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Your Custom Mokume Gane Ring - Choosing Your Palette
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One of the first choices you may make in designing your custom mokume gane ring is which palette you would like! There are many possibilities, each metal combination offers a different look.
Check out our gorgeous Design Guide, which shows the metals used in each of our stocked palettes. All of our mokume gane is made with only precious metals, recycled and nickel free. One of the most beautiful aspects of our mokume work is its multi-colored nature.
We thought we would group our options into a few categories to show the range of options. See what suits your and your partners taste.
Warm toned palettes:
Red gold forward
Flame Embers
Yellow gold forward
Spark Flare
Generally Warm
(these palettes have both red and yellow gold, so they vary between leaning toward either color, and Blaze in particular feels very warm and vivid as it’s all gold, no silver)
Fire Firestorm
Blaze Cinders
Cool/Neutral toned palettes:
Smoke Ash
Our palettes are fire themed, as Arn feels drawn to the making process of mokume itself, using heat and fire to bond the metals. So rather than naming based on the wood grain appearance of the patterns, he draws inspiration from the forge itself.
A benefit of a ring made in mokume gane is that they are made with precious metals which inherently offer vivid and lively color combinations. As opposed to an option like damascus, which would always be only shades of gray, as damascus is made in steel.
Mokume gane wedding rings combine the luxury and beauty of gold and silver as traditional materials, with a more unique and contemporary organic style. They are the perfect choice for the individual who wants to use precious and high quality materials that hold value and stand up to time.
With our custom design options, you can also choose a completely custom billet if one of our stock options isn’t exactly what you’re envisioning. We can incorporate other precious metals like 18 or 22kt golds or platinum.
Along with the metal palette, finish affects how the colors of your ring will look!
Oxidation darkens the silver layers of the ring, and this overall gives the ring a higher contrast look. This is one of Arn’s distinctive design choices that sets him apart from other artists.
Shown here: Firestorm, satin finish (left image) vs etched & oxidized (right image)
Etching is also a consideration with finish, this is part of Arn’s signature in his work, many other mokume makers do not etch their rings, but Arn feels it adds contrast, only enhancing the patterns and bringing out small details that would be harder to see with a smooth finish. Etching also adds to the resemblance the rings have to wood, a trademark element of mokume gane.
Once you have chosen your palette you can move on to the pattern. We will go into this in our next blog. Please sign up for our mailing list so that you can have new blogs, sales, and news delivered to your inbox.
We never share your email with anyone and we only send one email per month.
Thanks for reading and supporting handmade work!
Read more
Your Custom Mokume Gane Ring - Choosing Your Palette
Posted by Susan Freda on
One of the first choices you may make in designing your custom mokume gane ring is which palette you would like! There are many possibilities, each metal combination offers a different look.
Check out our gorgeous Design Guide, which shows the metals used in each of our stocked palettes. All of our mokume gane is made with only precious metals, recycled and nickel free. One of the most beautiful aspects of our mokume work is its multi-colored nature.
We thought we would group our options into a few categories to show the range of options. See what suits your and your partners taste.
Warm toned palettes:
Red gold forward
Flame Embers
Yellow gold forward
Spark Flare
Generally Warm
(these palettes have both red and yellow gold, so they vary between leaning toward either color, and Blaze in particular feels very warm and vivid as it’s all gold, no silver)
Fire Firestorm
Blaze Cinders
Cool/Neutral toned palettes:
Smoke Ash
Our palettes are fire themed, as Arn feels drawn to the making process of mokume itself, using heat and fire to bond the metals. So rather than naming based on the wood grain appearance of the patterns, he draws inspiration from the forge itself.
A benefit of a ring made in mokume gane is that they are made with precious metals which inherently offer vivid and lively color combinations. As opposed to an option like damascus, which would always be only shades of gray, as damascus is made in steel.
Mokume gane wedding rings combine the luxury and beauty of gold and silver as traditional materials, with a more unique and contemporary organic style. They are the perfect choice for the individual who wants to use precious and high quality materials that hold value and stand up to time.
With our custom design options, you can also choose a completely custom billet if one of our stock options isn’t exactly what you’re envisioning. We can incorporate other precious metals like 18 or 22kt golds or platinum.
Along with the metal palette, finish affects how the colors of your ring will look!
Oxidation darkens the silver layers of the ring, and this overall gives the ring a higher contrast look. This is one of Arn’s distinctive design choices that sets him apart from other artists.
Shown here: Firestorm, satin finish (left image) vs etched & oxidized (right image)
Etching is also a consideration with finish, this is part of Arn’s signature in his work, many other mokume makers do not etch their rings, but Arn feels it adds contrast, only enhancing the patterns and bringing out small details that would be harder to see with a smooth finish. Etching also adds to the resemblance the rings have to wood, a trademark element of mokume gane.
Once you have chosen your palette you can move on to the pattern. We will go into this in our next blog. Please sign up for our mailing list so that you can have new blogs, sales, and news delivered to your inbox.
We never share your email with anyone and we only send one email per month.
Thanks for reading and supporting handmade work!
Read more
Do couples pick out wedding bands together?
Posted by Susan Freda on
The tradition of exchanging wedding bands symbolizes a commitment, love, and unity between two people. And there are so many options for finding the perfect rings to symbolize this bond.
Many couples choose their bands together, to find a pair of rings that feel symbolic of each individual, and the connection between them.
