Element Ring Co Blog

Ahh yes, the day has finally come. You’ve found your one true love and you are ready to affirm your commitment to your partner in matrimony. You’ve picked the classic ring for her, a nice diamond ring; perhaps it's an oval cut, maybe it’s a non-traditional style. Either way now it’s time for your ring.  You’re perusing the multitude of options across the web. Tungsten, gold, titanium, dinosaur bone. There are a lot of options but none of them really stand out to you until you see it. A wooden wedding ring, it’s perfect! There’s a depth of texture and grain pattern you can’t quite put your finger on, there’s the organic aspect of it, you've fallen in love and made your choice. One question comes to your mind. Do Wooden Wedding Rings Last?  It’s the age-old question in this industry, will my wooden wedding ring stand the test of time perched on my left ring finger? The short answer is yes, but the reality is a little more complicated than that.  We’ll make the case for and against, and we’ll answer the question: will a wooden wedding ring last my whole life.      The Case For Wooden Wedding Rings The pro’s column, we all start here when making a pros and cons list, right? We’re all naturally positive and never immediately think about the negative… right? Let’s flip our mindset and talk about the good things right off the bat. First let’s talk about the feel. You know the feeling you get when you walk into the forest and you’re surrounded by tall trees and organic material and life just seems at peace? Yeah, we’ve successfully replicated that emotion and put it into a ring. Maybe not that extreme, but wearing a wooden wedding ring feels right. It feels like you're connected to the earth and to the natural world. Not to mention the wood itself is smoother than a baby's bottom and it feels amazing on your hand.  The physical and emotional feeling of wearing a wood ring can’t be empirically quantified, but the weight of it can. Some men want to feel the heft of their ring, while others want to forget that it is there. Our wooden wedding rings are incredibly comfortable and lightweight leaving you feeling like there is nothing on your hand.  The feel and weight are great, but the main selling point is the aesthetic. I mean, that’s what brought you here in our hypothetical opening paragraphs, right? We don’t need to tell you that wood is naturally beautiful. It’s complex, colorful, and deeply textured all while being simply unique. Now imagine all of that goodness right on your finger.  All of those wonderful characteristics of wood lead it to being a super versatile material. You can pair it with metal, carbon fiber, or almost anything and it’ll work in perfect harmony.      The Case Against Wooden Wedding Rings The con’s column, now’s the time that we can let our negative thoughts run rampant. We can forget all the healthy thought processes our therapist taught us and start to spiral. Maybe a touch melodramatic, but let’s get into the bad things.  We have to start with the obvious, durability. Under the right conditions, a wooden wedding ring will last for a lifetime. However, those conditions are not always easy to meet. Wood can be susceptible to abrasions, water damage, delamination, dryness, cracking, and other things that will make your ring go kaput. We do a lot to treat our wood and take care in the creation of our wood rings to make sure these issues don’t happen. But you know what they say about the best laid plans.  There are clearly a number of issues that can happen with wood rings. Let’s start by talking about the biggest one, water damage. We strongly recommend avoiding prolonged submersions in water. Things like washing your hands, or the occasional shower is fine, but swimming or soaking in a tub is a recipe for disaster.  Abrasions and cracking is the next obvious issue. Wood is a super resilient and strong material but when you only have a small amount, it can become fragile. We take great care in making sure our wood is stabilized and sealed from the inside to make sure this doesn’t happen but it can happen if the wearer is too aggressive or rough with the ring. You can read more about our building process here.  Wooden wedding rings can cause some headaches if you’re not prepared and educated about it. It’s kind of like owning a dog, you’ve got to make sure you're ready for one before you jump into it.  Will a Wooden Wedding Ring Last My Whole Life? With proper care and maintenance, a wooden wedding ring will last your whole life. It’s important to educate yourself about wooden wedding rings before you purchase one. You can find more educational content about wooden rings here or read more about rings and ring care here. 

