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Once upon a time, wedding bands were plain gold, or more likely gold plated. Their value was in the symbolism. “Look, I’m married!” or “Forget him; he’s married.” Today many who tie the know want something that also symbolizes their individual styles, or rings to set this pair apart from other couples. These individualistic rings not only tell you that someone is married, they can often tell you who they are married to, if you can find the other unique ring in the crowd.
Binary Rings
With a binary ring, you can engrave a coded message of your choice, up to 20 characters. They will be rendered in up to five lines of binary code, perfect for the romantically-inclined computer geek!
Decoder Rings
Cory Doctorow of Boing Boing is getting a decoder ring to use as a wedding ring. This one has three rotating bands that can be lined up to decode secret messages. He’s now looking for a proper code.
Intertwined Rings
Rings that intertwine with each other are quite symbolic. They look great together, but I don’t know how comfortable they would be to wear apart.
Nuts and Bolt Rings
Kiley Granberg designed a wedding ring set as a nut and bolt. Perfect for the mechanically-minded couple. This is symbolic on more than one level, if you know what I mean.
Ethernet Rings
Taking the connectivity idea a little further, Jana Brevick designed Cat-5 Rings that connect with each other by ethernet connectors. They are available at her Etsy store.
USB Rings
Gas Design and Jennifer Flume have developed the USB Flash Drive Swarovski Crystal Engagement Ring. The two wearers can connect the rings and share data! The ring was created in partnership with famed crystal company Swarovski.
Sphere Rings
It would be cool to have a ring that you could play with. This sphere ring made by acanthusleaf is modeled on a historical pattern that has four rings hinged at different points. Update: Laurie Cavanaugh, who made this ring, has them available at the Mad Jeweler’s Workshop.
Remember Rings
There are even rings with embedded technology. The Remember Ring will remind you of your anniversary by getting hotter! Too bad it’s only a concept and not available for sale… yet.
Coin Rings
Make your own wedding rings is an individual statement, and will save money, too! You can make rings out of coins, but keep in mind that it is illegal to deface US currency. Still, not all coins are US currency. Watch a video of a similar process here.
Bone Rings
What could be more individual than your own DNA? Scientists and artists have collaborated to make rings out of the wearer’s bone tissue. The tissue is taken from a wisdom tooth and grown on a scaffold in the laboratory. However, the original company website is no longer active.
Fingerprint Rings
Just yesterday, I saw a fingerprint ring (which inspired this post). This guarantees that you’ll never see anyone else with exactly the same ring! Fingerprint rings are available in many styles. Rings by Gerd Rothmann feature a fingerprint that resembles a charm on top. Jeweler Andrew English does commissioned wedding rings with the fingerprint inside or outside.
Comments (48)
Comment
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Here’s another source for the silver ring trick (the one I used when I did it…)
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Ring-from-a-Silver-Coin
posted by Jason! on 9-23-2008 at 10:00 am
I immediately thought of the Wonder Twins when I saw the nut and bolt rings!
Marital Power activate!
posted by Ian on 9-23-2008 at 10:07 am
What about rings made of folded metal? ( google George Sawyer)
My aunt and uncle used these for their wedding. Really really impressive (and expensive!)
posted by Ben E. on 9-23-2008 at 10:26 am
Our wedding rings are one-of-a-kind because they are made by an actual person, Jack Jennings. See his work at jackjenningsmetalsmith – dot com
posted by Julie on 9-23-2008 at 10:53 am
Being a nerd, my husband designed my ring himself using CAD. The wedding band slips around the engagement ring so that it looks like one complete seemless ring with pave diamonds all around. Even up close it is very hard to tell that they are seperate. The only problem is, people often assume I’m engaged not married…. further compounded by my growing pregnant belly. “No I am not having a shotgun wedding.”
posted by Cassandra on 9-23-2008 at 11:01 am
My sister’s ring is a Mobius strip.
posted by kp on 9-23-2008 at 11:37 am
My plain white gold wedding band is so blah. Maybe I’ll ask my husband for an upgrade for our next anniversary — for both of us!
posted by Amy D on 9-23-2008 at 12:01 pm
I heartily suggest checking out “500 Wedding Rings” published by Lark Books (one of their ever-expanding galaxy of “500 [whatever]” publications) for more fascinating interpretations.
My own favorite is the historical “fede” ring style, a hinged type where swinging the parts together makes two sculpted hands clasp each other. And I would be doing that for my own upcoming nuptials if not for the fear that it would never last the tough time I give jewelry.
