You would think with a bazillion wedding ring websites on the internet, there would be at least a few that feature unique and unusual wedding rings for women. Well, maybe not a bazillion but Google just listed 13.7M sites on a search conducted a few seconds ago. Well, this should be easy and fun.
The sad truth is that most women’s wedding rings sold in America are not unique nor are they even made in America. Why is this? I believe it is because we easily succumb to the immense advertising by the big chains, especially at this time of year. You can hardly watch your favorite TV show, news program or even a football game without seeing an ad and you know who I mean. There should be a WARNING ALERT! with these advertisements that you won’t find a unique wedding band for a woman here!
As I have stated often, there is nothing more precious on a woman’s finger than her wedding ring. Shouldn’t it be unique, reflecting her personality and your relationship as husband and wife and made for her only?
A few months ago, I wrote my very first blog about “What makes a ring unique?” Many of the points are worth repeating if you are searching for a unique wedding band for a woman:
I believe strongly a “unique wedding ring” should meet these criteria:
- It should be custom made from start to finish just for the individual;
- Its design and craftsmanship should be of the highest quality, using the finest materials available;
- It should be made in a studio at a jeweler’s workbench, not in a factory;
- It should be signed by the artist who made it;
- It should be uncommon with design and detail only you have personally selected;
- Most importantly, it should make her smile, warm your hearts and affirm daily your life’s relationship with another person.
To find unique wedding bands for a woman, you can start and finish here: http://www.ringsunique.com/ With Rings Unique, you will receive personal service and detailed attention to every aspect of the ring you have selected and it will be made by an artist in America. Whether the ring you select is custom made from our many designs or custom designed using your ideas with artist input, we will exceed your expectations to make your ring perfect.
In a world increasingly relying on mass produced items for daily living, it is helpful to take a step back and reflect about the most important things in your life that define who you are and give you pleasure.
Start with wedding rings, the single item worn daily, never changing. Of all the clothes in your wardrobe, dresses, suits, ties, blue jeans, sweaters, jewelry for adornment, the one item that never changes is your wedding ring. Why? Because your wedding ring is worn daily as your permanent symbol of union with another person, the most important relationship in your life. A wedding ring symbolizes your love…the joining of lives, a journey of togetherness, a reflection of who you are and a personal statement to the world.
With this in mind, does it make sense that your wedding ring is commonly mass-produced, one of thousands made in a factory somewhere? Does this really reflect your own uniqueness and relationship? Hardly!
This is why a Custom Made wedding ring is so important. “Custom Made” means that your wedding ring is made only for you, to your exact wishes and desires, with details you have specified to reflect your own unique personality and marriage.
With Rings Unique, each ring is Custom Made. We don’t manufacture rings by the thousa
nds but handcraft rings by the ones, each ring a single effort completely handmade from scratch by an independent artist-designer jeweler whose life and work is devoted to a profession they love. From start to finish, a custom made wedding ring is intended for you only, no one else, created with a personal touch using the type of metal and gemstones you have asked for. When an artist signs their initials and mark on a ring they have custom made, you know it is a work of art and the result of a profession they love.
For us, a custom made ring is a unique undertaking to craft a unique wedding ring for a unique individual, you. We believe it is a privilege and honor to be asked to make the wedding ring that you will wear daily for a lifetime.
Whether your unique ring idea is for an engagement, a wedding or a very special gift, please plan ahead. With Rings Unique, custom made rings take time to create, usually 4-6 weeks. So, GET STARTED NOW!
Unlike standard jewelry stores where a common ring is re-sized in the backroom and is ready to go quickly, a custom handcrafted ring is made from scratch using the finest materials and gemstones you have personally selected. This makes a handmade ring so meaningful and loving, your priceless gift. It is even more special because your thoughts and heartfelt emotion was part of the creativity giving life to a timeless ring. Then, when an artist signs their initials on the inside of a finished ring, you know it is a work of art, a labor of love and was made for you only.
To help you get started, here are a few tips:
Check out our 17 Collections of rings to see the vast unique ideas we have. There are over 450 rings. Then, once you are in a Collection, click on a thumbnail to see the image in a larger view. The average starting prices for most rings appear above a ring.