A wedding band is a symbol of the promises a couple makes on their wedding day. It is also an outward message that the wearer is “taken”. While the female wedding ring set is usually top of mind when discussing engagements and weddings, the male counterpart is often overlooked. Infact, the tradition of men wearing wedding rings is a relatively new concept and  there are many facts about the tradition that are intriguing.  When did men start wearing rings? Historically, the wedding ring doubled as the engagement ring for females only. The ring was presented as a proposal of marriage. For thousands of years, this is how courtship worked. Fast forward to the early 20th century where the tradition of male wedding rings as we know it began. Nostalgia played a large role in the evolution of men wearing wedding bands. During the World Wars soldiers began wearing wedding rings as a means of remembering their loved ones. Following the  Korean War,  male wedding bands had well and truly taken on the sentimental value they have today and become a staple in the wedding planning process.  Due to the increase in popularity of men sporting wedding rings, the wedding band industry began creating matching wedding rings and increased mens wedding ring designs to customize the mens wedding bands on offer to a consumer's individual needs and taste.  Customary wearing of the ring In the Western world, tradition dictates (in most instances) that the wedding ring be worn on the left hand. Mens wedding rings are worn to symbolize matrimony and the commitment to their partner. Traditionally, oaths and vows were said with the left hand raised, and it is for this reason that mens wedding bands are worn on the left hand. It should also be noted that it is said that the vein of love or vena amoris runs through the left hand. With most people being right handed, it is also practical to wear a wedding band on the right hand as this hand will not be as likely to be damaged while the hand is being used. The use of the ring finger is also thought to have a similar origin. The ring finger is the least used of the fingers and placing a wedding ring on it will not disrupt the day to day working of the hand and the other fingers. Rings to suit the man When looking at men’s wedding rings ,the person who will be wearing the ring should be taken into account. Considerations should be made regarding the man's hobbies, employment and personal style. Traditionally men’s wedding bands were plain metal bands as most men worked with their hands. As the tradition of men wearing wedding rings has evolved, customized mens wedding rings have become increasingly popular.  The materials used for creating mens wedding bands has also changed from being gold and silver to stainless steel, tungsten and titanium, carbon fiber, wood and other natural elements. The original thought had been that the harder the metal the longer the ring will last and the more resistant to damage it will be, however the introduction of materials such as carbon fiber has changed this thinking.    Looking for a unique mens wedding ring? Browse our collection or contact us to create your very own design.

Tips For Shopping For Your Grooms Ring It’s time to buy your groom’s wedding band! The men's wedding ring market can be overwhelming with so many different materials and options. Luckily for you, we have the complete guide for men’s wedding ring buying tips. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about buying a men’s wedding ring. We’ll cover budgets, craftsmanship, sizing, when to purchase, and so much more. The groom’s wedding band is just as important as the brides so let’s give it the attention it deserves. Here are a few simple tips for buying a men’s wedding ring.  1. SET A BUDGET Whoop dee-doo, we’re starting off with the major buzzkill. Of course you might want to buy the diamond encrusted meteorite, dinosaur bone ring with the gold inlay, but can you afford it? Setting a budget creates realistic expectations for both you and your partner. It will also simplify your shopping experience. Most men’s wedding ring companies will have different collections to suit different budgets so when you know your budget, you’ll have a much better shopping experience. In general, you’ll decide what budget works best for you. There is no hard and fast rule for how much you should spend. Get your king whatever he deserves.   2. DEFINE YOUR STYLE This is going to be one of the most important things when it comes to picking out your men’s wedding ring. There are so many different styles out there and it can be overwhelming when you don’t know what you’re looking for. Defining your style will help you navigate through our next section where we discuss different materials.Here are some things to consider when you define your men’s wedding ring style. Lifestyle Is he an outdoorsman or an inside guy? You’ll need to get him a ring that fits his lifestyle. The last thing you want is a delicate ring being thrashed about on a hunting trip. Work Think about what kind of environment the ring will be in day-to-day. If the ring is going to be under some exam gloves all day or exposed to harsh abrasions on a construction site there are some rings that won’t work out for you. Fashion or Function Possibly the biggest question to determine the style is if you want a fashionable ring or a functional ring. There are rings that can be both, but in general you might need to pick one or the other. Fashionable, flashy rings are not always practical and functional rings don’t always look good. Timeless or trendy Picking a wedding ring style can be daunting because they’re supposed to last forever, right? This makes the decision tricky when considering a timeless style or a trendy style. The timeless style might not be the most fun, but the trendy style might look dated in a few years. Heirloom or Lifetime This is a big thing to consider when buying a men’s wedding ring. If you want to get an heirloom style piece that can be passed down to future generations then you’ll need to be very mindful of what you choose. It needs to be resizable and incredibly durable. If you just want something to last your lifetime, then you can have a little more fun with your shopping process. 