Materials & craftsmanship

Tungsten carbide sits at roughly 8 to 9 on the Mohs hardness scale. Gold sits at about 2.5 and platinum at 4.5. In practice that means a tungsten band keeps its finish through years of daily wear, where a precious-metal band picks up a web of fine scratches within months.

It is also dense. A tungsten band has a weight in the hand that people consistently describe as feeling expensive, and that weight is the single most common thing customers mention when the ring arrives.

It is hypoallergenic and it does not tarnish. No green fingers, no polishing cloth, no re-plating appointments.

The inside edge of each ring is domed rather than flat, so it rides over the knuckle instead of catching on it and sits on less of the finger once it is on. It is the difference between a ring you notice and a ring you forget you are wearing.

Because comfort-fit bands run about a half size large, we would rather mail you a free sizer than have you guess.

Hardness and brittleness are the same property viewed from two directions. A tungsten band will not scratch, bend or deform, but under extreme force it can crack, where a gold band would simply bend out of shape.

That is a real trade-off and we would rather state it than hide it. It is also precisely why the Forever Fit Plan exists: if it ever does break, we replace it free.

Eight of our bands are titanium. It is far lighter than tungsten, will not rust or tarnish, and needs nothing beyond warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. It is also more forgiving: under force it bends rather than cracks, so it can be knocked out of round, and it picks up fine surface scratches with wear. A jeweler can refinish a brushed titanium surface.

Six bands are Damascus steel, a carbon steel folded and etched so the layers show as a pattern. Because it is carbon steel it needs drying, not just washing. Clean it with warm water and mild soap, dry it completely, wipe it after swimming or doing the dishes, and give it a thin coat of mineral or jeweler's oil now and then. Avoid abrasive polishes and bleach: the pattern is an etch, and scouring it flattens the contrast. Left wet, it will spot.

Every inlay is set by hand into a channel machined into the band.

Wood and antler inlays are natural. Because they are, no two are identical: grain, color and figure vary from ring to ring, and the one you receive will differ slightly from the photograph. Where we name a source, such as whiskey barrel oak, that describes the character of the wood.

Meteorite, opal and dinosaur bone inlays are decorative, and we name them for the pattern they are made to achieve rather than as certified specimens. Unless a product page says otherwise in as many words, treat the inlay as a simulated or reconstituted material. We would rather sell a striking inlay honestly than a claim we cannot stand behind, and if the distinction matters to you, ask us before you order.

Tungsten carbide: warm water, mild soap, soft cloth. Fine for daily wear, showers, swimming and the gym. Take it off for heavy lifting, since a hard knock can crack it.

Titanium: the same routine. It will not rust or tarnish. It can take fine scratches and be knocked out of round under force.

Damascus steel: wash, then dry it fully. Wipe it after water and oil it now and then. It spots if it is left wet.

Inlaid bands: the same routine as the metal they sit in. Dry the ring after a swim, keep it out of hot tubs and solvents, and avoid abrasive polishes, which dull an inlay's surface.