Instead I’m having a band custom made to my own design, with stylized lilies and roses and a central stone-set motif that just HAPPENS to resemble the Green Lantern symbol. Well, one of my cartoonist fiancee’s only desires about a wedding ceremony is that he have the Green Lantern symbol tastefully engraved on his band. Damn it, not only will I make sure he gets it but that I will have one too …. though thoroughly camouflaged!
posted by VM to VV on 9-23-2008 at 1:00 pm
All I want is that awesome ring from the movie The Abyss. You know, the one that stopped a pressure door?
posted by jheylin on 9-23-2008 at 1:16 pm
From what I understand, it is legal to deface US currency. It is not legal to spend it after defacing it, however.
posted by markmier on 9-23-2008 at 2:45 pm
My sister’s upcoming wedding is centered around her ring. She inherited it from our great-grandmother who wore it on her wedding day in 1897. It is beautiful, a round cut diamond surrounded by intricate filigree.
These rings are awesome, but traditional rings are just as cool, or in my family’s case, cooler!
posted by Kieran on 9-23-2008 at 4:09 pm
Jheylin, I intend to get a titanium ring for exactly that reason!
posted by Manda on 9-23-2008 at 4:46 pm
Jheylin – check out the link in my name – It’s a company that actually produced the ring for the film, and I own several from them (though not that particular style) – and have informed my boyfriend that I want a titanium ring as an engagement and wedding ring – he’s thrilled, because they’re not expensive at all :)
posted by anaximander on 9-23-2008 at 5:48 pm
DH and I have custom made rings made from braided gold wire. 6 strands white gold, with 1 strand of yellow gold running through the middle. They were made as one long braid, and then cut to make the 2 rings. Then the artist pulled the braid on mine a bit tighter to make it narrower. We love them, and we get lots of comments about them.
posted by Jenn on 9-23-2008 at 6:18 pm
The intertwined ring is pretty savory. It looks good as well as has meaning than justa big ass rock on a band.
posted by Toby Barnett on 9-23-2008 at 6:59 pm
Actually, it’s not illegal to deface US currency, unless you’re doing it with fraudulent intent. This wouldn’t qualify, so it’d be fine.
posted by Matt Shafer on 9-23-2008 at 7:13 pm
WoW! Binary rings are super cool!
Jiff
http://www.anonymize.us.tc
posted by Oh Jones on 9-23-2008 at 7:15 pm
In regards to the coin rings… It’s not illegal to deface US currency. It’s illegal to deface it and then pass it off as legal tender.
If it was illegal then you wouldn’t see those penny presses that put logos and such on them for souvenirs at tourist locations.
posted by SmartAss on 9-23-2008 at 7:18 pm
it is *not* illegal to deface US Currency. It is illegal to deface currency AND THEN attempt to pass it off as valid currency. This is a subtle but important difference.
posted by Dave on 9-23-2008 at 7:33 pm
Love the intertwined rings. What a fun post.
posted by Weddingzilla on 9-23-2008 at 8:09 pm
My ring is older than our planet. It is made from a piece of the gibeon meteorite :D
posted by A. Dreamer on 9-23-2008 at 9:53 pm
These are all very cool. I know a jeweler in Chicago that does custom work; and he recently prototyped a tire ring for a car nut who is getting married:
http://www.goldencrownonline.com/makes/cad/080913ab.jpg
posted by Randy on 9-23-2008 at 11:33 pm
I want that binary ring!
posted by Jazzy on 9-24-2008 at 12:22 am
Click the link on my name to see my wife’s ring.
posted by Uncle Roger on 9-24-2008 at 12:51 am
My wife and I got handmade custom rings made from METEORITE!!! They are one of a kind a really really incredible
From Jacob Albee. He’s a wonderful jeweler and an amazing person.
jacobalbee DOT com
posted by Zak on 9-24-2008 at 11:43 am
I made some bands out of coins – but by hammering out the rims until they formed a lip, then removing the center of the coin.
(you can see them by clicking my name to go to the webpage with images)
Jeremy
posted by Jeremy on 9-24-2008 at 11:50 am
The jewelry store my fiance got my ring from will do all sorts of customized rings.
http://www.eternityweddingbands.com
Only wish I had known that before he bought it. Don’t get me wrong, I love my ring, but would have been really cool to have something as cool as these!
posted by Anna on 9-24-2008 at 4:07 pm
I wouldn’t mind having some of those rings.
posted by Free Xbox 360 Premium on 9-24-2008 at 7:16 pm
My wedding band is a silver puzzle ring with a rose motif. It has four bands and can split apart and be put back together (if you know the trick)! The best part about puzzle rings is that they’re fun to play with if you’re in a boring meeting, waiting for a bus, or just sitting in line anywhere.
posted by Untall on 9-24-2008 at 9:01 pm
Safety first!
