There is probably no more mysterious and cultic ring in the world of rock’n’roll than a piece that has been adorning the index finger of Keith Richards for almost 40 years. The renowned rocker does not part with this ring at the concerts or photo shoots, and even in everyday life, the jewelry is a faithful companion of the musician. The famous skull ring became an inspiration for many fans of rock and outrageous style. Its copy can even be seen on the hand of the musician’s friend, Johnny Depp. So where does the history of this world-famous jewelry starts?
The History of the Ring
The history of Keith Richards skull ring originates in 1979 when the famous London jewelers David Courts and Bill Hackett worked on a silver sculpture of the human skeleton in miniature. Using a real skull as a sample, they carved a perfect replica. When the skull was completed, the jewelers were struck with an idea to create an identical ring. This is how they created an original silver ring in the form of a skull.
The jewelers were close friends of Keith Richards. When they soon received an invitation from a musician to a party on the occasion of his birthday, the jewelers did not doubt that the silver ring would be a wonderful gift.
On December 18, 1979, Keith Richards turned thirty-six. The musician enjoyed the gift of David Courts and Bill Hackett very much. He immediately put the silver skull ring on at the party and after that, his look could not be imagined without this accessory.
The Symbolism of the Ring for Keith Richards
That New York party of 1979 was marked by the other event that affected the life of the musician. Keith Richards met his future wife there. It was a twenty-two-year-old model named Patty Hanson, a bright blooming blonde with beautiful eyes and a lovely smile.
The couple married exactly 4 years later, on December 18, 1983. They have 2 daughters and still remain happy even after 35 years of marriage.
Perhaps, the ring contributed to this happiness. It has long been known that many bikers use skull jewelry as some kind of guard against dangers and adversities. Musicians, of course, do not put their lives at the same risk as people who ride steel horses, but their life is full of temptations and adventures of a different kind. Many individuals did not believe that Keith Richards would live to be 40 years old given his turbulent lifestyle. Nevertheless, the rocker is already over 70 and he is still not going to retire.
For the musician, the skull ring became more than just a bodacious ornament. As the great rocker believes, it symbolizes the inner beauty of a person that prevails over appearance. Here's what Keith Richards himself says about it:
“The skull – it has nothing to do with bravado and surface bullshit. Beauty is skin-deep. This is what we are all like under the flesh, brother. Take off the hair, pull off the skin, you’re looking at the I and I”
What made the ring even more mysterious is the fact that the jewelers decided to make it only in one copy. The original ring is made of solid 925 silver. It has a genuine quality guarantee stamp of Courts and Hackett, the date, materials used, and the country of origin.
Despite the fact that the jewelers refused to produce duplicates, you can still adorn your image with this cultic accessory. Here, at Bikerringshop, we treat the work of Courts and Hackett with great respect, and as a tribute, we created our version of the Keith Richard ring. When implementing our ideas, we adhered to the proportions of the original in order to preserve its look and the spirit of rock'n'roll.