Ever wondered where the idea of a spoon ring comes from? To be totally honest I hadn't even thought of this at all before I was asked the question about a year ago.
The answer, funnily enough, came from another customer at one of our high street markets and is just as interesting as the concept of cutlery jewellery itself.
Spoon rings originate from the 17th century, in large estate houses similar to the manor you see in Downton Abbey. This is where servants, who worked and often lived on the estate, couldn't afford anything close to a traditional wedding ring made of silver or gold. So, to get around this, some would steal the sterling silverware from the house and its owners, to then make rings of their own.
This meant they could now give a unique silver ring to one another on their marriage day (which would often have the family crest still on it from the house it was from).
How Are Spoon Rings Made?
Spoon rings can either be made using a hammer and metal rod or by using a special machine known as a ring shank bender.
The first method involves a lot of time, patience, and sometimes brute force. This is as simple as it sounds, bending the spoon around the metal by beating it with a hammer. This can be done without too much stress with thinner spoons made of softer metals like sterling silver. Thick or hard metals like steel won't work here.
For more accurate results a shank bender can be used, which is basically a leverage machine that bends the spoon around a metal post. This can take some time to get used to, but means you can bend more material, and make spoon rings much more efficiently, even if it is an expensive piece of kit.
Spoon rings are fun to make, and we don't want to gatekeep information at Silver Hollow Jewellery, so give it a try or ask us any questions you like! If you're looking for an instant professional piece, we're also happy to take your cutlery and turn it into handcrafted jewellery- just contact us and we'll help you out.
Spoon Rings Today
Now, in the 21st century, spoon rings seem to have made a comeback. The unique and eco-friendly nature of this jewellery means you can stand out from the crowd, and own something with a history to it. These are the same reasons as to why we choose to make all of our jewellery from recycled materials at Silver Hollow Jewellery. Whether it's from genuine Victorian coins, silver spoons, or recycled silver, you can rest assured that any piece crafted by our hands is one-of-a-kind and made with care.
Find a range of recycled spoon rings, coin jewellery and sterling silver here and grab yourself or a loved one a unique piece that means something. If you'd like help choosing the right spoon ring — from silver content and sizing to what makes one worth wearing every day — our guide to choosing a silver spoon ring covers everything before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do spoon rings come from?
Spoon rings originated in 17th century England, where servants working on large estates could not afford traditional silver rings. Some would take sterling silverware from their employers and fashion it into rings to give as wedding bands — often with the household crest still visible on the finished piece.
Are spoon rings a modern invention?
No — spoon rings have existed since at least the 17th century. They fell out of widespread use but have seen a significant revival in recent decades, driven by an interest in sustainable, upcycled jewellery and the appeal of owning something with genuine history built into the material.
What is a spoon ring made from?
Spoon rings are made from real cutlery — most commonly vintage or antique sterling silver spoons. The spoon handle is shaped into a ring band, sometimes retaining decorative hallmarks or patterns from the original piece. Some spoon rings are made from silver-plated cutlery rather than solid silver, so it is worth checking the silver content before buying.
Why are spoon rings popular today?
Spoon rings appeal to people who want jewellery with a story — each ring comes from a real piece of cutlery with its own history. They are also genuinely sustainable, made from reclaimed material rather than newly mined silver. And because every spoon is different, no two spoon rings are ever exactly alike.