In a photograph, Leon Megé’s La Petite Collection of diamond and gemstone rings appear to be life-size engagement rings, but in actuality, they’re teeny-tiny (10 mm in size) versions suitable for wear as charms on a chain. Though Manhattan-based Megé debuted them more than a year ago, he hasn’t done much in the way of promoting the rings until they took first place in the 2012 A’ Design Award and Competition in Italy this spring.

Megé made the first La Petite when a soldier-client of his wanted a keepsake reminder of her diamond engagement ring while on a tour of duty. She wanted “a little avatar of her real life engagement ring,” he tells JCK. Afterwards, the jewelry designer thought a collection of the little rings might encourage gifting between couples not yet ready for the real thing, and inspire collecting among fans. “They are like placeholders for your real life-size ring,” adds Megé.

Currently made in platinum with diamonds and gemstones, 15 SKUs are available and retail for $800–$2,500. Though Megé has sold about 20 since their launch, he’d like to partner with a retailer to make them more widely available. To sweeten the presentation, Megé has also manufactured tiny boxes outfitted with several slots to hold multiples, and he has certificates of authenticity for each. Check them out on Megé’s main website, or on two others created just for the rings—micropave.com and tinyrings.com.

“You know how Aaron Basha has the baby shoes,” he asks? “I want these La Petites to be my shoes.”

La Petite ring charms in platinum with diamonds and gemstones range in retail price from $800–$2,500.

JCK