the new york times

april 28, 1991

‘diamonds rings meant for hiding and rattling”

It's called the Rattle Ring, although it's obviously not for babies unless Baby happens to be chic, stylish, au courant and more concerned with diamonds than diapers. The diamonds, you see (or, more accurately, don't see), are hidden inside this ring. Talk about surprises!

The brainchild of John Reinhold, a New York diamond dealer, and Marc Jacobs, a fashion designer, it is certainly different from other rings around town. On the exterior, this one is a simple-looking two-piece tubular band of 18-karat yellow or white gold.

But wait! Rotate the inner part of the closed ring against the outer part and -- voila! -- a small square portal slides open, revealing eight tiny compartments, each perfectly sized to hold one loose quarter-carat diamond. Even those secret decoder rings in old-time comic books never offered quite such a surprise. Dancing Diamonds

The name Rattle Ring, Mr. Reinhold explained, comes from the "music made by the diamonds dancing within their little houses as the ring is moved." The more diamonds within, the more apparent the music. Most people, he said, start out with four jewels, adding others as occasions demands -- sort of a charm bracelet or add-a-pearl of the 90's.

Mr. Reinhold, in fact, thinks of the ring as being "very 90's, discreet rather than ostentatious," much like wearing a raincoat lined with fur or having a monogram hidden on a sleeve rather than displayed on a cuff.

"When I'm feeling insecure, I simply look at the ring," he said. "When I'm feeling very insecure, I shake it against my ear and hear the diamonds moving within their little houses."

And for especially tense times? "I tap the ring and watch the diamonds fall gently out," he said. "Diamonds are very healing."

They can, of course, be costly, too. A Rattle Ring with 2 diamonds (the minimum) is $3,250; 4 diamonds, $5,250, 6 diamonds, $7,250, and 8 diamonds, $9,250. The hand-made rings may be purchased by appointment from Mr. Reinhold in his showroom at 555 Fifth Avenue (212) 867-8315.

The ring "is definitely not Las Vegas," the designer said. He prefers to compare it to "Castellaras, in the south of France." It is also, apparently, very New York. A Secret Society. As he entered the of-the-moment Coco Pazzo restaurant on East 74th Street, between Fifth and Madison Avenues, one recent night, several of his clients, including a head waiter, spotted the designer and waved their rings in greeting.

Mr. Reinhold, in turn, waved back happily. "I could actually hear all those diamonds dancing," he said. "It's sort of like a safe and sound secret society."

The rock singer Debbie Harry, who as a Rattle Ring owner is a member of that society, considers the ring "a symbol of deep love." The art consultant Henry Geldzahler said he thinks of his as a "refugee ring, something to trade, should I ever have to escape somewhere."

"It goes well with the $3 skull rings I bought on Eighth Street in the Village," said Stephen Sprouse, the fashion designer and artist. "And it's real cool to know what's hidden inside."

Jock Soto, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, said he finds his ring "very soothing." Kerry Riordan, owner of Not for Bodies Only, a fitness training, meditation and rehabilitation company, wears two Rattle Rings. "I do a lot of chaotic meditation, believe in the healing qualities of diamonds and love secret compartments," she said.

Paige Powell, director of advertising for Interview magazine, said: "The ring is like a little vault. I can ride the subways with it on." Although she has lost a diamond somewhere or other, she's considering occupying its empty house with a ruby or sapphire.

"For color," she said.