incredible one-of-a-kind ring by Luke Jerram and jeweler Tamrakar and it will project a selection of miniature slides onto a surface like a wall or a piece of paper. Jerram, who created it as a wedding ring for his own wife, explains, “The ring was my first prototype and was made by hacking apart disposal cameras to find the right lens I needed.” Unfortunately, the ring was stolen, but Jerram replaced it with an equally beautiful and unusual ring. The Talking Ring has a 20 second recorded message – Jerram’s proposal – etched onto its surface. The message can be played back with a miniature record player.

Crayon Rings by Timothy Liles

(image via: timothyliles.com)

They look like simple, colorful plastic rings, but they’re even more fun than that. Brooklyn-based designer Timothy Liles produced these ‘crayon rings’, which are actual functioning washable crayons sold in packs of eight.

Cactus Rings by Barbara Uderzo

(images via: alternatives.it)

These organic rings by Barbara Uderzo are planters in which beautiful, prickly succulents are planted. They’d certainly make a punch more painful.

Pilo-Pilo Cushioned Ring

(image via: pilopilo.com)

Have you ever rested your head on your hand only to find that your knuckles are uncomfortably sharp? No? Well, the makers of the Pilo-Pilo Ring think that you could use some extra padding when you’re “thinking, daydreaming… falling asleep” or perhaps some comfort “when you got stood up on a date.” So basically, it’s like a miniature boyfriend pillow?

Digitus Ring by Charles Widlin

(images via: yanko design)

This concept by Charles Widlin holds 1,400 magnetic spheres which rotate into place according to micro computer circuitry, displaying letters or numbers without the use of LCD screens. Widlin imagines that the Digitus Ring could be used to display the time, or an important date.

Sculptural Flower Rings by Alidra Alic

(images via: alidraalic.com)

This is more than just jewelry – it’s a wearable sculpture. Alidra Alic creates stunningly complex floral jewelry created using a plastic technique in conjunction with sterling silver and semi-precious gemstones. “Furthermore I work with themes of illusion and lack of function in order to awake my viewers’ curiosity and to show jewelry in new value contexts,” says the artist.

Love Letter Ring by Colleen Baran

(images via: colleenbaran)

Leave a loved one a special message whenever the mood strikes with one of jeweler Colleen Baran’s ‘Love Letter’ Rings, which print messages like ‘I miss you the second you leave’ when use with water-based inks.

Sound Wave Wedding Bands

(images via: sakura koshimizu)

Preserve your words in a highly unusual piece of jewelry with Sakura Koshimizu’s Sound Wave wedding bands. The artist turns a short sound clip into sound waves which are laser-etched into gold, silver or steel.

Belly Button Ring… For Your Finger

(images via: yuyen chang)

No, it’s not a ring that you put in a navel piercing – it’s a disturbingly realistic recreation of a naval, on a ring. Metalsmith Yuyen Chang has designed an entire line of ‘orifice jewelry’ including brooches and pendants, in case you’re eager to buy a matching set.

Remember Ring Won’t Let You Forget

(image via: alaska jewelry)

If you buy the Remember Ring, you’ll never forget your anniversary again – because your finger will gradually get hotter and hotter until you’re physically uncomfortable. The ring uses a ‘micro thermopile’ to convert the heat from your hand into electricity. You specify your anniversary date, which is programmed into the ring. 24 hours before your special day, the ring will gradually heat up, “but not hot enough to burn,” so say the jewelers.

Architecture Rings by Philippe Tournaire

(images via: phillipetournaire.com)

Wear your love for architecture on your finger with platinum or gold diamond rings shaped like buildings. Parisian jeweler Philippe Tournaire recreates structures from around the world including his home city, Moscow, New York and more, and has even made replicas of entire city blocks.

Mmm… Miniature Food Replica Rings

(images via: souzou creations)

As if you needed another reason to daydream about lunch until noon rolls around, these rings by SouZou Creations will have you salivating over cupcakes, pizza, spaghetti and pie. These quirky kawaii-style creations made of plastic, glass, metal and ceramic are the work of Sofia, a Canadian living in Japan.

Book Ring by Ana Cardim

(images via: anacardim.com)

Ever wish you always had some paper at your fingertips, so you could write things down whenever the mood strikes, no matter where you are? This miniature notebook ring by Ana Cardim makes that possible, though you’ll have to think of another way to carry a pen.

Pimple Popper – Grossest Ring Ever?

(images via: artbywinona)

Who hasn’t looked down at their finger and wished that what they saw there was a disgusting pustule about to pop? An Etsy seller called ArtbyWinona makes that dream (or nightmare, depending on your perspective) come true with this ring made of sterling silver, freshwater pearl, copper and enamel.  Says the artist, “I am just going to come out and say it…..I like popping pimples, zits, black heads, white heads, you name it I like to pick at it! Disgusting I know, but I have a feeling I am not alone. I am just one of the few that will admit it and come out of the closet.”

Some tech-inspired jewelry can be cool. When it’s recycled parts that help save the planet and look great, it’s flat out sexy.  To the untrained eye, it appears like jewelry. However to the jaundiced eye of a digital warrior, you will get a nod of understanding for your wisdom in all geeky things. Even code junkies wear jewelry and move away from the computer and into the outdoors from time to time. Gadget freaks and eco-geeks can all get behind this type of geekdom and flaunt it with a flair. Here are 42 fantastic fusions of tech meshing with art in geek jewelry.

