African Cowrie and Akan Weight Ring in Bronze – Adjustable and Unisex

The African Cowrie and Akan weight ring brings together two emblems of West Africa on a single band: the cowrie, a shell that served as currency for centuries, and the Akan weight, used to weigh gold dust. Cast in bronze and handmade in Africa, it is adjustable and unisex.

Two symbols, one ring

The cowrie circulated as a currency of exchange throughout West Africa. It is associated with prosperity, fertility and protection. Its full story is told in our article The cowrie in Africa, from currency to jewelry.

The Akan weight comes from the Akan kingdoms of Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, where gold dust served as currency. Each weight corresponded to a value, and its shape often referred to a proverb. The Baoulé of Côte d'Ivoire are one of the Akan peoples. Read: Akan weights and Adinkra symbols.

Together on the finger, both say the same thing: value, exchange, what is passed on.

Ring details

• Material: bronze
• Motifs: a cowrie and an Akan weight
• Motif dimensions: 5 cm (2 in) high, 4 cm (1.6 in) wide
• Size: adjustable, simply open or gently close the band
• Making: cast by hand in Africa, using the lost-wax technique
• Style: unisex
• Availability: made in small batches

As the mold is destroyed after casting, no two rings are alike.

How to wear it?

With its wide motif, it is worn on its own, as a statement piece, on an otherwise bare hand. To extend the Akan world: the bronze Akwaba ring, the Akan weight choker necklace or the bronze Cowrie earrings. Browse all our African rings.

Frequently asked questions

What does the cowrie symbolize?

The cowrie served as currency in West Africa for centuries. It is associated with prosperity, fertility and protection.

What is an Akan weight?

A small bronze object used to weigh gold dust among the Akan of Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, including the Baoulé. Each shape corresponded to a precise value.

Is the ring adjustable?

Yes. The band is open: gently open or close it to fit your finger.

Is it a ring for women or for men?

It is unisex.

Are all the rings identical?

No. As each piece is lost-wax cast, no ring is quite identical to another.

How do I care for bronze?

Wipe the ring with a soft, dry cloth, store it somewhere dry and take it off before showering, swimming in the pool or the sea. Bronze develops a patina over time; a gentle metal polish restores its shine.

Can I give it as a gift?

Yes, to a man or a woman: it is unisex and adjustable, so size is no worry. The cowrie speaks of prosperity, the Akan weight of memory: it is a gift that carries a wish. For a birthday, a success, a new departure or a celebration. You also have 14 days from delivery to change your mind.

Kaolack Créations — Jewelry
Kaolack Créations offers traditional African jewelry and designer jewelry, made by traditional African artisans and Afro-descendant designers. Each piece belongs to a continuity of forms, gestures and symbols specific to African cultures.

In African civilizations, metals have a spiritual and social role. Silver, copper and bronze are worked using ancestral techniques passed on through direct apprenticeship, some of which are now forgotten or endangered.

Fair pay. We work with each artisan directly, over the long term, and we pay the price they set. To go further, read our article The social role of jewelry in Africa.