Buying a ring online can be convenient but you need to ask the right questions to ensure you get exactly what you want. Rings are the most personal piece of jewelry you will buy; they are not usually taken off like necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. You look at your hand more than any other body part so it is important that you love looking at your ring. Here is a guideline to help you order the perfect ring.
First, call the company; you want to make sure there is a human being answering the company’s phone. If you cannot contact the company before you purchase, chances are you will not be able to reach them after the sale is made.
When you do talk to someone, be prepared with a list of questions and remember, if their customer service is not good their product will probably reflect that. Your first question should be about their guarantee and return policy because it will reveal their true level of customer service. If it seems that returning, sizing, or repairing your ring is going to be at all difficult, then this is not the company you should choose.
How long will the ring take to get to you? A very important question especially when getting married as some companies can take up to 6 months to make and ship a ring. We have a strict production schedule here at Hawaii Titanium Rings and mark all rings late after 10 working days; not easy for our guys as they hand make every ring starting with a solid bar of titanium which brings us to the next question:
Where is the ring made? Most companies are ordering their empty ring shells by the thousands from China. The problem with this is that China has less regulations regarding the quality of their material whereas we use only Aerospace-grade, American-made titanium. Our wood inlay comes from forests with controlled harvesting and our gemstone from environmentally conscious mining sources. Some of our wood is protected by law and must be from fallen trees and branches. Asking where the materials come from is background information you will want when you go to have a conversation about your ring or want to order another.
Asking questions is important and we know this so we are quick to answer the phone, and often do at odd hours with the time difference in Hawaii. We are available via live chat during the week and answer our emails daily even on weekends because we know people sometimes wait until the last second to purchase their wedding band and time is fleeting. Couples are nervous enough without the worry of ruining the ring exchange at their ceremony. A company that is present with prompt answers is a company you can trust and they will most likely exceed your expectations.
Many people buying a ring are proposing so they ask us “How do I surprise my mate with a ring if I don’t know their size?” We have had to brain storm creative ways to get a finger size without the person knowing and considering the finger is attached to a hand, this was not easy. Here are some ways to get their size without them knowing what you are up to:
- Do they have a ring we can “borrow”? If they have a ring that fits that finger, you can take it to your local jewelers to get it sized, or send us the ring without them knowing when you order so we can size it.
- Casual Shopping Investigations! Go for a stroll after a meal through a shopping district and casually pick up a ring and try it on your finger like you are curious as to your own size. Most likely your mate will mimic your actions and you can both know what size fingers you have. You can present it as a fun fact or trivia, stating the fact that most people’s ring fingers are the same size as their shoe size and see if it is true for you.
- The riskiest of all is to get their size when they are asleep, they must be heavy-sleepers of course, and you will need a plastic ring sizer which you can order for a reasonable price online. When you go to size their sleeping appendage, we suggest you remove the sizer ring you suspect is correct as it will be connected to sizes 2-16 including ½ sizes and will be hard to slip on without making noise and waking your mate.
- Finally, if all else fails we offer a lifetime sizing guarantee and for $25 we will remake the ring when it is safe to get the correct size. You can peak at their shoe size when you are in the closet and order the ring accordingly; chances are it will be right.
Our rings come with a lifetime guarantee and you can change the size or upgrade to a different style anytime. We ship them in a discreet envelope, just indicate at checkout that it is a surprise and we will ship it without our company name. Surprising your mate with a ring is an exciting event for everyone and we are happy to be your partners-in-crime.
Theme weddings are becoming the newest trend for ceremonies, and wedding planners have entered a new age in settings and décor. Fairy Tale Weddings are coming to life with a renaissance of creative motifs featuring complete staging including guests and staff in costume and character. Elaborate arrangements with specific requirements are now part of the norm and each year we are more and more impressed with the way brides and grooms are living out their dream weddings.
The wedding photos clients share with us made us realize that our custom wedding bands are becoming part of the theme and sometimes even the inspiration for our client’s “Big Day”. The variety is what surprises us, with each new photo we see what the client’s intentions were ordering the ring that they did. A recent order for dragon rings was a challenge but turned out to be one of our most meaningful ring sets ever designed and some of the most creative, romantic commencement images we have ever seen.