3. PICK A MATERIAL Understanding the material that your ring is made from will really help you navigate the buying process. It can be totally overwhelming trying to figure out the difference between tantalum, tungsten, titanium, mokume gane, damascus steel, and all the other exotic materials out there. We’ll give you a breakdown of the most popular men’s wedding ring materials and help you pick what material your groom’s wedding ring should be. Here is the ultimate breakdown for men’s wedding ring materials. Common Men's Ring Materials: Gold The classic of all classics. A gold wedding ring is always a solid choice. They last forever and retain their value. Gold rings can be resized so when you pack on that post-wedding 15lbs, you’ll be okay. Gold rings are susceptible to scratches and will look worn over time. Silver Another solid choice, Sterling silver rings give you a classic and simple look for much cheaper than gold. Sterling silver rings are softer than 14 karat gold though, which means they are susceptible to deep scratches. They also can be resized so you’re free to pack on the pounds. Tungsten  A very trendy material choice tungsten rings are made from a burly metal. Tungsten is technically the hardest metal, meaning it cannot be scratched. However, it is incredibly brittle and can shatter when dropped onto concrete or other hard floors. Tungsten can be plated to mimic gold which makes it a good budget option, although it cannot be resized. Tantalum  This material is a more exotic metal that is becoming more popular for men’s wedding rings. Tantalum wedding rings are extremely durable and very scratch resistant. However, it is a scarce metal and tantalum rings will cost you a pretty penny, or two. Damascus Steel  This material is fast becoming a classic in the men’s wedding ring market. Damascus Steel is made from forging and twisting two different types of steel together to form a unique pattern. The steel is then etched in acid to bring out the pattern. Damascus steel rings are typically on the heavier side and cannot be resized. However, they give you a really unique and classic looking ring. Titanium  An increasingly proper material for men’s wedding rings, Titanium wedding rings boast some of the best strength to weight ratio of any material. Titanium rings are a great choice for anyone on a budget due to their low cost and classic look. Titanium rings have the same general appearance as white gold and silver so they can pass as something pricier if you’d like. Carbon Fiber  Our sweet baby boy, carbon fiber holds a special place in our hearts. Carbon fiber rings are a fantastic material for a men’s wedding ring. They are incredibly durable and super lightweight providing the best strength to weight ratio of any material in this list. Carbon fiber wedding rings are perfect for the man who has never worn a ring before because of their low profile and lightweight. Antler  If you love hunting and the outdoors an antler ring could be the perfect choice for you! Antler wedding rings are becoming increasingly popular in the men’s wedding ring market. Antler rings give you a nice unique appearance without sacrificing durability. Most antler rings are affordable and typically are paired with other materials so you can really get the best of all worlds. Dinosaur Bone  This is a pretty niche material that you might not find everywhere. Dinosaur bone wedding rings are made from fossilized dinosaur bone and are typically inlaid into different harder metals like gold or damascus steel. Dinosaur bone is more fragile and can crack or break. You’ll also pay a premium for having such an exotic and rare material. Meteorite  Meteorite wedding rings have seen a “meteoric” rise in popularity recently. They’re incredibly unique and the idea of having a space rock on your finger is unbeatable. However, meteorite rings come with a few caveats. Firstly, they’re very expensive, as you can imagine. Next, meteorite wedding rings are very high in iron, which means they’ll oxidize if not cared for properly. Due to this rust factor, meteorite rings must be worn carefully so you don’t make them rust. Wood  Possibly the oldest and most classic material in this list. Wood wedding rings have a rich history in the world. Wood wedding rings are increasingly popular but they do come with some caution. It is important to research how your wood ring is made. If it is made from solid stabilized wood, you are good to go. If it is made from bentwood, proceed with caution. Bentwood rings are not as durable and will break down over time. Solid stabilized wood rings are much more durable and if properly cared for will last a lifetime. In general wood wedding rings should not be submerged in water or exposed to harsh chemicals. Glow Rings  Glow in the dark rings always grab attention. They’re fun and the bright colors allow you to express yourself in a colorful way. Glowing wedding rings are generally made from some combination of resin and luminescent powder which makes them a pretty durable