Beyoncé gives a ring to the V&A Museum in London

Jay-Z's intimate photographs of Beyoncé add to appeal of donation to V&A Museum of her Papillon ring by British jewellery Glenn Spiro.

23 May 2018

Normally associated with encouraging men to ‘put a ring on it’ on 11 May 2018, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter took her ‘Papillon’ ring from her finger to donate it to the V&A museum in London. The ring can be seen on Beyoncé’s finger in two portrait photographs taken by Jay-Z of his wife (below).

See more of Beyoncé's jewel choice here.

British jeweller Glenn Spiro who works under the enigmatic moniker ‘G’ made the ring in 2014. Typical of G’s work, the ring is extravagant, outsized and features vibrant colour gemstone combinations. Glenn Spiro began his career as an apprentice at Cartier’s workshops in London and has since grown his business selling to wealthy private clients from his mirror-lined showroom in Mayfair.

The wings of the Papillon ring by Glenn Spiro are made of titanium capable of being formed into large shapes while remaining light and strong, while the blue titanium adds a tonal richness to the jewel.

G was able to create a lifelike butterfly as if poised for flight that hovers over the finger thanks to the use of titanium in the wings. Lightweight and strong, titanium is ideal for creating large structures without the usual problems associated with heavier and more malleable metals such as gold. The wings are set with vibrant green tsavorites that give way to diamonds around the edges of the wing. The titanium has been treated to a blue finish and you can see the pleasing effect this creates where it is visible on the tips of the wings.

A good test of the craftsmanship lavished on a jewel is to turn the piece over. And the Papillon ring is a fine example of high-quality gem-setting and craftsmanship. A delicate lattice of irregular shapes to perfectly fit around each stone has been fastidiously crafted in titanium without any metal showing on the reverse side (below).

A reverse side view of the Papillon ring reveals a seemingly random honeycomb pattern of blue titanium that keeps the intricate pattern of tsavorites and diamonds in place.

Jewellery Curator at the museum, Clare Phillips said: ‘Beyoncé is a figure whose personal style the V&A is proud to represent, and a gift from whose personal collection we are honoured to receive. The papillon ring she has gifted is an exquisite example of contemporary jewellery design by one of Britain’s master jewellers.’

Given Beyoncé’s cult following as the most successful female artist of a generation along with the Jay-Z photographs of her wearing the ring, I suspect that the William and Judith Bollinger jewellery gallery at the V&A will find a whole new troupe of fans.

As if poised for flight, the butterfly on the ring Beyoncé has donated to the V&A was created in 2014.
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter took her ‘Papillon’ ring from her finger to donate it to the V&A museum. The ring can be seen on Beyoncé’s finger in two portrait photographs taken by Jay-Z of his wife.
Beyoncé’s Papillon ring that she has gifted to the V&A has been described by curator Claire Phillips as: ‘an exquisite example of contemporary jewellery design by one of Britain’s master jewellers.’
The wings of the Papillon ring by Glenn Spiro are made of titanium capable of being formed into large shapes while remaining light and strong, while the blue titanium adds a tonal richness to the jewel.
A reverse side view of the Papillon ring reveals a seemingly random honeycomb pattern of blue titanium that keeps the intricate pattern of tsavorites and diamonds in place.
Photographed by her husband Jay-Z, Beyoncé wears the Papillon ring designed by G (Glenn Spiro) that the artist donated to the V&A museum on 11 May 2018.