If you do stuff that you are worried about a ring getting injured and are thus interested in titanium, I’ll tell you as a former jewelry store employee, you are probably a lot safer just not wearing a ring while you operate that machinery.
Titanium rings are a huge problem to remove if they become distorted, and because of the strength of the metal are much more likely to cause permanent injury to your hand than gold. (they take a lot longer to remove and different tools, more than one emergency room has had to lop off a finger trapped too long by a crushed titanium ring)
If you are getting meteorite rings, make sure to get them checked for radiation (the largest “black diamond” in the world gave its owner a nasty cancer on her hand in the 70s).
JEWELRY CAN KILL…. Tell all your friends! ;)
posted by Jane Gray on 9-25-2008 at 2:49 pm
The nut/bolt design is pretty cool, but what happens if your wife is a left hand thread? Then you’re screwed.
Or not.
posted by Mike P. (WI) on 9-28-2008 at 8:52 pm
There is a difference between hardness and tensile strength – titanium is hard, meaning it does not scratch easily
From the Original Titanium Workshop FAQ (click on my name for the full FAQ):
Q: Are titanium rings easy to cut in case of emergency ?
A : Yes, they are. Even stronger titanium alloys can be cut without difficulty. We have performed some tests on a 6Al/4V ring with a basic (manual) ring cutter, and went through it in under 2 minutes. The hospital and paramedic issued ring cutters are usually electric, reducing the cutting time consequently.
… so don’t worry about having to leave a finger behind in ER because of your ring.
posted by zale on 10-1-2008 at 7:16 pm
My parents rings spell “I LOVE YOU” in morse code incised crosswise on the ring. They were married sixty two years when my dad died in 2002. My mom still wears hers, it if so worn you can hardly see the marks any longer. Just shows that this isn’t a new idea.
posted by mike on 10-4-2008 at 10:39 pm
For Mike with the Morse Code parents:
Amateur Radio operators would really enjoy hearing the story behind your parents and their rings. If you contact the American Radio Relay League, I’m sure they would do an article in their monthly publication.
–… …–
Cliff
posted by KD4GT on 10-5-2008 at 9:06 am
I worked in a casino vault for a year, and one of the things I learned is that it is only illegal to deface money with the intention of changing the worth of the currency.
posted by mucklet on 10-5-2008 at 8:44 pm
My husband and I have rings handcarved with a Celtic design of Hounds and Cormorants (symbols of faithfulness) inspired by the Book of Kells. My husband bought a champagne diamond and had the artisan mount it on mine. I love it.
One thing to consider…rings with a thick edge, rail, or bumper can be really uncomfortable for some people to wear, especially if you are doing heavy work with your hands.
posted by PAT on 10-5-2008 at 9:52 pm
I own a engagement ring store and we are seeing more people request odd rings. I suspect this is less of a fad and more of a trend.
posted by Danforth Diamond on 10-8-2008 at 3:31 pm
You missed these great ‘Life Rings’
http://www.fraserliferings.com/English/index.htm
posted by Andrew Rickard on 10-23-2008 at 8:44 pm
If you like these crazy rings, I can definately hook it up. We’re in Manhattan’s diamond district, and have over 40 years of experience in custom rings. Give us a look at http://www.weddingbands123.com
posted by wbwholesale on 10-27-2008 at 6:25 pm
There are some really different and unusual rings in that collection.
posted by Kim Diamond on 11-10-2008 at 4:44 am
The Ethernet-rings and Usb-diamond rings are amazingly designed in creative way.
posted by jewelry on 12-1-2008 at 2:27 am
It is so very quit & amazingly designed rings.
posted by StevenHarmision on 12-5-2008 at 5:19 am
I liked the non-ordinary designed rings. They are amazing and original at the same time. Learn more about gold wedding bands from the link.
posted by The Fashion Blog on 1-18-2009 at 11:58 am
I cannot imagine these ring in my fingers but it could be a diffrent look angle in proposal of marriage
posted by nikah şekeri on 2-11-2009 at 8:45 pm
What an art!! the idea of Nuts & bolts, USB rings is totally different, though you can’t wear one as a regular ring but are good for a change.
posted by Diamond rings on 4-9-2009 at 2:27 am
The creativity that people have when it comes to jewelry is just amazing. It goes to show that jewelry is going to be crazy in the future.
posted by preciouseye on 5-15-2009 at 5:02 pm
I love the intertwined rings.
posted by Karen on 9-3-2009 at 3:41 pm
The nut and bolt rings are kind of utlitarian but also kinda cute.
posted by Melesha on 10-24-2009 at 11:43 pm