Anyone been watching the trends? Made for the masses...

Brian Marshall · Nov 24, 2016

(Don't be eating or drinking something when you look at this - stuff may come out your nose)

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...d-keywords=silicone+wedding+bands+with+stones

Brian

DakotaDocMartin · Nov 24, 2016

I suppose a silicone wedding ring will last as long as the marriage.

Mike_Morgan · Nov 24, 2016

A wedding ring... a metaphor for endless love... Now available in Rubber, Gold Plated base metal and genuine Zircons!

I'll never forget when Cubic Ziconia started showing up on the Jewelry Scene back in the 1970's... the slogan was... "It's NOT a fake Diamond... it's a REAL cubic zirconia!"

mvangle · Nov 25, 2016

I wear a silicone wedding band at work because metal is not allowed.
I could just not wear one, but my wife bought it for me to wear. So.....

mitch · Nov 25, 2016

are EMTs and emergency rooms equipped to remove tungsten carbide rings?

Bluetickhound · Nov 25, 2016

Yeah, my gold wedding ring gets hacked up mercilessly at work. The UPS and FedEx guys all wear the silicone rings and I'm about to get one too. When you've had the skin peeled back a few times on your ring finger from the metal ring getting caught on something you'll see the wisdom in wearing something softer....

Brian Marshall · Nov 25, 2016

Think about it...

1. There is no intrinsic value in these products as there once was in precious metals...

2. Highly skilled artisans & hand labor are "virtually" eliminated.

3. There appears to be a shrinking market for ring engraving?

4. The luxury jewelry industry no longer has the advertising (educational? propaganda?) clout it once had.

5. Our world is changing - quickly. Take notice.

Yes, I CAN see the uses of silicone for safety - as well as to match the color of your fingernails, eyes, your outfit or your shoes.
(The latter was done with colored stones in the past)

If you look around you will also see "wedding rings" tattooed on, more and more - here of late...

B.

Sam · Nov 25, 2016

We have nephews and friends that have tungsten and titanium wedding rings. I think much of it is the cool factor and of course the price. But like you say, there's zero value.

Yep, the world is changing. I'm still getting plenty of requests for ring engraving though.

Sam · Nov 25, 2016

mitch said:
are EMTs and emergency rooms equipped to remove tungsten carbide rings?

I've wondered that too, Mitch. No way you're going to quickly saw off a tungsten ring. Maybe there's a ring crusher or breaker or something?

monk · Nov 25, 2016

i have a plasma torch. that would remove not only the ring, but the guilty finger. as for sillycone, aroud here they have all but replaced the time-honored metal bracelets. i guess the stuff would be a bugger to engrave.
what's next, silly putty belt buckles?

GTJC460 · Nov 25, 2016

When I worked in the jewelry store, we used to sell all the modern material wb's. I used to joke about the ceramic bands..."the band of choice when you know it wont last"

Seriously though on the tungsten bands, they are much like our gravers in that the material isn't very shatter resistant. Under compression they will shatter, so if someone is injured the best way to get it off is to shatter it in a set of vice jaws. There are also diamond coated safety blades that can be bought to remove these rings. As for shattering, it has been known that sudden impacts have shattered bands on customer fingers.

Thierry Duguet · Nov 25, 2016

Brian Marshall said:
Think about it...

1. There is no intrinsic value in these products as there once was in precious metals...

2. Highly skilled artisans & hand labor are "virtually" eliminated.

3. There appears to be a shrinking market for ring engraving?

4. The jewelry industry no longer has the advertising (educational? propaganda?) clout it once had.

5. Our world is changing - quickly. Take notice.

Yes, I CAN see the uses of silicone for safety - as well as to match the color of your eyes, your outfit or your shoes.
(The latter was done with colored stones in the past)

If you look around you will also see "wedding rings" tattooed on, more and more - here of late...

B.

Hummm, think about it, is there that much difference between using template and pre-design patterns for engraving and the cheap things which are now made for mass production. The purpose is the same create a product as cheaply as possible with the least amount of effort and knowledge. God bless the one percenters they keep us busy, lol.

dogcatcher · Nov 25, 2016

I make, wear and sell wooden rings using glued up layers of bent veneer. Sort of like this "Instructable". http://www.instructables.com/id/Bent-Wood-Rings/ Another way, but not a safety type of ring is to use a flat ring for the size, and glue the veneer directly to it. Used to be some good easy money, but now that the instructions are out, anyone can make them.

Brian Marshall · Nov 25, 2016

"Used to be some good easy money, but now that the instructions are out, anyone can make them."

Interesting thought... as it applies to other things as well.

B.

pilkguns · Nov 25, 2016

I just got married to Barb Lawrence, a copper artist
http://coppretta.com/
and we chose to have our rings made out of mokume, sort of combining our two different metal endeavors.

Lee · Nov 26, 2016

Scott,congratulations. I wish you much happiness. If you bring your lovely bride to the LV show I promise to only tell good stories about you even if I have to make some up:biggrin:

pilkguns · Nov 26, 2016

Thank you Lee. I'll strive to live up to any stories you tell

Dave London · Nov 26, 2016

Congratulations Scott

John B. · Nov 26, 2016

Me too, Congrats Scott.

Doc Mark · Nov 27, 2016

Here's my congratulations also Scott. Question: How are you going to keep her away from all the weirdos that show up for your Engrave-In at the next event? She may think that we're a bad influence on you. (Although we all know that the reverse is probably more accurate.) Still, we don't want to scare her away!

Anyone been watching the trends? Made for the masses...

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