Anelli: The Hand-Shaped Ring Guide from a Paris Atelier

Choosing among the rings offered by an artisan workshop means facing three concrete questions: which size, which metal, and which form of personalization. Since 2014, Atelier Paulin has hand-shaped, in Paris, a single precious wire into a word, an initial, or a capital letter — never engraved into a flat surface, but shaped within the gold or silver wire itself. In this article, you'll find how to navigate the Maison's three personalizable ring styles, the sizes available from 48 to 62, and the real crafting times depending on the metal chosen.

The Maison's three personalizable ring styles

Atelier Paulin offers three personalizable ring styles, each with its own approach to personalization.

The Original Personalized Ring holds a hand-shaped word of up to five letters: the lettering is entirely in lowercase, except for the letter "J," shaped in uppercase when it begins a word. No accents, no apostrophes — spaces can be added upon request.

The Original Initial Ring carries one or more initials, each referring to one or more cherished names. This isn't a letter picked from a ready-made alphabet: each initial refers to one specific person.

The Capital Initial Ring features a single uppercase letter — the "Capital" and "Capital Initial" styles are the only ones to carry lettering entirely in capitals, unlike the lowercase hand-shaped words.

This range lets you choose the ring according to the message: a whole word, a single initial, or one isolated capital letter. To browse visually among these options and the Maison's other creations, the general collection remains the clearest starting point.

Each piece is made from a single precious wire, never assembled from several strands — it's this continuity that gives the piece its resilience over time.

Available sizes: 48 to 62, how to measure your ring size

The sizes offered by Atelier Paulin range from 48 to 62, a span that covers the vast majority of adult hands, for both men and women.

To identify your size without guessing, the most reliable method remains measuring a ring you already own using a flexible tape measure or a strip of paper wrapped around the finger, then comparing it against a millimeter conversion chart. When in doubt between two sizes, it's generally recommended to choose the larger one, especially for styles worn daily.

Note that the material chosen doesn't affect the available sizes: sterling silver 925, 14k gold-filled, and 18k gold are all offered across the same size range.

For those who want to avoid any uncertainty, the Maison also offers an option unique to the Paris boutique: on-the-spot personalization at the workshop, in about thirty minutes — a moment when the size can be checked directly on the finger before the final shaping. This possibility remains unique compared to mass-market engraving shops, which don't offer this kind of hands-on experience.

For those looking for a piece to wear alongside a ring — on the wrist or around the neck — the Maison also offers bracelets and necklaces shaped following the same single-wire approach.

Sterling silver 925 or gold: which metal to choose for an everyday ring

The choice of metal depends first and foremost on intended everyday use.

Sterling silver 925 is an alloy containing 92.5% pure silver, bright white in color, hypoallergenic and antibacterial — a comfortable option for sensitive skin. It's a "living" metal: in contact with air, humidity, or chemicals, a thin layer of oxidation may appear, a natural and reversible phenomenon that never affects its quality. Pool, shower, and intense sport should be avoided with this metal.

14k gold-filled is instead a solid layer of 585/1000 gold bonded onto a brass base, containing 50 to 100 times more gold than a traditional gold-plated piece. It requires no special care: it doesn't fear water, and shower, pool, and beach are all fine. The only precaution concerns intense physical activity, best avoided to preserve the delicacy of the hand-shaped form. It exists only in yellow and rose — not in white.

18k gold (750/1000) is a solid gold wire made of 75% pure gold, known as "the Gold of French tradition." Each piece is hallmarked, certified, and hand-shaped by a Maison jewelry artisan. Available in yellow, rose, and white, it requires no special care either — lukewarm water and mild soap are enough.

For those who want a matching piece for the wrist in the same metal, the selection also extends to the Maison's necklaces.

Hand-shaping, work-hardening, and micro-welding: how a hand-shaped wire ring comes to life

Every ring starts from a single length of precious metal wire, never assembled from several strands. The artisan hand-shapes this wire to give it the form of the desired letter, initial, or word — this is where it fundamentally differs from engraving, where the design is carved into a flat surface, whereas hand-shaped wire is sculpted within the very thickness of the metal.

Once shaped, the piece is reinforced with laser micro-welding at points of tension — the shaped wire is indeed micro-welded, never left "without welding."

Next comes work-hardening, a cold-working process applied to the entire piece after shaping — never letter by letter — which gives the wire its shape memory and resilience over time.

Crafting times vary by metal: 1 to 3 business days for sterling silver 925 and gold-filled, 2 to 5 business days for 18k gold. These times cover the work done at the workshop, not including shipping. Home delivery then takes an additional 2 to 5 days, shipping included.

For those in Paris, two options are unique to the boutique: on-the-spot personalization at the workshop in about thirty minutes, or same-day courier delivery — a service no mass-market engraving shop offers.

Rings as gifts: which style to choose depending on the occasion

A personalized ring suits many occasions, provided you choose the right style for the message you want to convey.

For a gift meant to carry a full name or a short word — a first name, a word of love — the Original Personalized Ring remains the most legible option, with its five-letter maximum in lowercase script.

For a more discreet gift, one that evokes one or more people without displaying an entire word, the Original Initial Ring is better suited: one or more initials, each referring to a specific name.

For an even more minimal gesture, the Capital Initial Ring — a single uppercase letter — offers an immediate, discreet read, suited to everyday wear.

These three styles can also be combined with other Maison creations to build a set: for example, a necklace holding up to five names for a mother, or a duo style for a couple. The consistency across pieces — same wire, same work-hardening, same finish — makes the set recognizable without any visible logo needed.

Whichever style is chosen, the case that comes with every piece upon delivery makes the gesture instantly presentable, with no extra wrapping needed.