MELBOURNE, Australia — Quarter Carat has launched the Stride Ring. It is the first piece in the Quarter Carat range to combine a lab grown diamond and a natural gemstone, and it was made specifically for 2026.
This is the Year of the Fire Horse. The first Fire Horse year since 1966, it carries symbolism that is specific and rare: freedom, strength, energy, and vitality, amplified by the fire element into something more intense than a standard Horse year. Action, forward momentum, the courage to move without the fear of obstacles. The Horse does not wait for the conditions to be perfect. It moves.
The Stride Ring was designed for the woman who recognises that energy in herself.
What the Ring Is
The Stride Ring is crafted in Quarter Carat’s proprietary 6K solid gold — 25% pure gold, solid all the way through. The band is organic and curved, widest at the front and narrowing at the back. It moves the way a year does, the way growth does: not uniformly, not in a straight line, but with presence at the moments that matter.
Set off-centre in a bezel is a 0.20ct oval lab grown diamond. Beside it, also bezel set, is a 0.10ct natural blue topaz in Swiss blue — a vivid, electric blue that sits against the gold with clarity and intention.
The two stones were chosen to work together, not to match. The diamond is brilliance. The topaz is meaning.
Why Blue Topaz
Swiss blue topaz is a vibrant, intense blue that symbolises truth, communication, and self-expression. It represents the ability to express yourself with accuracy, to calm a restless mind, and to see a situation for what it is rather than what you fear it might be. It is a stone of composed honesty — not silence, but speech that has been thought through.
For those who frequently feel overwhelmed or suffer from self-doubt, blue topaz provides a clear, steady energy that fosters courage and mental strength. It is, in the context of the Year of the Horse, the stone that keeps the forward momentum considered rather than chaotic. The Horse moves. The topaz asks: where to, and why.
It was chosen as the symbolic gemstone of the Year of the Horse for exactly that reason. Energy without direction is noise. The Stride Ring holds both — the fire of the year and the clarity to use it.
Who It Is For
The Stride Ring is for the woman who has done the work. Who has chosen herself, this year, in the Year of the Fire Horse — a year that only comes around once every sixty years — and wants something to mark that.
“This ring is about the woman who wants to purchase something to remember this year,” says Christina, Founder of Quarter Carat. “The Year of the Horse is about putting yourself first. Feeling free. Moving boldly and passionately. The Stride Ring is the piece that holds that.”
It is not a special occasion ring. It is a daily wear ring. The organic curved band fits like a finger glove — you barely notice it is there, which means you always are. The width is considered: substantial enough to have presence on its own, narrow enough at the back to stack with the Crossover Ring or the Honey Ring without crowding.
“It wears like a finger glove,” Christina says. “Perfect width to stack or wear alone. Its presence is known. You feel it there.”
The Year of the Fire Horse
2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse — a year that rewards courage, authenticity, and engagement. “The Year of the Horse is a reminder that life is meant to be lived, not postponed.” The fire element does not make the year easier. It makes the year more. More visible. More intense. More demanding of the people living it.
The Stride Ring was made for that year. Not as a trend piece, not as a seasonal edit. As a piece of solid gold you buy in 2026 because 2026 asked something of you, and you answered.
Details
- 6K solid gold alloy (25% pure gold)
- 0.20ct oval lab grown diamond, bezel set
- 0.10ct natural blue topaz (Swiss blue), bezel set
- 6.6mm at thickest point, 4.5mm at rear
- Quarter Carat stamp
- Custom sizing available
The 6K Gold Diamond Stride Ring is available now at quartercarat.com.au.
About Quarter Carat
Quarter Carat is Australia’s first 6K solid gold jewellery label, founded by Christina Loccisano and backed by over 30 years of fine jewellery industry expertise. The 6K alloy is 25% pure gold, solid all the way through, hypoallergenic, and designed for every ordinary moment. Pieces start from $149. Shop at quartercarat.com.au.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Stride Ring?
The Stride Ring is a new 6K solid gold ring from Quarter Carat featuring a 0.20ct oval lab grown diamond and a 0.10ct natural Swiss blue topaz, both bezel set on an organic curved band. It was designed for the Year of the Fire Horse 2026 as a daily wear ring for women marking a year of forward momentum, courage, and self-direction.
What does the blue topaz in the Stride Ring mean?
The natural blue topaz in the Stride Ring is Swiss blue in colour and was chosen as the symbolic gemstone of the Year of the Horse. Blue topaz is traditionally associated with courage, clear thinking, self-expression, and inner strength — qualities that align with the Horse year’s themes of forward momentum and bold action. It sits alongside the lab grown diamond to bring meaning to brilliance.
What is the Year of the Fire Horse?
The Year of the Fire Horse began on February 17, 2026 and is the first of its kind since 1966. In Chinese astrology, the Horse symbolises freedom, energy, and forward momentum. The Fire element amplifies these qualities into something more intense and decisive. It is considered a year that rewards courage and authenticity, and it only occurs once every sixty years.
Is the Stride Ring comfortable for daily wear?
Yes. The organic curved band is widest at the front (6.6mm) and narrows to 4.5mm at the back, fitting close to the finger like a glove. It is designed for all-day wear and can be worn alone as a statement piece or stacked with other Quarter Carat rings. It is crafted in 6K solid gold, so it does not need to be removed for everyday activities.
Can I stack the Stride Ring with other Quarter Carat rings?
Yes. The Stride Ring is designed to wear alone or stacked. Its curved profile and considered width make it a natural pairing with the Crossover Ring and Honey Ring. The 6K gold colour is consistent across the Quarter Carat range and compatible with 9K and 18K gold pieces as well.