Medusa Molten Ring
For women who refuse to make themselves harmless.
Recycled solid gold, never hollow
Made in New York
Free shipping worldwide
Two year warranty
The Medusa Molten Ring carries the snake-haired Gorgon’s face in sculptural solid gold. Her image belongs to a long history of jewelry worn for protection: in the ancient Greek world, the head of the Gorgon, known as a gorgoneion, appeared on rings and pendants as well as armor and temples, where it was believed to ward off harm.
Medusa has no single ancient story. In Hesiod’s Theogony, she is one of three Gorgon sisters and the only mortal among them. Centuries later, the Roman poet Ovid tells of a woman celebrated for her beauty, raped by Neptune in Minerva’s temple, whose hair the goddess then turns into snakes. In the story of Perseus, her severed head retains its petrifying power and ultimately becomes part of Athena’s armor.
Her appearance changed, too. Early Greek artists gave the Gorgon wide eyes, bared teeth, and sometimes a beard. From the fifth century BCE, increasingly beautiful, human depictions appeared. Her role as a protective image endured alongside these changing faces.
Later feminist writers have found in Medusa a way to confront the fear and punishment of women’s power. In her 1975 essay The Laugh of the Medusa, Hélène Cixous challenged the image of femininity as something monstrous: “You only have to look at the Medusa straight on to see her. And she’s not deadly. She’s beautiful and she’s laughing.”
For Common Era, Medusa holds both the ancient promise of protection and the possibility of reclaiming a story told against you. Her face and surrounding snakes emerge from the ring’s molten gold surface, their sculptural details catching the light.
Made to order in New York City from 100% recycled solid gold. Available in 14k or 18k yellow, white, or rose gold. Please allow 3–4 weeks for production.
Why Solid Gold
Solid gold is for those who buy once and buy well. It will not tarnish, fade, or degrade; worn daily for decades, it only grows more beautiful. It is the right choice if you want a piece that lasts a lifetime or becomes an heirloom.
Gold has appreciated steadily for centuries and retains intrinsic value: it can always be melted down and reborn as something new. It is adornment that is also an investment.
Our solid gold pieces are cast using the ancient lost wax method and are never hollow. Every gram is 100% certified recycled, and every piece is made by hand in New York City.
Product Details
When will my piece ship?
Production time:
Most solid gold is handcrafted to order.
We keep a small inventory of solid gold pieces - please check just above the size/color selector to see if your piece is in stock.
If not, please refer to the above production timeframe.
FAQ
When will my order ship?
Solid gold pieces are handcrafted to order, though occasionally we keep a few items in inventory. It will show just below the item's price whether it is in stock or made to order.
Each item has a different lead time based on the complexity of the piece.
This piece's lead time is:
Why don't you make rings in Gold Vermeil?
While we love the affordability of vermeil, it's not an ideal metal for rings because our hands are exposed to so much wear and tear.
Vermeil necklaces can last 2 - 3 years with proper care, but we've never seen a vermeil ring last more than 6 months.
We believe it would be wrong to sell these rings to you in anything but solid gold.
Does your jewelry come in a box or a pouch?
Necklaces come in a beautiful maroon box, while rings come in an antique-style velvet box.
How We Price Our Gold Jewelry
People are always curious about how jewelry companies price their pieces - how can that tiny little piece be worth $3000? I was one of those skeptical people until I founded...
