Mimosa Jewelry founder Madeline Ellis began the handcrafted jewelry company in 2008, creating wearable works of art and releasing collections with deep meaning. From iconic Louisiana imagery to her pet collection, Mimosa pieces carry underlying significance and symbolism. And the newest Joy|Sorrow Collection is no different.

The collection is built around the ancient saying that there are 10,000 joys and 10,000 sorrows in life, serving as a reminder that we should all feel both, and that the human experience can’t exist without both.

“In life’s most trying times, we do our best to offer comfort to family, friends and, sometimes, even strangers. Other times, we simply want to hold a moment or a memory close,” Ellis says of the collection.

Based on the ancient Romans’ depiction of the number 10,000 (X) and this ancient saying, the collection features a simple raised ‘X’ for joy and a simple stamped ‘X’ for sorrow. Both underscore Ellis’s simple yet powerful message that the fullness of life doesn’t come from shrinking either.

To get a better look at this ring and the other meaningful pieces within the Joy|Sorrow collection, click here.