The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Worn Out Wednesday – Aaron Ruff

By Cator Sparks January 28, 2015

Today we speak to Digby & Iona founder Aaron Ruff.

Aaron Ruff grew up in Maine always working with his hands, across construction, carpentry, woodworking, and welding. Moving to New York after being accepted into Parsons for furniture design, Aaron set up his own wood shop doing high end custom renovation and furniture. As a side project, Aaron began designing and making jewelry, and the stores that carried his furniture started ordering the jewelry too. Giving up his dusty wood working pants, Aaron decided to make the switch to designing and making jewelry as a full time project.

Digby & Iona emerged in 2006 after Aaron took a trip to Nova Scotia, where he visited two quiet seaside towns named Digby and Iona. Apart from liking the names, Aaron wanted some anonymity for his project.

Instead of using other jewelry as a reference, Aaron uses historical and literary reference. All of the Digby & Iona signet rings have literary reference – a main icon or symbol is surrounded by a quote that relates to it, and decoration from that period to complete the design. The main mission of Digby & Iona is to create heirloom quality work that is stylish today, and will also appeal to future generations.

Aaron currently works in a studio above The Invisible Dog Gallery building in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, with his two dogs Nuki and Finn. The studio is filled with curiosities collected from years of antiquing. Aaron always welcomes visitors to check out the space and his work in person.

Aaron hopes to open a retail space for Digby & Iona so his customers can interface with the jewelry.

As for his personal style:

Jeans: mostly Wallace and Barnes and Levis 501, patched and repaired within an inch of their lives

Shirts: 50s chambray work shirts, old white tees

Pants: Canton

Suits: Brioni for black tie, JCrew Ludlow for casual

Shoes: Vans, WW2 Boondockers, LLBean duck boots

Accessories: 45RPM leather belt and a Digby & Iona signet ring on each hand, Rachel Hauer Tattoos.

Outerwear: Mister Freedom N-1 jacket all winter long, French chore coats the rest of the year.

Favorite Cologne: gold and silver dust

Your favorite App: Instagam, common I know but it’s been pivotal in getting my work out to a larger audience.

Favorite piece of technology: 3D wax printer

Next tech purchase: Shop Fox Combo Mini Lathe / Milling Machine

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…

Fashion & Style

Best G-Shock Prime Day deals: As low as $50

G-SHOCK MTG-B3000PRB1 'Aurora Oval' Limited Edition

Prime Day is over for another year, but there are still some excellent watch deals around if you haven't got round to buying yourself a new watch yet. Right now, we're focusing on the best G-Shock Prime Day deals which remain. There are some great discounts around on the already highly affordable brand so you can enjoy some deep discounts in no time. These deals could end at any moment given Prime Day is over so don't delay if you see one that you love. These G-Shock deals won't be around forever so take a look at what's there and read up on our buying advice below.
The best G-Shock Prime Day deal
Casio G-Shock GWM5610 -- $103, was $150

Casio's G-Shock is a brand that's known for its durability, and the Casio G-Shock GWM5610 is an excellent example of what you can expect from its digital watches. It's an extremely tough watch because its shock-resistant design provides protection against all sorts of impact and vibration, and it also has 20-bar water resistance so you can wear it during swimming, surfing, jet skiing -- even just while taking a shower. G-Shock EL Backlight is also present, allowing you to see the watch face even in complete darkness. The Casio G-Shock GWM5610 is solar-powered, allowing it to convert even the faintest of light into energy that will keep it running without the need to replace batteries.

Fashion & Style

Best Timex Prime Day deals: starting at $38

While Prime Day might officially be over, there are still some great watch deals going on right now. While the deals may be lowering in number, there's still a chance to save big on some awesome affordable watches from Timex. These Timex watch deals are varied and delightful. Besides rounding up all the best deals, we've also taken the time to think about what you should consider when choosing a Timex watch, so you know exactly what will be best for your needs and situation. Here's what's out there but be quick as deals will end soon!
Best Timex Prime Day Deal
Timex Men's Weekender 40mm -- $38, was $65

The Timex Weekender is a wristwatch with a classic design, featuring a 40mm brass case with mineral glass crystal and a silver-tone finish, and an adjustable genuine leather strap. The watch features the brand's Indiglo light-up dial, and it's water resistant to depths of up to 100 feet. The Timex Weekender isn't designed to be worn for swimming, but it will be able to withstand splashes of water or brief immersion, so it's an excellent watch for weekend trips to the beachfront or pool parties. It's also pretty durable, so you don't have to be extra careful with your movements while you're wearing this watch.

Fashion & Style

Best Casio Prime Day deals: Cheap digital watches for $30

Casio G Shock MRG-G2000GA Gassan

While Prime Day is now over for another year, there are still some great watch deals around if you missed out on the main sales events. Numbers may be waning but there are some sweet bargains to chase still. We've rounded up all the best Casio Prime Day deals so you can save even more on the already highly affordable watch brand. It's perfect for a first watch or something a little retro. Besides picking out all the deals, we've also spent some time offering up what to consider when choosing a Casio watch too. Here's all you need to know but be fast as these deals will end very soon.
Best Casio Prime Day deal
Casio AE1200WH Series digital watch -- $30, was $43

The Casio AE1200WH Series digital watch is relatively affordable, but it's packed with features that you would appreciate on your wrist watch. It has a world time function that will let you check the time in 48 cities across 31 time zones, which will be very helpful for those who are working with colleagues spread across the globe. The watch will let you set up to five alarms, either on a daily basis or a one-time alert, and you can also activate an hourly time signal if you need to know whenever a new hour starts. The Casio AE1200WH Series digital watch is also water resistant to depths of up to 100 meters, so it's fine to wear while swimming and it won't be damaged by sudden rainfall, and its battery can last up to 10 years before requiring a replacement.