ring. They cannot be resized but they’re a fun and unique way to express yourself. Glowinging wedding rings are usually on the affordable end of the spectrum which makes them a great choice for a budget. Black Zirconium  Black zirconium is a really unique material choice for a men’s wedding ring. It provides a nice black color with the feel and weight of a solid metal ring. Zirconium is naturally a light gray color but when it is heated it oxidizes and turns black. Black zirconium is a generally more affordable option when it comes to more exotic metals and is almost as durable as titanium. Cobalt Chrome  This material is a great choice that often goes under the radar. Cobalt chrome wedding rings are an excellent material for anyone who wants a nice metal ring with a white/silver color. The color is really comparable to white gold and platinum but costs significantly less. Cobalt chrome wedding rings are also shatter proof and harder than stainless steel. Silicone  Silicone rings are really popular right now. They’re basic, cheap, easy to wear, and will break way before your finger will. Silicone wedding rings are a good choice for someone who wants something simple that they never need to take off. It’s a good choice for a second ring if you want to wear it while at the gym or while working with your hands. With silicone rings you might notice that they can smell overtime and start to rip or tear. 4. SIZING Sizing is the single most important thing to consider when purchasing your ring. It is imperative to get the right ring size so it is comfortable for you to wear all day, everyday. Luckily, we offer free and easy size exchange so you can confidently buy a ring and swap it out if the size is off. Sizing a ring online is tricky, especially if you don’t already know your ring size. Here are a few tips we have to ensure you get your ring size right the first time. Or close enough! First, buy a ring sizer! We sell our own ring sizer for $5 and offer a $5 off coupon for your next purchase, making the sizer free. That is one of the best ways to get an accurate ring size. You can also go get sized at a local jewelry store. This is a pretty accurate way to get your correct or approximate ring size. Be sure to try on rings at the desired width you plan to wear. In other words, do not use a 2mm wide ring sizer if you plan to actually buy and wear a ring that is 8mm. They will fit differently!A properly sized ring slides over the knuckle without tugging the skin, rests comfortably when you bend your finger, allows movement and play and you should be able to turn the ring without much pressure. Other tips and things to consider when thinking about ring sizing is that fingers swell and contract throughout the day and with the seasons. In winter, your fingers will be thinner. In summer it is more swollen. The best time to size yourself is mid-late afternoon. It is good practice to measure multiple times before you buy. The wider the ring, the tighter the fit. If you plan to get a ring at 10mm or wider, consider going up a half size. 5. SHOP AROUND Shop around a little bit. Make sure to look at different stores, different sites and most importantly read reviews! Don’t just read the reviews on the company site, because those can be moderated. Look for google reviews and other third party sites because those are typically more honest than the branded site reviews. 6. ASK QUESTIONS Ask questions. This is a big one. Make sure to reach out to the company ahead of time if you have any questions or concerns. You’ll want to make sure they have great customer service before you make a lifelong commitment to that company. 7. IS IT REALLY HANDMADE? This is a big thing to consider in the men’s wedding ring market. Most companies make claims that their rings are handmade in the US or something similar but more often than not, it is not true.A lot of rings are handmade in the US but they are often not made by the company selling them. It is important to ask questions to find out if you are supporting the original designer and creator or if you are purchasing from a reseller. Here at Element Ring Co all of our rings are handcrafted in our shop in South Salt Lake, Utah. We are happy and openly show our customer photos of their ring being built and send them updates through the whole process. 8. WHEN TO PURCHASE Purchase your men’s wedding ring well in advance. Do not wait until the last minute to purchase the ring! Seriously, we cannot stress this enough, do not wait until a week before your wedding to purchase a ring online. You might be thinking “there is no way anyone does that” and we promise that more often than not we get an extremely expedited request. The ideal time to buy your men’s wedding ring is two months before the wedding. The minimum is one month. With two months you leave plenty of time for the ring to be crafted and shipped to you. You always buy yourself some insurance with any possible shipping delays and you will still have time to do a size exchange if needed. With one month you give yourself a little extra time to deal with any potential issues but you put yourself on a much tighter timeline. Anything less than a month, you’ll find yourself stressing over every tracking update and if you need to do a size exchange, you might find yourself getting your ring a couple days before the wedding. So do not wait to order your men’s wedding ring. The ideal time to order is two months before the big day. In Conclusion Men’s wedding ring buying can be a daunting task. To simplify it, remember these steps. Set a budget, define your style, pick a material, get your size, and order early!

