Designer Creates 3D Printable, Wearable Cities Through Shapeways

After graduating from college, I spent a year pursuing a Master’s Degree in Dublin, Ireland. While I loved the city, the highlights of my time overseas were the inexpensive flights that allowed me to travel to London, Prague, Budapest and Edinburgh on a budget. I was awed by every city that I visited. I fell in love with Edinburgh in particular, and wished I could carry a piece of it with me. The closest I was able to come was drilling a hole into a two pence coin I found in the street, putting it onto a cord and wearing it as a necklace. It’s become a bit of a talisman for me, particularly on days when I feel ground down by the monotony of my day-to-day Ohio life and need a reminder that, once upon a time, I was an exciting, sophisticated European traveler.

Anyone who has spent some time traveling knows the feeling of wanting to physically hold on to a favorite place, hence the popularity of souvenir shops. Jewelry designer Ola Shekhtman understands this feeling, and has translated it into beautiful 3D printed jewelry in the image of some of the world’s most beloved cities.

Printed through Shapeways and sold through her shop Shekhtman Dreams, her Cityscapes rings are delicate, wearable portraits of city skylines or notable attractions. Love New York? Now you can wear the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Chrysler Building in gold or silver around your finger. Currently, Shekhtman offers rings that pay homage to Paris, Amsterdam, New York and Berlin.

Location-inspired jewelry and clothing is always in demand. A quick Google search for “Paris jewelry” returns millions of results, a vast majority of them featuring Eiffel Tower pendants. While Shekhtman’s Paris ring does include the Eiffel Tower, it blends seamlessly into the Moulin Rouge, Arc de Triumph and Sacre Coeur to capture the feel of the city in miniature.

Check out the mini video Shekhtman created for a more detailed look:

Shekhtman’s Cityscape rings are available in silver, platinum, brass, bronze, 14k gold, 14k white gold, 14k rose gold, 18k gold, 14k gold plated, 14k rose gold plated, rhodium plated, and 18k gold plated options. They range in price from $69 (polished bronze) to $999 (solid platinum).

Her ring designs also extend to her musical interests; one of her shop’s more popular items is a ring in the shape of the Beatles logo. She also offers pendants in the shape of animals and angels, but her Cityscape rings stand out from her other products in terms of originality and fine detail. Her creations can also be found in her Etsy shop.

Is your favorite city not included in Shekhtman’s collection? Send her a tweet to her account @Shekhtwoman and see what she plans to design next. Let us know your favorite parts of these designs–or which city you’d like to wear wherever you go–in our 3D Printed Cityscape Rings forum thread over at 3DPB.com.