Rings

[David]

What's everyone doing for rings? My b2b and I have pretty much narrowed it down to two options:

1. Wooden Rings


2. Moebius Rings - something like this:

[Martin]

I was originally quite taken with wood, but we settled for titanium rings, partially because they're indestructible. I deal a lot of punishment to any clothes and accessories when I'm digging. They're also refreshingly offbeat, cheaper and more aesthetically pleasing than anything I've yet come across.
Titaniumrings.com make my main pleaser.






Rob and Lean on www.etsy.com make a range of fantastic rings including specialty hardwoods. We love them.



Moebius rings are sweet pieces, but in my experience the stress point of the fold is often want to wear through or dig into your middle phalange if something heavy falls on it (say, heaving a fridge up the stairs; that finger still hurts sometimes).

[Tom]

there is something wonderful about those hardwod rings. But would they last? And the moebii.. ouch. Like martin remarked above. my hands get kind of tore up. I have one of those jobs where I carry heavy stuff all the time. So I don't know about anything that's not totally smooth and round. Those titaniums are pretty. MY pal has a palladium ring that I was totally unimpressed with. It looked like dullish, dented silver. not so exciting.
this one is from the recommend above. Sort of a combination of the wood and metal thing?

Then part of me is possibly interested in some celtic-referential stuff, her being a celtic-inflected pagan and both of us being irish. But I havent found the right one yet. And we're a little far from our roots. Here are two possibilities.

[Martin]

I personally love the wood/metal combos, mainly because they're both durable and unique, but importantly, they're mutable. That is, they change in different lighting, the richness and hues of the wood start speaking. Any ringmakers worth their salt should be able to replace and suggest special types of wood.
I just need aircraft grade titanium. Anything else will be sandblasted, frostbitten and waterlogged into a sorry state.

This place offers beautiful pieces made from 4'500 year old bog oak, kiln dried. I haven't seen rings, but they take commissions, and there are surely other similar craftspeople out there, maybe a bit closer to home.
http://www.woodlandtreasures.co.uk/bog-oak-and-amber.htm

See, I love the idea of having wood that old, having that much rooted history. I think the concept of 'celtic' is now so diffuse that it's best portrayed in a way that really gets to your connection with it. Knotwork and zoomorphic interlace (still one of my favorite words from college) are beautiful, but think hard about what they mean to you. Hey, maybe take a trip to Ireland and find materials there, or inspiration, or whatever.

You've made some cool choices and some poignant observations, so thanks for hearing me out. Be well!

[David]

Thanks for the tips on the moebius bands. I guess I'll have to take another look at them. I just really like the symbolism of them, with twoness being oneness and all. Maybe if I can find one with round edges, it will be easier on the fingers.

I've wanted to contact some wood ring makers to see if they could do a moebius - and one that could hold up.

The other idea we've had is to get a second set of "utility" rings that won't hurt us and won't get hurt when we're hauling stuff, gardening, chopping wood, etc.

[Tom]

but wait- wouldn't having two rings put you in the pickle of deciding when to wear the "nice" wedding rings? what would determine whe you switch rings?

[David]

I suppose so. But I was mostly thinking about the second set as work rings, just like there are work jeans. If I went hiking for a week, I could switch and not have to worry so much about possibly losing it. Of course, neither of us would think anything of it if we just went without a ring for a while.

Or maybe it would be similar to deciding what shirt to wear. I don't think we'd ponder the question too hard, and wouldn't think too hard if we weren't matching. It's a nice symbol and something that makes you think of the other during your day. but whatever magic binds us together will work with or without the ring(s).

[Aaron Moring]

The fiancee and I are doing tattoo rings for this very purpose. If I get out and work on the car, I can't scratch a tattoo, and I never have to worry about misplacing it or anything like that.

[Kent]

Let me just say this. I love this topic and I love the replies I've been seeing from it! Good work guys!

[Tom]

I don't know about the whole work jeans/nice jeans analogy. For me. The ring is going to be a sacred object. My plan is to basically never take it off. So I have to get one that's really durable.

[El Rey]

I've come across a great type of Japanese ring called Makume Gane. Apparently this technique was used to decorate the handles of Samurai Swords! how cool is that?

[Martin]

Yeah man, that's really cool. As far as I know, the technique was mainly used for sword fittings, but awesome indeed. I've seen a few examples of detail with this type of pattern but never the whole band. I also like that the inside of the band is textured; always a sign of good craftsmanship.

Not sure if your heart is set on this one, but that's an awesome find. Might have gone this route myself if the metals involved weren't on the soft side.

[El Rey]

I'm not 100% set on these...but it's up there as far as my choices. Here's another one I'd probably lean towards. Oh and I spelled it wrong the first time, it's Mokume Gane.