Let’s take a trip back to high school. Just remember sitting in the 10th grade science chair and only listening to half of what the teacher is saying, the other half of the time you are trying to figure out what your plan is going to be when you get out. The teacher up in front of class is talking about the difference between gemstones and minerals. Actually, he is telling you how to tell if a mineral is a gem, not the other way around, because all gems are minerals.
Scientifically, minerals are defined as solid geologically formed substances with unique physical and chemical characteristics. Historically, gems were considered gems if they were hard nonmetallic minerals used in jewelry. Gemstones are basically identified by humans and classified by what we think is beautiful. They are diamonds and garnet and other stones that are appealing to the eye.
Some precious gems are not minerals but organic matter; for example a pearl. A pearl is from an oyster and is one of the only gems to come from a living organism; the others are Jet and Amber which come from trees.
Another classification that determines if a mineral is a gemstone is the rating on the Mohs scale or the scale that determines the hardness of a stone. Minerals that rank higher on this scale are used as gemstones because of their durability. When making a piece of jewelry, you want to use a gemstone or mineral that has long lasting durability. Ruby and Sapphire are amongst the highest scoring gems as well as Garnet and Peridot. Malachite and Sugilite are other gemstones also ranking high on the scale. Opal and Turquoise are some of the most eye appealing minerals that are not as hard as other gemstones but do have the hardness sought after in quality jewelry.
Choosing the materials used in custom jewelry can be a balance between beauty and practicality. Most women would love to have diamonds in everything they wear, which is both beautiful and practical because diamonds go with everything. A recent jump in sales would indicate that Opal is the new diamond for its rarity and variety of color. The newest trend is synthetic opal which is real opal developed in a lab to achieve new color and fewer imperfections.
When choosing minerals for jewelry, you have a multitude of colors to choose from to make the piece unique and original, whether it is a gemstone or mineral that is formed in the ground, created under water, or grown in a lab. They are all available here at Hawaii Titanium Rings!
Koa wood is famous in Hawaii for many reasons, one being its decorative array of colors and grain texture. Curly, Fire, and Tiger Koa are the rarest, each displaying unique characteristics resembling their given names. The different colors of Koa wood are influenced by the tree’s age, the type of soil, and level of elevation that the tree grows in. Koa hues range from light golden blonde, to deep auburn red, to dark chocolate brown. The darker grain patterns add horizontal and vertical texture and it is the color and striping that creates the chatoyant three-dimensional appearance found only in Koa wood.
Curly Koa is named for its burl and swirly grain patterns showcased as playful spots and stripes with wavy figuring woven throughout the dark and light base wood. Curly Koa is found in only 1% of Koa trees as the wood grain is generally straight. The highest grades of wood are determined by the amount of curl that decorates the surface which is why Curly Koa’s high value is known worldwide.
Fire Koa’s colors also vary from light to dark, but what sets it apart from the other Koa woods are the darker flame-like streaks that jump in and out of its lighter core. Fire Koa has the appearance of being lit from within as the lighter shades of this wood are luminous and translucent. The fiery colors are different even within the same tree or branch adding excitement to every cut of wood.
Tiger Koa is a favorite of woodworkers and craftsmen; known for its exotic exhibition of tiger-like grain stripes and wide range of wood colors. Diagonal bands of color flow through this wood like the ocean’s current making it the top choice for furniture and guitar makers. Tiger Koa’s colors can be very pale beige or deep auburn red, but Black Tiger is considered the most valuable and hardest to find of all the Koa woods as it is usually from an ancient tree that has sunken upon itself because of its own heavy weight.
The Koa Tree is the only endemic tree to Hawaii and was once abundant throughout Islands being the first tree to grow from the lava, but today it is close to extinction. Federal law now forbids the tree to be cut and reforestation has been in full force so the curly colors of Koa Wood should be available for our children to enjoy.
Many clients ask us if we inlay gold or silver rings, but we have always and will always inlay titanium because it is the only metal strong enough to hold the wood and stone.
Gold and silver are soft metals and will conform to your finger, bending the shape of the ring and loosening the inlay. Tungsten will hold the inlay but if dropped on a hard surface, shatters. Titanium is forever, making your ring a treasure to last for generations.
Our inlay techniques were originally designed by us and we are continually developing new exciting custom styles to guide your imagination. The solid strength of titanium is the reason we can produce, showcase, and preserve intricate designs that last a lifetime.
If you want the best of both worlds, we inlay gold and silver to accent the titanium and other inlays. Titanium is a great way to preserve your gold and a beautifully unique way to match your mate's gold band.