To get started with a specific ring just for you, please email from our “Contact Page” or “Get Your Quote” link and let me know the following:
- The collection and # of your favorite ring(s);
- The finger size for the ring you want (very important);
- The special custom details you want such as type and color of metal-gold, platinum or palladium- any gemstones you want including diamonds, sapphires or rubies;
- Remember, if our standard designs are not quite the answer but you have an idea, just let us know and we can probably make it.
Of course, you can always call us for a personal consultation over the phone. This may be the fastest way to determine options, ideas and what works with your budget.
We look forward to helping you with your special gift.
We emphasize "Balance" of unique design and a quality diamond
#10. Guys usually forget that a wedding ring, worn on the inside of an engagement ring (by tradition), will need to be purchased later to fit snugly with with the engagement ring.
#9. Guys easily succumb to Madison Ave. jingles such as “It can only be ______” or “Every kiss begins with _” and rarely bother to think about trying to match the
unique personality of the woman to ring that is
uniquely designed just for her.
#8. Guys try to become experts in micro-evaluating the details and pricing of diamonds, a very tricky undertaking in an extremely complex industry. Better to just read my diamond page on this site.
#7. Guys often don’t know the differences among a 0.01 carat, a 0.10 carat and a 1.00 carat diamond and frequently overlook the more important elements of a diamond’s color, clarity and cut of the stone.
#6. Guys don’t realize that the majority of engagement rings in jewelry stores are made off-shore, usually in China, re-sized in the backroom of a store and a diamond mounted on the pre-cast head with its prongs tipped over, how romantic.
#5. Guys spend way too much for an engagement ring, going into long term debt needlessly for a ring that depreciates faster than a car (or may not last as long as a car).
#4. Guys think it’s all about size…of the diamond.
#3. Guys often misjudge the point in a relationship when to “ask” the question.
#2. Guys frequently have no clue about a woman’s finger size, even which finger or hand it is worn on. Please don’t use a string, a piece of paper from an internet site, or explain to the jeweler that it should fit on my pinky. Get a proper size or request a sizing kit from us.
#1. Guys think a diamond makes a ring unique, it doesn’t.
This is the cover page of the October 14 issue of The Austin Chronicle, the weekly alternative paper in Austin, TX with news, opinion, sassy and irreverent–but accurate–observations of what is really going on in our fast-moving ever-vibrant city. This paper is the source for all things artsy, musical, political, personal, shows, events and more.
With a readership in the hundreds of thousands, it appeals to all age groups. Check it out weekly at www.austinchronicle.com
"Best of Austin" issue
This special issue unveils the coveted “Best of Austin” awards, an annual listing of what readers and the paper’s own critics have deemed the year’s top experiences for all things Austin. This issue is a great read from cover to cover.
Well, we are happy (and a tiny bit proud) to report that our very own Rings Unique specialty received a critic’s award for “Best Ringing Endorsement” citing “there’s something in Rings Unique’s ring case that will tickle your loved one’s fancy.”
We were especially happy to read the comment “Between its beautiful selections, its informative website, and the personalized attention from owners Connie and Tom Quilter, Rings Unique can make a daunting prospect – finding a special ring for that special someone – seem all the more neighborly.”
We believe that helping you with a wedding ring decision is about match-making, finding a perfect ring to fit your personality and your special relationship, not about the retail transaction. This is why we publish so many stories of happy couples finding their perfect rings at Clarksville’s Rings Unique showcase.
What’s your story? We are here to help with your own special wedding rings.
Meet Rob and Nadine. They live in NYC but were visiting Rob’s sister in Austin last week. In addition to enjoying all the fun of Austin, Rob had a secret mission—to find the perfect engagement ring for Nadine.
Rob and Nadine
Rob’s sister, Joyce, suggested he check out Clarksville
Gallery to find a unique handcrafted ring.
Several rings caught his eye and his excitement was evident. Of course, Joyce and Rob visited other jewelers but his focus was on his first instinct, a Timeless ring in our case. All in all, Rob came back to see it about three times just to be sure.
Then came Sunday, truly a magical day. Rob brought Nadine in the front door and asked her to take a look in the ring case. She was surprised, breathless and overwhelmed. They hugged like teenagers but finally got their composure so I could help them. Rob’s first choice was also hers, Timeless #10, indeed a perfect 10. The entire planet must have felt the stars align because this moment was so powerful.
