Wood, Sand & Story: Meet Drift by Stonington Designs

Two of the rarest natural elements on earth, wood and sand, come together in a refined collection rooted in craftsmanship, permanence, and place.

Created in collaboration with Drift by Stonington Designs, the Drifting Dune Double Channel Ring pairs natural hardwood with selected sand and earth elements from Dune Jewelry’s Sandbank. One material is shaped by time and tide. The other grows slowly over years, carrying the grain, depth, and character of the natural world.

Together, they create a modern heirloom designed to hold story, memory, and connection for a lifetime.

A Collaboration Rooted in Craftsmanship

Drift by Stonington Designs was founded by husband-and-wife duo Rich and Michelle Drake, whose work blends artistry, sustainability, and American craftsmanship. From their Connecticut workshop, they create handcrafted jewelry from reclaimed natural woods, giving meaningful materials a second life through work made by hand.

Rich’s background as a craftsman and process engineer allows the couple to manufacture jewelry components in-house, ensuring quality at every step. Michelle, an artist at the core of her being, brings a creative vision shaped by painting, design, and a deep appreciation for materials with history.

Together, they have built a brand that honors natural materials, thoughtful design, and the beauty of making something lasting by hand.

Giving Reclaimed Materials New Life

Over the years, Rich and Michelle saved end cuts of exotic woods from Rich’s projects, committed to honoring every beautiful piece of material. In 2022, after taking a basket weaving class, Michelle found the perfect inspiration: handcrafted jewelry.

Blending traditional weaving techniques with sustainable design, they launched Drift by Stonington Designs in January 2023, creating distinctive reclaimed wood jewelry in their Connecticut workshop.

Each design reflects a dedication to American craftsmanship, sustainable practices, and thoughtful design, transforming reclaimed materials into jewelry with depth, texture, and meaning.

Supporting Military Families Through Craft

As Stonington Designs grew, Michelle recognized the need for additional help with weaving. What began as a family conversation soon became a meaningful program inspired by their daughter-in-law Donna, who is married to their son Michael, an Air Force pilot.

Donna’s experience at a faraway base sparked the idea for what is now Stonington Designs’ Military Spouse Weaving Program.

The program offers military spouses free training, earning potential, and the opportunity for a flexible at-home work schedule. For families often far from home and family support, especially while a spouse is deployed or serving, this work offers a way to learn a new skill while contributing to their family’s bottom line.

It is a beautiful extension of Stonington’s mission: to provide high-quality wooden designs that showcase innovation, artistry, and reclaimed materials while supporting military families.

Introducing the Drifting Dune Double Channel Ring

The Drifting Dune Double Channel Ring brings this shared purpose into a refined unisex design crafted with natural wood, real sand, and enduring materials.

Formed in durable tungsten, the ring features two channels inlaid with natural hardwood and selected sand or earth elements from Dune Jewelry’s Sandbank. Clean lines, organic texture, and lasting materials come together in a design shaped by place, memory, and American craftsmanship.

Available with White Oak, Walnut, or Ebony, each wood carries its own natural character and symbolism:

• White Oak: Beauty | Faith | Balance
• Walnut: Confidence | Focus | Gratitude
• Ebony: Protection | Strength | Elegance

The result is a ring that feels both grounded and modern, created for anyone who wants to carry a meaningful landscape, coastline, or memory in a design made to be worn every day.

Which Sands Can I Add To My Ring?

Dune Jewelry’s Sandbank is our collection of over 5,500 sand and earth elements from meaningful locations around the world.

For the Drifting Sune Double Channel Ring, we’ve done the guesswork for you. Choose from selected sands and earth elements that reflect coastlines, landscapes, and memories across the country and beyond, including:

• The Coast of New England
• The Coast of Alaska
• The Beaches of The Outer Banks
• The Beaches of Florida
• The Beaches of Cape Cod
• The Beaches of The Jersey Shore
• The Beaches of The Caribbean
• The Coast of The Mediterranean
• The Coast of The Pacific North West
• Granite from The Rocky Mountains
• Shells from Hawaii
• Earth from All 7 Continents

Each element reflects the textures, tones, and quiet memories of places that stay with you, from a proposal by the water in Cape Cod to a family tradition along the Outer Banks, a once-in-a-lifetime journey along the Coast of Alaska, or the shoreline you return to year after year.

Wood, Sand, and a Story Made to Last

The Drifting Dune Double Channel Ring is more than a collaboration. It is a meeting of materials, makers, and meaning.

Wood, shaped through years of quiet growth. Sand, shaped by time and tide. Tungsten, chosen for strength and permanence. Together, they create a modern heirloom that honors where you have been, what you carry, and the story you are still writing.

Shop the Drifting Dune Double Channel Ring and choose the elements that tell your story.