Kasun rethinks the signet ring with a smile
Kasun’s ‘Smile! It’s your birthday’ collection incorporates gemstones and a unique quirky grin for each piece

'Don’t worry, be happy!' may be easier said than done at times, but wearing a smile on your finger can only help. For Kasun creative director Kasun Ekanayake, it was a feeling he was keen to capture with his new ‘Smile! It’s your birthday’ necklace and ring collection.
‘Birthdays are a time where most people like to reflect back on the year before and think about the year ahead,' he says. ‘I just wanted to create a collection that celebrates positive thoughts and gives a gentle reminder to have fun, don’t worry too much, and be grateful for what you have achieved so far.’
This happy-go-lucky spirit is captured in the off-beat setting of the brilliant and baguette diamonds, which adds a playful element to these sophisticated stones.
Kasun’s smiling signet rings
Inspired by the Japanese practice of kintsugi (highlighting imperfections), Ekanayake wanted to emphasise that nothing is beyond repair, or has to stay broken. ‘We can pick ourselves up, and glue ourselves together with the golden threads of self-love, and grow stronger than before,' he adds.
The off-centre placing of the stones on the quirky smiles celebrates a cheeky imperfection, a welcome contrast to the veneered world of modern life. But, it wasn't all smiles during the construction of the collection. Says Ekanayake: ’I knew I wanted to incorporate stones into the design. The sourcing and cutting of all-natural birthstones for the smile was definitely the biggest challenge; each gemstone has been specially cut for this collection.’
Reflecting on the collection, he adds, ‘Take chances, be crazy, have fun, and don’t wait!’ With an array of necklaces and rings now available, Ekanayake can grin at his completed vision – a collection that celebrates living in the present with positive thoughts and happiness.
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Tianna Williams is Wallpaper’s staff writer. When she isn’t writing extensively across varying content pillars, ranging from design and architecture to travel and art, she also helps put together the daily newsletter. She enjoys speaking to emerging artists, designers and architects, writing about gorgeously designed houses and restaurants, and day-dreaming about her next travel destination.
-
A new Athens gallery is a celebration of old and new, a stone's throw from the Acropolis
New Athens gallery Melas Martinos by Local Local is a contemporary art space, a stone's throw from the Acropolis, in the Greek capital's Monastiraki neighbourhood
-
Haute Couture Week A/W 2025: live updates from the Wallpaper* team
From 7-9 July, Haute Couture Week A/W 2025 arrives in Paris. Follow along for a first look at the shows, presentations and other fashion happenings, as seen by the Wallpaper* editors
-
Boundaries between art and life dissolve in Katherine Hubbard's intimate documentation of her mother's illness
In 'The Great Room', Katherine Hubbard merges caregiving for her mother with an unflinching documentary of the process