There is also a unique appeal of custom made wedding rings, and specialty techniques like mokume gane allow for an added level of personalization.
The Growing Trend of Couples Choosing Wedding Bands Together
In the past, couples have separately chosen each other’s rings, but in recent years, the trend of couples selecting their wedding bands together has gained popularity. This collaborative approach adds an extra personal touch to the rings.
Selecting wedding bands as a couple can be a wonderful unifying experience. It allows partners to discuss preferences, styles, and meanings behind different designs.
When couples choose their rings together, they have the opportunity to choose what design elements would best symbolize their relationship and the marriage that they are building.
By selecting wedding bands together, couples can also ensure that their rings complement each other aesthetically. This is perfect for a pair who have distinct personal styles and tastes, but would still like their wedding bands to feel like a set.
Exploring Custom Wedding Bands
Custom wedding bands offer couples the flexibility to create rings that are as unique as their relationship. The journey begins with a design consultation, where couples share their vision with a goldsmith. This initial discussion helps both the designer and couple understand the direction to take the designs and what will be feasible for their budget, timeline, and personal preferences, in bringing their vision to life.
Choosing the right materials is an essential step in creating custom wedding bands. This is where mokume gane in particular is a great choice, both in quality of craft and symbolism of a strong bond.
Mokume Gane Wedding Ring Sets: A Unique Choice
Mokume gane, with its roots in traditional Japanese metal working, is a perfect style for wedding bands. This technique involves layering different metals and fusing them together, then manipulating the metals through carving and forging to create beautiful patterns. Mokume gane wedding ring sets are particularly appealing for couples seeking distinctive and artistic designs.
The creation of mokume gane rings involves fusing layers of precious metals like golds, palladium, silverand platinum. This stack of metals, called a billet, can then be twisted, folded, carved, all by hand. This painstaking process results in rings that are as unique
The artistry behind mokume gane rings goes beyond aesthetics. The technique represents the blending of different elements—metals in this case—to form a harmonious whole. This perfectly reflects the concept of a union like a marriage, a strong bond forged to bring two people together and create something new.
Couples can further personalize mokume gane wedding ring sets by selecting the metal combinations and patterns that resonate with their relationship. This customization allows them to create rings that are not only visually stunning but also deeply meaningful. Arn’s mokume gane work especially offers a wide variety of options, as each of his patterns has a distinct look and are inspired by different elements of nature, so the individual can choose a pattern that most reflects their personality and style. Choosing different patterns but the same metal palette is one example of a way to create a cohesive set that doesn’t feel too matching, but clearly complements each other.
Read more
Do couples pick out wedding bands together?
Posted by Susan Freda on
The tradition of exchanging wedding bands symbolizes a commitment, love, and unity between two people. And there are so many options for finding the perfect rings to symbolize this bond.
Many couples choose their bands together, to find a pair of rings that feel symbolic of each individual, and the connection between them.
There is also a unique appeal of custom made wedding rings, and specialty techniques like mokume gane allow for an added level of personalization.
The Growing Trend of Couples Choosing Wedding Bands Together
In the past, couples have separately chosen each other’s rings, but in recent years, the trend of couples selecting their wedding bands together has gained popularity. This collaborative approach adds an extra personal touch to the rings.
Selecting wedding bands as a couple can be a wonderful unifying experience. It allows partners to discuss preferences, styles, and meanings behind different designs.
When couples choose their rings together, they have the opportunity to choose what design elements would best symbolize their relationship and the marriage that they are building.
By selecting wedding bands together, couples can also ensure that their rings complement each other aesthetically. This is perfect for a pair who have distinct personal styles and tastes, but would still like their wedding bands to feel like a set.
Exploring Custom Wedding Bands
Custom wedding bands offer couples the flexibility to create rings that are as unique as their relationship. The journey begins with a design consultation, where couples share their vision with a goldsmith. This initial discussion helps both the designer and couple understand the direction to take the designs and what will be feasible for their budget, timeline, and personal preferences, in bringing their vision to life.
Choosing the right materials is an essential step in creating custom wedding bands. This is where mokume gane in particular is a great choice, both in quality of craft and symbolism of a strong bond.
Mokume Gane Wedding Ring Sets: A Unique Choice
Mokume gane, with its roots in traditional Japanese metal working, is a perfect style for wedding bands. This technique involves layering different metals and fusing them together, then manipulating the metals through carving and forging to create beautiful patterns. Mokume gane wedding ring sets are particularly appealing for couples seeking distinctive and artistic designs.
The creation of mokume gane rings involves fusing layers of precious metals like golds, palladium, silverand platinum. This stack of metals, called a billet, can then be twisted, folded, carved, all by hand. This painstaking process results in rings that are as unique
The artistry behind mokume gane rings goes beyond aesthetics. The technique represents the blending of different elements—metals in this case—to form a harmonious whole. This perfectly reflects the concept of a union like a marriage, a strong bond forged to bring two people together and create something new.
Couples can further personalize mokume gane wedding ring sets by selecting the metal combinations and patterns that resonate with their relationship. This customization allows them to create rings that are not only visually stunning but also deeply meaningful. Arn’s mokume gane work especially offers a wide variety of options, as each of his patterns has a distinct look and are inspired by different elements of nature, so the individual can choose a pattern that most reflects their personality and style. Choosing different patterns but the same metal palette is one example of a way to create a cohesive set that doesn’t feel too matching, but clearly complements each other.