Carbon fiber is a very unique material with special properties that often go unnoticed and under appreciated. We're here to share all of the awesome details that go into different types of carbon fiber weaves. In each section we'll cover a different type of carbon fiber weave and what rings we make using that weave.    The Twill Weave (Racer and more...) When people think of carbon fiber, this is most likely what they are picturing. Although the bulk of the worlds carbon fiber is not in woven form such as this, it is the most recognizable. This popular twill weave provides great durability while reducing the frequency of chipping and or splintering otherwise possible with other types of carbon fiber. In other words, if one damages their twill woven ring, the fiber will most likely only chip a millimeter or two to the next weave. Race cars are often seen covered in this particular woven style for this reason. You can imagine the number of rocks and rock chips a race car sustains while zipping around a track at breakneck speeds. This carbon fiber polishes up nicely and can easily be refinished using a little water and a scotch brite pad.   Unidirectional (Bullet and more...) Unidirectional carbon fiber is often referred to as the true carbon fiber workhorse. "Uni" carbon fiber makes up the majority of almost every single composite aircraft, spacecraft or marine craft built these days. The reason for this has little to do with cost and almost everything to do with the fact that uni carbon fiber can be oriented in 3 dimensional space to yield properties that exceed those of some of the most exotic metals, all while being significantly lighter weight too. Although our unidirectional rings may not be the most durable of the bunch, they still offer great strength and can most easily be sanded smooth if damaged. Unlike our twill woven ring styles like the Racer, you run little to no risk of distorting the pattern of these ring styles. No worries if you happen to chip it and need to sand the chip smooth.    Filament Wound (Ranger and more...) Filament wound carbon fiber is both strong and lightweight. The name comes from the process by which these rings are made. We take a raw spool of dry carbon fiber (generally about 10 lb spools) and pull these carbon fiber "tows" or bands through a bath of wet resin. This gooey fibrous strand is subsequently wound around a rotating mandrel or tool that then forms the shape of the ring in tubular form. Due to the fiber being wound back and forth and up to 50 times in some cases a very unique aesthetic is realized. This appearance is sometimes referred to as "black camo" due to its discontinuous yet nicely fading patchwork of fiber orientations.    Twill Sidecut (Wave ring styles) This unique style of carbon fiber is simply a twill weave turned 90 degrees. Imagine a thick plate of carbon fiber, roughly as thick as a ring's width (say 8mm), and comprised of up to 12 individual stacked woven carbon fiber layers. The blanks for our rings are then precision machined out of these carbon fiber sheets using special CNC equipment. After shaping and polishing by one of our builders, the ring is left with its unique waves.   Forged (Shogun and more...) Forged carbon fiber is very unique both in its appearance and its build process. Unlike other patterns, this carbon fiber is not so much woven together as it is layered. Many many strips of carbon fiber tow are combined with a resin binder in a mold and put under extreme pressure and heat. This literally "Forges" the carbon into a block that we work into a ring. This specific type of carbon fiber is very popular in industrial applications thanks to it's versatility in shape and it's strength which can even outperform metals. However, Its unique aesthetic still ensures its use in more decorative applications as well.   Press formed quasi-isotropic unidirectional laminate sequence. (Daimyo and more...) Yes. Actually. But despite its very complicated name its actually a very simple material. Press formed linear (Lets just call it "Press formed", yeah?) carbon fiber is very similar to the Unidirectional carbon fiber used in The Bullet. The key difference is how the layers are individually oriented. Each of the 100 distinct layers in this carbon fiber are alternated which creates its unique patterning in the cross section. This pattern appears as vertical or diagonal lines, depending on how the sheets are cut. You'll find us using both these vertical and diagonal patterns in a variety of rings.   Ultimately, carbon fiber is a very versatile and interesting material Which is why we love it. Despite only being a single color, the amount of patterns you can achieve just by alternating strands and getting creative is staggering. Not to mention its strength. You can see how we leverage that versatility in our carbon fiber rings available here.

