We know where to find the 'skull' ring like the one worn by Joaquín Sabina at his wedding
21 years ago, Joaquín Sabina wrote the song 'Rosa de Lima', dedicated to an unknown Peruvian photographer who had apparently stolen his restless heart. They met during a tour that the singer made through the Andean country and since then she became his muse, his partner and his confidante, someone who, as he himself declared on occasion, "has saved his life more than once." time". "Jimena does not pluck the daisies for fear that they will all say yes," said one of her verses, and that is precisely what Jimena has told the teacher from Úbeda after more than two decades of discreet relationship. The couple got married in the Madrid civil registry, in the presence of the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, a close friend of the couple, Sabina's two daughters, Carmela and Rocío, and Joan Manuel Serrat and his wife Candela, who were the godparents
Weddings in times of pandemic would not be understood without masks, and that is what all those attending the celebration used religiously, as reported by the newspaper El País. The couple left through the well-known 'wedding gate' on Pradillo street in Madrid, she dressed in beige with black sandals and he, in a blue suit, a black T-shirt and sneakers. On this occasion, he changed his iconic bowler hat for a straw boater and accompanied his wedding band with the only jewel he hasn't parted with for years: a skull-shaped ring that has a curious story behind it.
It is a piece with an aura of mysticism around it, since it was received as a gift from Keith Richards himself. The famous guitarist of the Rolling Stones is the genuine owner of the most mythical ring in the history of rock: that of a silver skull made with their own hands by London jewelers Bill Hackett and David Court. They gave it to him on the occasion of his 35th birthday and today, at 76, good Keith is still faithful to that jewel that he has always worn on the ring finger of his right hand. Given its impact, it was Richards himself who authorized his jewelers to make other similar rings to give to his loved ones, although he previously had certain modifications made that improved the original design. Some of them ended up in the hands of James Hetfield, Erick Clapton, Zakk Wylde, Billy Gibbons or, as is the case that concerns us, Joaquín Sabina.
This same story, that of jewelers who make skull rings to give to their loved ones and who, in turn, continue with the tradition, is repeated in Biscay thanks to JABIERBILBAO, the business name chosen by the designer of jewelry, Javier Hernandez. "It is something that I like to give to my acquaintances," he says. The actor and musician Asier Etxeandia is one of them and he does not miss the opportunity to show it off on stage. «Thank you JABIERBILBAO for giving me this ring that illuminates my emotion-trafficking hand. A fan of your creations, a Basque and an artist you had to be”, the actor and musician wrote on his Instagram profile, along with a photo in which he showed his precious jewel up close. How could it be otherwise, Asier's friends also have one.
From Javier's workshop in Portugalete, the municipality where he was born and where he has lived most of his life, come his hand-carved jewels with care and intuition, so much so that he hit the spot with the earrings he made to order. Duchess of Huéscar for the Seville Fair, without even knowing what her dress was going to be like, and with the funny customized 'skull' with a crest that she gave to Cristina Pedroche as a tribute to her husband.
The designer says that his 'Calavera' models are the most liked today. "It is a product that fits very well in the style of many people." However, she began to design them to give to friends she didn't see wearing flower jewelry or the like. «I am a Gemini, on the one hand I have my sappy part and I make flowers, clovers and cute things with a romantic halo. My other twin is a bit of a badass and the way he has to get it out is by capturing it in the skulls”, he tells us. Their popularity has grown, to such an extent that many people already associate them with their firm as soon as they see similar pieces.
That will have been questioned by more than one when seeing the jewel by Joaquín Sabina, which the designer describes as the “Sancta Sanctorum” of skull rings. "It is the wonder in which we have all been inspired at some time to make our own version," he acknowledges. In addition, given the success it has among the great stars of music, it has wanted to reveal the meaning that many of them give to this symbol full of magic and superstition. «The skull within the world of music, and especially among the great figures of rock, means that nobody is more than anyone else. As much as you have been in life, when we die we will all be the same. A widespread philosophy among rock lovers that has been passed down from generation to generation and that legendary musicians like Keith Richards or Joaquín Sabina always keep in mind.
