When My Daily Armor Became
a CMD Ring Design

I’ve called my jewelry my daily armor for years. There’s something about putting on a substantial ring, stacking up both hands and feeling the weight of metal on my body that changes how I carry myself. Jewelry can absolutely be beautiful, but for me, the pieces I reach for again and again do something more. They make me feel grounded, strong and a little more ready to take on whatever the day has in store.

Eventually, I decided to take that idea very literally. The result was the CMD Armor Ring, one of the biggest, boldest and most substantial rings I’ve ever designed.

From Daily Armor to an Actual Armor Ring

I have always had a penchant for bold, weighty rings. Give me a substantial hunk of metal and I'm happy. When I designed the original sample of the Armor Ring, I wanted to see how far I could push that instinct while still creating something simple enough to become part of an everyday jewelry uniform.

The original version measures a whopping 15mm wide by 2mm thick and weighs more than 21 grams. For comparison, that's more than double the weight of our popular Rogue Ring. There isn't a lot happening ornamentally, and that's intentional. The scale, weight and beautiful expanse of metal are the design.

I started wearing that original sample constantly, often paired with my 5mm 14k Gold Round Ring. People kept asking about it, which eventually made the decision pretty easy: this beast needed to become part of the collection.

Why the Weight Matters to Me

I've always loved jewelry that you can actually feel on your body. I don't mean uncomfortable jewelry, but pieces with enough presence that you're aware you're wearing them. That physicality is part of what makes the idea of jewelry as armor resonate with me in the first place.

The Armor Ring takes up space unapologetically. On its own, it's a giant sweep of sterling silver across the finger. Stack it with something slimmer and the contrast makes both pieces more interesting. I love mine alongside that 5mm gold band, but it also pairs beautifully with something narrower like the 2.5mm Wide Monotone Stacking Ring or other favorites from The Ring Bar and our Special Occasion Bands.

Not Every Ring Is Supposed to Work for Every Hand

This is something I think we sometimes forget when we're shopping for jewelry online. The original Armor Ring is extremely wide at 15mm, and I'm the first person to tell you that it simply isn't going to work comfortably on every hand. You need a fair amount of real estate between the base of your finger and your knuckle to accommodate that much metal.

That's exactly why we also created a 12mm version. It still has the heft and visual impact that make the Armor Ring what it is, but those three millimeters can make a meaningful difference depending on the proportions of your hand.

If you're unsure which width is going to work for you, get in touch. This is exactly the kind of thing we're happy to help you figure out rather than having you guess from a photograph.

What Daily Armor Means to Me

I don't think jewelry gives us confidence that wasn't already there. What it can do is become a physical reminder of it. The rings I put on every morning are part of how I get dressed, but they're also part of how I prepare myself for the day. Over years of wearing them, scratching them, traveling with them and living my life in them, they've become incredibly personal objects.

That's what I mean when I call jewelry my daily armor. It doesn't have to be a 21-gram slab of sterling silver to serve that purpose, either. Your armor might be a tiny ring you've worn for fifteen years, a stack you've slowly built one piece at a time or something inherited from someone you love. Mine just happens to include a lot of very big rings.

The CMD Armor Ring is probably the most literal expression of that philosophy I've ever made, and nearly two years later, I'm still wearing the original sample. I'd say that tells you everything you need to know.

Stack on, friends!
Colleen

© Colleen Mauer Designs. All rights reserved.
Published: October 17, 2024
Updated: August 24, 2026