Men's Engagement Ring Guide: Terms Explained A comprehensive guide to Men's Engagement Ring Terms.  In this guide we will go over some common terms used in men's rings. For a man it can be confusing to purchase an engagement ring, what do all these industry buzz words actually mean? How do you discern marketing speak from actual information? If you've ever had questions during your ring buying experience this guide is for you. We're experts in the men's ring industry and we'll guide you through the buying process. Ring Sizing Terms: Size: The size of the ring refers to the internal diameter of the ring. Typically measured in millimeters to give a more accurate size than inches. Ring sizing can vary greatly between individual people and even individual fingers and hands. For more information on ring sizing visit our ring sizing page here to learn more.  Width: The width refers to how wide the ring is. Typically measured in millimeters most men's rings will be in the 6 mm to 10 mm range. The width of the ring does affect the sizing of a ring. A wider ring will fit more tight on the finger as it takes up more space on the finger.  Thickness: The thickness of a ring refers to how tall the ring stands off the finger. Generally men's rings are 1 mm - 2 mm thick. Thickness can also affect fit. Thicker rings will feel more prominent on a finger than thinner rings.  Comfort Fit: This term is used a lot in men's rings. It refers to the beveled inside edges of the ring, creating a domed interior that allows the ring to slide on and off the finger easier.  Ring Style Terms:  Ultralight: This term refers to the thickness and profile of a ring. An ultralight ring is a thin profile ring, approximately 1 mm thick. These rings are lightweight and thin profiled allowing them to feel virtually invisible on a finger.  Traditional: This term also refers to the thickness and profile of a ring. A traditional ring features a more standard profile and thickness of a ring, approximately 2 mm thick. These rings feature rounded edges and comfort fit interiors.  Domed: Domed rings are built replicating the shape of a domed building. They feature a convex outer surface with a comfort fit interior.  Stackable: Stackable rings are rings that are designed to be worn in partnership with another ring. They typically feature thin profiles and narrow widths to allow the wearer to have multiple pieces on one finger.  Ring Material Terms:  Carbon Fiber: Carbon fiber is a composite that is made from thousands of carbon fibers mixed with an epoxy. Carbon fiber features many benefits such as low weight, high tensile strength, chemical resistance, and hypoallergenic properties.  Glass Fiber: Glass fiber is a composite that is made from thousands of fiber glass strands. Glass fibers feature many of the same benefits as carbon fiber as well being non electrically conductive.  Twill: A twill weave in carbon fiber is made up of a 2 x 2 weave where the fibers are laid in an over - under pattern. The twill weave is the most recognizable weave and is used in many applications. It allows for great functionality as well durability.  Filament: A filament weave features carbon fiber layered in an abstract pattern. The layering gives the carbon fiber high tensile strength and a unique aesthetic.  Uni-Directional: A uni-directional weave features carbon fibers all laid in the same direction. A uni-directional weave gives the carbon fiber great strength and a uniform appearance.  Stabilized Wood: This term refers to wood that has been stabilized. Stabilized wood is created by taking solid blocks of wood and in a process of oven baking and vacuum infusion of stabilizing resin creating a more durable piece of wood.  Resin: Resin refers to a chemical epoxy made up from 1 part epoxy and 1 part hardener. Resin is used in casting rings and bonding materials together.  Glow: Glow rings are made up from material that produces a luminescent light when charged with UV light. Typically glow rings are made from resin infused with a luminescent powder.