We have seen both extremes from easy-going backdrops of Napa Valley which include just a wine glass, a cork, and the rings, to incredible locations like castles in Scotland where the rings were delivered by an owl. On land, sea, and even in the air, we are touched to see the different places people wed and how they have coordinated their ring designs to go with their nuptials. Casual or formal, each piece of scenery reveals deep love and devotion whether it is near or far, extravagant or modest.
Whether it is a dolphin ring for your beach wedding or Pac Man rings for your gaming extravaganza, the possibilities are endless. Why not create the most memorable wedding day possible? Enjoy your day to the fullest by surrounding yourself with your passions and pleasures. You want it to be a day that your friends and family talk about forever with pictures that not only record important events but tell a great story.
Hawaii Titanium Rings specializes in custom designs for any wedding plan or idea. We are dedicated to helping your proposal, wedding day, or anniversary as special as it possibly be. Our talented artists take pride in creating custom pieces that showcase the heart and soul of your relationship and celebration. Call us anytime for design advice and tips, we are also featured in galleries located throughout the Hawaiian Islands and Mainland.
At Hawaii Titanium Rings, we offer free inside engraving with your ring purchase. This is another way to make your ring have a personal touch and make your big day even more special. But what should you put in it? There isn’t a whole lot of room there, so people struggle with ways to express their feelings in such a small space. Here are a few tips.
- Do you have a poem or song that you and your future spouse both love? Pick a short lyric to have on the inside of the band- it can even be a secret between you two! Speaking of secrets, do you have an inside joke from your past you would like to have be a part of your future? This is a unique way to include something memorable.
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Adages and Bible verses are another popular choice. Is there one that has a special meaning to you, or, maybe part of your wedding ceremony vows? These are great words to keep alive after the wedding day.
- Another unique idea is to include something in another language. It might be from somewhere you two visited or a phrase that holds special meaning to you. Many clients have us translate what they want to say into Hawaiian.
- To save on space, you might wish to use dates, instead. Have the month, date, and year engraved; whether it be the wedding, the day you first met, or maybe even the birth date of a child, it is something that is special to you and should be kept with you. What a great way to never forget your anniversary!
- Do you have pet names for each other? Include them on the rings! No one has to know, right?
Whatever the case might be, there are a lot of things that you can include in your one of a kind piece. Make it something that matters to you!
In part one of this article, we explored the origins of the Koa tree and its importance to the Hawaiian islands. Now we'll look at how the wood from this rare tree is allowed to be acquired and the unique varieties of its grain.
Different lands produce different trees and those trees provide unique woods for the rest of the world. Due to the makeup of chemicals and elements within a region different woods can only be grown in specific areas.
Koa Wood is native to Hawaii and found only in the Hawaiian Islands. Because of the beauty these trees have in their wood they are illegal to cut down now that they have been over harvested. Koa wood can be procured from trees that have fallen on their own but they cannot be harvested.
Koa wood has unique characteristics that the wood market has categorized into three grades of Koa wood:
- Select Koa — straightest grain with rich color
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Curly Koa — variable grain almost wavy in texture with rich colors and 3d highlights
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Premium Curly Koa or Tiger Koa — extreme color with many 3d highlights and translucent tones
Koa trees can grow to be very large. They can grow a few hundred feet tall and diameters over 10 feet wide. Many of the Koa trees do not make it this far because they have been harvested. Due to their enormous size and natural resistance to salt water their trunks were used for many years to make canoes to use as durable ocean vessels. The first Surfboard was most likely Koa wood.
Koa wood is extremely coveted and its beauty is unsurpassed. Our rings with Koa Wood are sure to be one of a kind as each tree wood is different reflecting the environment it grew in. They will be sure to impress and now with your knowledge of Koa wood you can explain the importance of the wood embedded in your titanium ring.
Have you seen our collection of Koa and Hawaiian wood rings? View them by clicking here.
