Unique memorial ring from Basel combines retinal pattern with diamond made from ashes
RETINA®, a Basel-based studio specializing in personalized, one-of-a-kind jewelry, has created a memorial ring that combines the wearer’s unique retinal pattern with a diamond made from the ashes of his deceased brother. The 18-year-old customer traveled from abroad several times for this special commission to have the ring made after his brother passed away at the age of 30.
The piece of jewelry combines two personal elements: the young man’s retinal pattern, which was cast in platinum, and a memorial diamond made from the ashes of his deceased brother. The retina, the vascular pattern on the back of the eye, is unique to each person and remains unchanged throughout their lifetime. Even identical twins have different retinal patterns.
“It’s not about selling 20 grams of platinum,” explains Dr. Stefan Wacha, founder and CEO of RETINA®. “It’s about leaving people with something they will cherish for the rest of their lives, capturing the story of a unique connection that will never exist twice.” The two brothers are connected for eternity through this piece of jewelry.
The consultation between Wacha, the customer, and his mother, which lasted several hours, led to the development of the ring, symbolically reuniting the brothers. Marlen Wacha, co-founder and jeweler, set the memorial diamond in the center of the wearer’s radiating Retina pattern.
In 2017, RETINA® developed the concept of transforming retinal patterns into unique, handcrafted jewelry. The Basel goldsmiths were the first in Basel to use eco-gold and work exclusively with sustainable precious metals certified by the London Responsible Jewelry Council.
The studio offers several applications for memorial jewelry:
- Integration of memorial diamonds with retina patterns from living or deceased persons
- Pendants that can be divided so that several family members can inherit keepsakes
- Bracelets with up to eight different retinal patterns from family members
In a recent order, a customer is planning a pendant with her retina on the top and her husband’s on the bottom. After her death, the vertically divided piece of jewelry will be passed on to her two daughters. Each daughter will receive half of both parents’ patterns.
The retina scan takes less than a minute and is as safe as a standard eye exam. Ophthalmologists and optometrists in Switzerland store retinal images for 20 years so that relatives can use these images for memorial jewelry.
The workshop at Rheinsprung 10 in Basel crafts each ring by hand. The standard production time is six to eight weeks. Rings start at CHF 2,600 for gold or platinum, with the final cost depending on the material, width, and stone setting.
“Gold coins from the Roman Empire are still being found 2,000 years later,” says Wacha. “Our jewelry has the potential to last not just generations, but centuries, carrying not the emblem of a ruler into the future, but a distinct and unique personal testament to a connection that will never exist twice.”
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Those interested can request a free consultation via the website: https://retinadesign.com/
About Retina
RETINA® is a Basel-based studio that has been creating bespoke, one-of-a-kind jewelry since 2007. Since 2017, the company has been transforming unique retinal patterns into handmade jewelry made from fair trade precious metals. Founded by Dr. Stefan Wacha, a neuroscientist and goldsmith, and experienced goldsmith and jeweler Marlen Wacha, the studio uses precious metals certified by the Responsible Jewelry Council. The protected trademarks Retina® and RetinaCode® are registered in Europe and the UK. The studio is located in a 16th-century building in Basel’s old town.
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Media contact
Dr. Stefan Wacha
Founder & Managing Director
Retina
+41 78 891 79 89
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