The Wonder of Mokume Gane Wedding Bands & Rings
Concepts in jewelry have come a long way with modern production techniques. With some fantastic and unique designs immediately grabbing your attention, there is a lot to admire. When it comes to wedding rings though, there is a far more limited canvas for a designer to work with.
Creating a masterpiece while avoiding ostentatious flourishes on a simple band of precious metal has been somewhat of a struggle for many modern jewelers. The jewelers that have succeeded have realized that reaching back in time, returning to the forge, and reenergizing old metalworking techniques is the answer.
None more so than the rekindling of Mokume Gane. A forging and metalsmithing process that can produce some of the most visually stunning rings you will ever see, with Mokume Gane wedding rings being one of the most sought-out wedding bands today.
What is So Special About Mokume Gane Wedding Rings
When we talk of reaching back into the past and rekindling smithing techniques from ages old, then mokume gane certainly does that. A Japanese metalworking process that springs from the time Samurai roamed Japan, and your sword depicted your status.
The construction of a Samurai sword was a painstaking and intricate process that involved the laminating plates of metal together to produce what is known as ‘Damascus Steel.’ Mokume gane was born out of this process as in the late Seventeenth century, with a craftsman called Denbei Shoami being slated as having produced the first mokume gane items.
What Makes Mokume Gane Rings Stand Out
At first, wonder, and then awe. These tend to be the initial reactions when seeing an authentic mokume gane ring for the first time. It is the swirls and patterns in the surface of the metal that immediately catch your eye. They are so convincing and regular that you may immediately think they could be printed, only to realize on closer inspection that these patterns come from deep within the metal of the ring itself.
It is in fact the combining of various precious metals that have created this pattern that is often considered to resemble wood grain, but can be so much more depending on the imagery the designer wants to convey. These handcrafted rings ooze class and power, which is unsurprising considering the mokume gane technique’s origins.
Mokume Gane Forged From Power, Constructed With Skill
It cannot be understated the amount of store and prestige that the Samurai sword held in Japanese culture during the era of the Shoguns. Therefore, it is no surprise that the construction techniques used in creating the blades were transferred to other metal smithing.
As with sword construction, the mokume gane smithing technique is highly skilled. It took years for an apprentice smith to perfect the process, and required a deep understanding of metallurgy in order to produce mokume gane.
This skill level has not changed; even today, a high level of expertise is required to produce authentic mokume gane. These skills are found in only a few forges, such as the forge of the legendary Japanese master metalsmiths at Jaume Labro.
How is a Mokume Gane Constructed
The patterns and swirls that lie deep within the rings of the mokume gane process originate from the complex laminating of a number of precious metals. Various combinations of metal, and how these metals are arranged in the laminating process produce different coloring effects on the finished piece.
A skilled mokume gane artisan will know exactly the right combinations, the order of the “billet” (strips of metal being laminated), and the number required to produce a specific visual effect in the ring created.
What Precious Metals Are Used
Seventeenth-century Japanese metal smiths well understood the imagery that could be created from combining various metals, hence a considerable emphasis was placed on the understanding of metallurgy to create items of both strength and beauty.
In modern mokume gane construction, the metals that are used are almost always only what we would consider as precious metals. These tend to be:
- White Gold
- Yellow Gold
- Rose Gold
- Silver
- Pt950 (Platinum)
The multiple combinations that can be created from this pallet of metals can produce various different colorings to set off the patterns and woodgrain imagery that the ring is designed to have.
What Grade of Precious Metals are Used for Mokume Gane
The grade of precious metal that billets used in the laminating process have is also very important. Although you can create rings from lover carat material, the higher the carat of the metal the softer the material and the better the forging of the metals, the stronger the ring created.
Authentic mokume gane rings will only use at least 18-carat and sometimes 24-carat gold. The same applies to platinum, where only Pt950 grade is considered to create the fusion of precious metals.
Why Your Wedding Band Choice Should Be Mokume Gane
Having looked at the history and construction of mokume gane rings you may already be convinced that these handcrafted rings would be perfect for your choice of wedding bands.
There are, though, a number of other reasons that should convince those that are not yet sure of the relationship between mokume gane and love. There is a considerable amount of symbolism that is involved in the nature of the finished ring, not to mention the statement it can make about you as a couple and the visuals that are present in the design, creating a sense of uniqueness.
Symbolism
Symbolism has always been prevalent in Japanese culture. We have already noted the power and authority that is carried within a Samurai sword, and the same exists for mokume gane and in particular, the wedding ring.
The melding together of metals represents the bringing together of two lovers into a single union. Each lover is still distinctive in their own right, as defined by the alternate coloring that creates the grain. The mokume gane process forges these metals together into an unbreakable unit, the ring, representing the marriage commitment.
The ring itself is also a powerful symbol as it signals eternity, with its never-ending circle as its form. Together a mokume gane wedding band represents an unbreakable pledge to each other and the ultimate form of fidelity.
Unique Reflection of Your Love for Each Other
No two love stories are the same, so why should the statements about your love and union, such as your wedding bands, be the same as everybody else’s?
By choosing a mokume gane wedding ring, you immediately stand out. Being handmade, every ring set is different from another, just like the love that you kindled together and are about to turn into an everlasting marriage is also unique. Each pattern, each fusion of metals, has its own stamp of originality defining your relationship and future.
Exclusivity, not just in the piece but in concept, is also assured as you are only very rarely likely to come across another couple bearing authentic mokume gane wedding rings.
Conclusion
When lovers collide, precious metals combine, and a bond is created in the form of a band that signifies an unbreakable union between two souls in wedlock. Using the mokume gane metalworking process to create a wedding ring that demonstrates this union is the ultimate symbol of eternal love.
A process steeped in centuries of metal smithing, mokume gane gives the wearer something that no other process can. Handmade, a taste of history, combined with class, style, and strength come together in a combination of precious metals that is unique to no other.
“One ring to bind them all’, a mokume gane wedding band truly is the only ring worthy of the name.