The long awaited arrival of rings with a masculine appeal is here with an explosion of durable, lightweight, design. Titanium rings inlaid with wood and stone comfortably fit a man's hand and lifestyle like a glove. Design possibilities for men are infinite like they have never been before. The introduction of multiple choices featuring custom images and design creations representing passions, culture, and scenery are handmade by men, for men, with intricate skill.
Fact- working with titanium is a tough-guy profession, its dangerous at times. After all our company is the only company that we know of to start with a solid bar of Aerospace-grade, American-made titanium. When you walk into our gallery you can tell right away there is a machine shop in the back by the noise level. Our guys put blood, sweat, and tears into the rings to turn a bar of titanium into a sophisticated piece of jewelry.
Perhaps the most groundbreaking evolution in the jewelry industry in recent years, inlaid titanium rings cross demographic boundaries like no other predecessor, catching the eye of men and women of every age, background, and belief. Geographically, a world-wide response is apparent with people from every corner of the earth.
The first inlays from our company were Koa Wood, collected from fallen trees and branches from around the island, with nothing but good intentions to preserve this prized and historical Hawaiian tree. The growth began there, opening doors to the imagination in a machinist who used to make turbo chargers and power boosters from the same machine. Shown above is a ring featuring Hawaiian Koa and Hawaiian grown Mango with Rose Gold, just one design idea that turned out to be a favorite style for men.
Stone and mineral inlays now equal our wood inlay ring sales and the combination has surpassed both. Birthstones, astrological stones, power stones; one person has many whether they choose to decorate their hand or to manipulate the energy in their lives. Men are especially interested in the navy blue Lapis or the forest green Malachite set next to a rich dark wood.
Diamonds are no longer reserved for the women’s ring, they are embedded and flush with the surface so the chances of losing your diamonds are close to impossible. The diamonds are protected from the elements with a secret process that our company holds dear. There are few laws regarding design copyright, only a few in the United States, so we strive each day to research and improve our techniques with tight security to set ourselves apart from the mass-produced replicas.
The inlaid titanium ring industry has introduced a new frontier for men to explore on their own terms and conditions, and spouses everywhere are relieved to see their men wearing their rings with pride. Finally!
Choosing from hundreds of titanium ring inlay ideas does not have to be overwhelming; in fact it should be the most exciting part of your custom order. Consider first, the occasion for which the ring is being given and take it from there. An engagement or wedding calls for a diamond, a birthday should have a birthstone, and every anniversary year has a traditional gem, but for an embedded titanium ring, the inlay fun has just begun. Titanium rings are the dawn of a new age in stone placement and have reinvented the gem cluster. The key with titanium inlays is to choose the best inlay to compliment and showcase your gem. Here are a few tips:
1. Consider the color of your gem when selecting your backdrop. Encompass the stone you want to feature with a contrasting landscape. Diamonds should be classified as white, shining brightest in the darkest settings, such as wood and stone in warm shades of ebony, chocolate, indigo, and Bordeaux. Frame darker gems, like Pigeon-Blood Rubies, in illuminating arenas for example; creamy, white, pearly stones or golden, honey-blonde wood. Colored gems are a different story as they tend to reflect the colors around them. We solve this problem by setting the stone in a gold or silver seat to keep the color inside the stone reflecting upward.
2. Other precious metals should not be forgotten just because you prefer a titanium ring; titanium is the best metal to consider adding gold or silver as an inlay. Economically, the price of gold increases almost daily and where better to protect your investment other than embedded in the true strength of titanium. Gold and silver act as the ultimate highlight, enhancing your creation by radiating light within faceted stones and generating dimensions in wood and mineral. Another forgotten fact is that gold comes in four colors; yellow, white, rose, and green, multiplying your style options.
3. The month you were born in no longer confines you to one stone choice. For instance, ruby is the birthstone for the sign of Cancer and the month of July; but as a Leo born in July, Peridot comes into astrological play. Power stones offer another level of empowering inlay options, targeting weaknesses, ailments, and impending challenges. Choosing stones and minerals according to one's personal dilemmas is becoming a popular remedy and some believe it to be a powerful healing source.
As someone who has taken numerous ring orders, my experience has taught me that buying a ring is a meaningful purchase to many, and the customer service is an important component, especially when creating a custom order. A ring is bought with purpose, as a symbol to represent a paramount event or special memory. Earrings and necklaces are replaced and substituted frequently according to the circumstances, unlike a ring that is rarely removed once placed on the home finger, so only good energy should go into your handmade embedded titanium ring.