Do-It-Yourself Geek Earrings

(image credits:Gadget Venue,Gadget Venue,Stewart Dollhouse Creations,ArtEco)

Does she have a Mac? Then she might like power button earrings from an Apple computer. How about a pair of dangling earrings like the 3″ 1 Meg SIMM’s? Spice up her black outfit with these 8 pin black cyber bug earrings that are repurposed from microcontrollers. Ladies, you don’t need a guy to get you these. Do it yourself, literally, recycle your scrap parts into jewelry. Who wouldn’t like shiny and sexy? Such is the case with the chandelier gold plated double quad interconnect pins. All these earrings are sharp.

Eco-Geek Earrings

(image credits:ArtEco)

Sharp thinkers and those close to a graveyard of discarded electronic parts combine their love of tech with their love for the planet by creating amazing wearable art. In the upper left, two identity circuit boards, electronic DNA identifiers, have been recreated into cute dangle earrings. For something a bit louder, then a person could wear the silver hard drive head propulsion armatures in the upper right. Going out somewhere treacherous but want to go in style? The bottom left dangle earrings are both rare as well as designed for the hostile environment of outer space. The dangle earrings on the bottom right are historic and repurposed into fashion, but were once used in a Circa 1950 missile guidance system.

Hardware Hacked into High Geek Fashion

(image credits:ArtEco)

Does vintage jewelry appeal to you? On the upper left, these read-write hard drive heads have been recreated as a fashion statement. On the upper right, these RAM earrings are available with or without the sticker. Do you prefer Intel on the inside? How about on the outside by wearing these Intel watchdog chip earring on the middle left. Do you want to give him a jolt? The red dangle earrings came from a 5000 volt pulse charge laser power supply capacitor. It’s quite the mouthful, but they look hot.  For music lovers who are also geeks, then perhaps you might like the read-write head from a CD drive like in the bottom left.  If you like to keep your security tight with read-only rights, then the shiny gold earrings on the bottom right were recycled EPROM from Signetics military aerospace.

Vintage Geeky Jewelry

(image credits:ArtEco)

For people who like to wear pin jewelry or bracelets, this stunning collection should appeal to even the non-geeky. What makes them so special is that they are straight up geek. On the upper left, this chip montage includes various processors, EPROMs, RAM, and D to A converters from 7400 series chips. Yet on the upper right, this bracelet was repurposed from memory and might help make the time that you wear it more memorable. On the lower left, this vintage pin was recycled from a rare main processor. Do you love your cell phone? Then the middle bottom pin might be the thing for you. It was made from the first “brick” portable cell phones and had a previous life as a Motorola transmit/receive amplifier.  If you prefer your jewelry as unique are you are, then the bottom right pin is a one of a kind collage of geeky guts.

Tech and Art Combined

(image credits:ArtEco)

Necklaces, most folks like them. These geeky fashion statements range from everyday to special night out wear. On the upper left, the red 80186 chip has 7 gold plated launch pins as well as a Bakelite gaming disk. The upper middle jewelry was recycled from an early model Apple 6800 processor. On the upper right, this technomontage series necklace combines both analogue and digital chips into a fantastic piece of jewelry. If it has to be Mac or nothing, then the bottom left necklace is all Apple. In the bottom middle, if you weren’t a geek then you might not realize this copper and embossed necklace came from a computer. The bottom right necklace is sure to be a conversation starter, which may benefit a geek since we tend to not be our strongest with face-to-face people skills. It is a vintage original and functional dosimeter that was used to read radiation exposure and measures 1 to 100 röntgen.

Splashy and Flashy Geek Necklaces

(image credits:ArtEco)

Can old tech be turned into splashy and flashy? Without a doubt, the gold plated necklace on the top left is a stunner. In fact, all of the above geeky fashion statements are but examples of eclectic fusion in art and technology. ArtEco caters to the eco-geek with their wearable art made from recycled materials. Both the geek movement as well as the eco-geek culture is sliding closer to mainstream, yet there would be many non-techies who will admire your fashion accessories. Don’t expect them to understand your jewelry has been repurposed from what makes us tick and makes us slick.

Geektastic Jewelry

(image credits:hemmy,hemmy,hemmy,Stewart Jewelry,Stewart Jewelry,hemmy)

If cracking open that computer case and tinkering with hardware is no big deal to you, then the gold plated screws and wingnuts might be just the ticket. Or you might select RAM or any other previously used piece of electronics to create your own eco-geek jewelry style. Unix much? Whatever operating system you are into can be reflected in your sense of style like the F2 and F4 necklace above.  Seems like it is starting off right with the 69 blue resistors that have been recreated into this 15″ choker necklace. They are even RoHS compliant. It’s almost like it’s contagious; this eco-geek fashion so entertains us that we might make that next great geeky piece of jewelry. Recall that before you toss out electronic drum chokes or old pieces off your keyboard.

Geekdom: Wedding Rings

(image credits:Jana Brevick)

Rings, that’s right…wedding rings made from recycled male and female plugs. The creating artist might be trying to communicate a geek-coded message to future customers with the names of her creations. Getting married, why not consider Screwed (middle) or Jacked (top)? If it makes your head spin, then maybe the 8-Prong serial plug rings are more your style? We geeks sure do have a good sense of humor. So go forth and have fun creating your own geeky jewelry.