Lashbrook Designs

NEW METALS, ANCIENT VALUES. WHAT ALTERNATIVE METAL WEDDING RINGS CAN MEAN FOR YOU

In ancient Rome, knights and senators whose pedigrees stretched back for generations wore rings of iron or bronze. Gold was available; so was silver.

But the Romans wanted to send a message about their commitment to enduring values, stability, and strength--and to let their world know how disgusted they were by the frivolity and waste they felt dominated their culture.

Jewelry does more than just make people look good. Every piece says something about the person who wears it. Some say that jewelry can have an impact on the people who are wearing them as well, making them everything from calmer and healthier to more energetic and assertive.

New metals and materials are being put to use in men's wedding jewelry. These range from substances that have been used for untold centuries to materials that showcase the latest society's high-tech achievements. 

A wedding ring is far more than a mere piece of decoration. It is a statement of commitment, purpose, values, ideas and identity. Today's men have a wider variety of choices available to them than ever before. Explaining these choices and helping customers find the right piece is what Devon Fine Jewelry is all about.

That's why we've put together an extraordinary program that will help you understand the new wedding materials, their meaning, and their impact on you.
 

Material: Damascus Steel

For most of human history, steel has been an incredibly rare and precious material known for its wonderful strength and durability. More than 1,000 years ago, Sword smiths in Syria's capital found a way to create a special kind of steel that was exceptionally strong. Making it was an incredibly laborious, demanding, and secretive process. Layers of iron were hammered over each other, welded together and folded again. Many of the greatest source ever created were done using Damascus steel. To wear a ring made of it is to truly tap into the power of history.  
 
    
    


Material: Titanium
Though it was discovered in 1791, Titanium is so hard to work with it wasn't put to  use until the 1950s and '60s. Then its awesome properties of strength, durability and light weight made it a must for ultra-sophisticated applications. Case in point: the SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest, highest-flying aircraft ever built--and also one of the most beautiful. Indeed, the SR-71's lines are so magnificent it just starred in the latest X-Men movie, X-Men: Origins. Titanium is twice as strong as steel, and will keep its lustrous sheen for centuries.  







Material: Mokume

Leave it to the Japanese to create a form of metal that is both a work of art and the raw material for some of the sharpest swords ever made. Mokume was developed by Japanese sword smiths who needed to find a new calling after the Samurai fell from grace. They took the same skills that had made three foot Katanas that could cut through a four by four in one swing, and instead used the ability to put together layer after layer of different metals to make stunning works. It's impossible for a Mokume artist to know the exact shape or colors that will show up in the rings they create. But true skills will result in rings rich in both surprises and beauty.  






Material: Cobalt Chrome
 
Untold numbers of people can walk without discomfort and take a full bite out of life because of Cobalt Chrome. Among the most sophisticated and advanced materials ever created, this is a sophisticated alloy of cobalt, chrome, and molybdenum, with a few trace metals, including nickel, iron and carbon, mixed in. It's purpose: to not only be comfortable on the human body, but inside it as well. Joint and dental implants made with cobalt chrome can last decades in one of the most sensitive, challenging environments anywhere. If it works there, think how good it will feel on your finger.  




Material: Tungsten

If you use good tools, you've undoubtedly encountered Tungsten. Tungsten makes the materials it is applied to so tough that, almost from the moment it was introduced, companies  bragged about how it made their products tougher, more durable and, simply, better. Tungsten isn't just great for tools. It withstands heat and stress like few other metals--which is why the filaments of most light bulbs are made from it. Tungsten's heavy atomic weight give it a sense of presence and strength that add to its value as a wedding band material.  

Material: Stainless Steel

One of the oldest of the "new" materials, stainless steel has been around since the early 20th century. Unlike traditional iron-based materials, stainless steel turns back corrosion with a shining, silvery face. A crucial component of tools and devices for decades, stainless steel has also found intensive use in architecture, design and even appliances in recent years, since its flexibility and toughness make it perfect for a multitude of uses.