Laser Engraving Options
New to the shop - many custom exterior engraving options for metal exterior rings, including:
Names
Fingerprints
Coordinates
Roman Numeral Date
Handwritten notes or symbols
Topographical Map
Porcelain Inlay Design Wedding Bands
Inlays of deliberately broken and meticulously shaped porcelain pieces are stitched together with delicate gold in accordance with the aesthetic of kintsugi, a Japanese art form that embraces the beauty in imperfection. Rather than discarding broken pottery or porcelain, kintsugi artisans repair them with a special lacquer mixed with gold or silver, emphasizing the cracks and imperfections. This practice is rooted in the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which celebrates the beauty in transience, imperfection, and asymmetry.
By highlighting the imperfections of the broken pottery, kintsugi artists are not only repairing the object, but also creating something new and beautiful out of something that was once considered flawed. This approach to repair is also seen as a metaphor for life and personal growth, as it encourages individuals to embrace their flaws and use them as opportunities for growth and transformation.
These ceramic and gold rings with an inlay of broken porcelain pieces serve as a reminder that imperfection can be beautiful, and that even broken objects can be transformed into something new and precious. By wearing this ring, you not only showcase your unique style, but also demonstrate a deep appreciation for the philosophy behind kintsugi. Wear it as a statement piece on its own or pair it with other rings for a personalized and eclectic look. This ring is perfect for those who appreciate the beauty in imperfection and want to add a unique and meaningful piece to their collection.
T-Rex Tooth and 14k Gold
Customer proposed to send in a genuine T-Rex fossil tooth for me to inlay into gold. Obviously, I had to make that happen.
Coated Tungsten Carbide
Coated Tungsten Carbide like Black Tungsten and Gold Tungsten Should Have Disclaimers
Rose Gold Tungsten Carbide and Ancient Russian Bog Oak
As tungsten carbide grows in popularity, so too do the number of styles, finishes, and colors. Black Tungsten, Gold Tungsten, even Blue Tungsten are being used in jewelry. I myself did not offer these options for a very long time. However, customers have voted with their inquiries, and I now have a few options to choose from. Despite their increasing popularity, I do not believe color-coated tungsten carbide rings are presented with appropriate disclaimers.
Tungsten carbide, straight out of the mold in which it is created, is a dark, dull grey. If the material in your ring is any other color, it is because it is being coated with a substance to give it that color. This coating absolutely does not possess the hardness of tungsten carbide. Though durable (it certainly isn’t going to wash off in any conditions), it is vulnerable to wear though the simple, normal activities rings are subjected to during wear: turning door handles, holding railings, manual labor. The color will wear off. It cannot be restored. It is only a matter of time.
The coated tungsten I use in my shop is the most durable you will find anywhere. That said, the color on that ring is going to scratch and wear off eventually. How long that will take depends entirely on what kinds of adventures your hands get into.
Piece of Old Frigate Constellation
This ring is made from oak - oak from one of the first American frigates of all time. The loose collection of ships that constituted the Continental navy during the Revolutionary War was almost immediately disbanded due to costs and lack of foreign interests. The swarms of pirates lurking offshore as well as constant tensions with both Britain and France very quickly revealed the shortsightedness of this plan. The most well-known early frigate would almost certainly be “Old Ironsides,” the USS Constitution. However, the USS Constellation, a 38-gun, 3 masted frigate was constructed and launched the same year. The wood for this ring is from the original, which was broken up in 1853. The wood was provided by a customer who told me it came from a decommissioned museum.
Charbay Distillery, Working with Small Batch Distillers
I have been working with whiskey barrel wood for the past 10 years in my rings. I regularly work with many of the largest distilleries in the country as they are the most popular and what customers tend to request. In the past, I have worked with smaller, local distilleries when a customer requests or sends in a particular barrel wood. Recently, I had the idea of being more proactive in promoting these smaller distilleries as they often make some of the best products and as a small business myself I understand the difficulties of getting your name out there. I began to email small-batch distillers around the country asking if they would send me some wood staves and would like to collaborate on a ring. I now formally introduce Charbay Distillery. The wonderful people at Charbay were the first to respond to my request and send me wood to work with. They are based out of Northern California and make a variety of spirits and wine. They sent me wood from their Racer5 Whiskey and I created a Black Zirconium Whiskey Barrel Ring. This ring is unique because it is the first ring in my store to feature a stepped edge. The above ring is now available for sale in my store and be sure to check the good people Charbay out, especially if you live in Northern California. They create a great, tasty product!
Homewetbar.com (A Great Store for Bar Accessories)
My rings were recently featured on this super cool website that I thought all of you will appreciate, and it is only courteous to return the favor of a post. Home Wet Bar is an American company based out of Oklahoma City that specializes in home bar accessories and gifts. Particularly neat (pun intended), is their ability to customize most of the items they have on their site. With the holidays coming up, I think a personalized rocks glass / decanter set or whiskey stone / shot glass set makes a perfect gift for the bourbon drinker in your life (along with my whiskey rings, obviously). As a cigar enthusiast, I really liked the personalized ammo crate, which if you didn’t know, is a great way to store your cigars; it works as an excellent humidor. Check out the rest of their website here.
25mm High Explosive Ordnance Round Steel and Afghan Sheesham Wood Ring
Its an interesting day when you receive a big box of (spent!) HEI round cartridges, both 25mm and 40mm, and wood direct from Bagram, Afghanistan. Of the various materials, the customer preferred I use the 25mm “…because of how that mission went down….”
Im looking to get the story behind these materials, but as he says “…I will have to see if I can declassify enough info to send out.”
Badass.
