Ring Metals & Materials

CARBON FIBER

Carbon Fiber rings are undoubtedly the lightest ring on the market. Although they are light, they are extremely durable. The tight weaves make carbon fiber rings strong enough to support the weight of a grown man standing on it. Carbon fiber can be used as an inlay in bands made from other materials or as the sole material in a ring.


CERAMIC

Extremely durable and scratch resistant, ceramic rings are a great looking and affordable choice!  Both brushed and polished finishes are available as well as colors from black to white to pink. An added benefit of ceramic is that the color runs throughout, so there is no worry about the finish wearing off like with black tungsten. Ceramic is the second hardest material we offer in rings which makes it incredibly scratch resistant....although not 100% scratch proof. That same  hardness property can also make it vulnerable to cracking or breaking if struck in just the right way......BUT your Manufacturer's Lifetime Warranty covers any breaking or damage for life! Ceramic rings are so hard that they cannot be re-sized.... BUT again you are covered with lifetime size exchanges under you Manufacturer's Lifetime Warranty!

COBALT

Cobalt chrome boasts a beautiful, platinum-like color throughout the ring making it a great, affordable choice if you are trying to pair it with a much more expensive platinum or white gold engagement ring. Cobalt rings will not chip or crack the way harder metals and ceramic can. It is both light-weight (heavier than titanium, but lighter than tungsten) and hypoallergenic so cobalt is often used in the medical field, especially for hip replacements.. Lifetime size exchanges are included in your Manufacturer's Lifetime WarrantyIn case of an emergency, cobalt rings can be removed with a diamond-tip ring cutter. 

CRUSHED BLACK DIAMOND

Crushed Black Diamond rings are made of small lab grown black diamond particles that are fused together by using heat and pressure. Being made of diamonds, this ring does not require color treatment since it is black all the way through. Since diamonds are so hard, this material is the most scratch resistant...Plus it's lightweight to wear!

DAMASCUS STEEL

Damascus Steel is created by bonding together different grades of steel followed with an acid treatment to create its unique look. The pattern is all the way through so you will not have to worry about it wearing away. It dates back to as early as 200 AD and for centuries swords and knives taken into battle were forged of Damascus Steel. Today you can find Damascus in kitchen knives and pocket knives. In emergencies, Damascus Steel rings can be removed with a diamond ring cutter.

  

GOLD

While 24k is pure gold, all gold in the jewelry industry is alloyed with copper, zinc, and silver.  14K is the standard for jewelry and contains 58.3% gold.14k yellow gold is composed of gold, copper, silver, and zinc. 14K white gold is composed of gold, copper, zinc, and nickel. 14k rose gold is composed of gold, copper and silver. Gold is not nearly as scratch resistant as the contemporary metals, but can be easily polished. Gold can be removed with a standard ring cutter and while it can be bent, it will not crack or shatter.  Alloys and rhodium can be added to gold to offer varieties in both rose and white as an alternative to the traditional yellow gold. Many of our rings also offer  an inlay of gold (yellow, rose or white) within a contemporary metal band or a plating of gold (yellow, rose or white) over another metal such as tungsten. Plating can scratch off over time, but the manufacturer of your ring will re-plate it as needed for a $19.99 fee.

                             

INLAYS

Many of our rings are inlaid with a  band of beautiful but fragile materials such as wood, shell, bone fossil, carbon fiber, opal, mother of pearl, turquoise, meteorite, etc....just to name a few! These inlays are protected by a layer of epoxy resin which is not as scratch resistant as the band itself, so keep that in mind if you have an active lifestyle.

LAPIS

Lapis Lazuli is a blue gemstone that is from a metamorphic rock. Interestingly it is made up of a multitude of minerals. This is used as an inlay on rings, offering a unique combination of metal and minerals. 

MOKU-TI

Moku-Ti 's gorgeous blue and green swirling wood grain patterns are created by fusing titanium and alloys into a look that is very similar to Mokume-Gane and Damascus Steel but in brilliant colors.

MOKUME GANE

Mokume Gane (moh'-coo-may gah'-neh) is the ancient Japanese art of fusing precious metals. Mokume technique was invented by Japanese artisans in the 17th century and created a revolution in feudal sword making. The intricate mokume gane designs on samurai swords were an indication of power and wealth. This process was adapted to create delicate and complex jewelry designs.

Mokume Gane translated means wood grain metal. It is named after the patterns created by heating the layers of metal until they are bonded into a solid laminate billet of varying colors. Once the various metals are bonded, craftsmen create the piece through forging and carving to reveal the hidden layers of color and pattern.

The lamination process involves securing several layers (between 10-30) of colored gold and silver between blocks and heating it in a kiln. With a careful combination of heat and pressure, the layers fuse but do not melt. A fused stack of metal, called a billet, is forged, twisted, hammered, and rolled to create a thin sheet. The delicate and original patterns are created by hand carving through the layers in the laminated stack. The carved laminate is then forged to flatten it out. The process of carving and rolling is repeated many times to create the finished pattern and results in no two pieces being exactly the same.

PALLADIUM

Palladium is a rare and sought after precious metal that is silvery-white. Though this metal was discovered in the 1800's it is a relatively new practice to use this in jewelry. Palladium is like platinum in that its very durable, requiring little maintenance. It is also like while gold in that is is much lighter than the platinum metal. 

Platinum

Platinum is silvery-white metal that is resistant to corrosion. While Platinum looks a lot like 14K white gold, it does have some differences which can offer some insight into why it is more expensive. Being that it is durable, it requires less polishing to keep the shine. It is naturally silver-white, therefore it does not require rhodium panting, as does 14K white gold. Also, the metal is heavier than white gold, giving it more value!

TITANIUM

The lightest weight alternative metal band you can choose....great for people who are not used to wearing a ring! Also the least scratch resistant of all alternative metals (cobalt, zirconium, ceramic & tungsten carbide)….but still more scratch resistant than the precious metals (gold, silver, platinum & palladium). Titanium has a similar gun metal gray color to tungsten, but has the advantage of being shatterproof.

TUNGSTEN CARBIDE

The hardest metal used in jewelry making, tungsten carbide rings are the most scratch resistant (although not 100% scratch proof) rings) available! Tungsten by itself is extremely strong (as strong as titanium) but when carbon is added to create an alloy, it becomes 3 to 5 times harder. Tungsten carbide is extremely durable and scratch resistant, but that same hardness property creates the  possibility of shattering or cracking if struck in just the right manner. Although breakage is rare, your ring will be covered under your Lifetime Manufacturer's Warranty. In creating tungsten carbide, a very small amount of nickel binder is used, so small, that most people with nickel allergies have no reaction to it. Tungsten carbide rings can be removed with vice grips in case of emergencies. 

ZIRCONIUM

Zirconium is one of the newest metals to be included in jewelry making. If the fear of scratching a black tungsten ring worries you, zirconium may be just the right fit! It is a natural element which begins as a silver color which is then heat treated. The extremely high heat creates oxidation which turns the ring black. That oxidization layer is as hard as a sapphire and creates a virtually permanent black finish. Zirconium is also the best option on the market if you are looking for a largely black ring but with a creative flair to it. Diamond cutting tools can be used to cut back into the ring to create two-toned designs which reveal the original silver color. In emergencies, zirconium can be cut with a diamond ring cutter. Aside from the jewelry industry, zirconium also has military purposes.