Rob and Nadine will never forget this day, nor will I. This makes us rejoice again that we have helped a loving couple take the next step in their journey together.
This impeccable ring was completely handcrafted by the Mastery Collection goldsmith for local customers, Hanna and Jon. They envisioned an arched engagement ring with a halo of diamonds around an oval center diamond. It had to be completely handmade by an artist and of the utmost quality.
We accepted the challenge, sourced a lovely 1.00ct. oval center diamond as well as the melee, a total of 56 tiny 1.5pt. diamonds, each one ideally cut. The project took about 4 weeks from start to finish because of the intense labor. You see, this ring was never cast, but totally hand sculpted from a solid block of 18k white gold, the hardest way to make jewelry. It is a masterpiece.
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Hanna's Engagement Ring
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When Austin’s top independent jewelry appraiser saw the ring, all he could say was “Wow!” He said it was a ring for generations because of its quality and construction.
It would wear like “iron.”
Do you have an idea for a totally custom ring? Just let us know. One of our many artists would be happy to get it underway for you. Use our Contact Rings Unique form to let us know your dream ring.
Earlier this year, Meredith, a lovely Austin woman, came into our gallery searching for a unique engagement ring. She had already visited other standard or prestigious jewelry stores in the area. She was recommended to us by a colleague because we have unique handcrafted rings. At first, Meredith was a bit overwhelmed by our many non-traditional and uncommon choices but her eye caught an interesting two tone ring in our case with a trillion shaped spessartite garnet (deep orange from the presence of the element manganese). Meredith asked if this Contemporary ring be done with a diamond.
We love “What if” or “Could You?” questions. Well, of course we can!
Take a look at the original ring from our case, then see the brilliant engagement ring she has with a fabulous diamond.
Inspiration-the Spessartite Ring Meredith's Diamond Ring
Meredith sourced her triangle diamond, about 1.00ct. and brought it to us to make her ring. The artist, Susan Fox of Michigan, is the Contemporary ring artist on http://ringsunique.com/
Susan is about 4′ 11″ but her smallish stature belies the bold museum quality sculpted pieces she makes in all aspects of jewelry design and crafting. Susan and I love to trade weather stories since she lives in the snow belt and we are in the heat zone of Central Texas.
Meredith, a health professional, and Serge, a PhD English professor, were married in May. Her wedding ring was a simple narrow white gold ring, notched with a
V to custom fit around the diamond point and Serge’s ring was custom made by our local artist for the Eternity Collection, Timothy Sens. Both rings were hand engraved by Marc
Milosevich of Michigan.
This lovely couple has affirmed and energized our passion for what we do, helping wonderful people with the unique rings of their dreams.
Earlier this year, we were challenged by the founder/owner of a computer software company to make a Meteorite ring with an unusual feature–his wedding date engraved on the outside of the ring in binary code. Not only was this a huge challenge, it was also a substantial risk because a mistake in any detail or size would destroy the ring.
Fortunately, we work the top Meteorite ring artist in the country, Chris Ploof, and an old-school engraver who does everything by hand from scratch, no stencils, Marc Milosevich of Michigan: http://www.engravingspecialist.com/
The story involves a very wide ring in a large size 11. Step one involved several sketches back and forth with the customer. The final design consisted of a 12 millimeter wide ring with stepped edges as follows: 3.00mm white gold/ 4.0mm meteorite/ 5mm white gold. Step two was to be sure of the proper finger size. An interim ring was made in sterling silver at 12mm wide in his size 11. The wider the ring, the more difficult proper sizing becomes. The interim ring ensured that we had a nice comfortable but secure fit; this ring could not be re-sized because it would have destroyed the engraving.
Custom Binary Coded Meteorite Ring 12mm Wide
The customer supplied the binary code for the wedding date. The customer also wanted a deep engraving on the ring, a very difficult challenge. It had to be done by hand by a master engraver. Chris and Marc discussed in detail of the length of the code and the exact size of each engraving stroke. A third step was taken to make sure the code was correct and in the proper size to perfectly fit the circumference of the ring. A sterling silver 1” X 3” plate was test engraved and sent to the customer for approval.
With the test sterling plate now approved, a fourth step was taken before the final engraving. The engraver made a negative of the code to circle the ring as a guide. It had to be precise with each stroke and space perfectly aligned. Marc needed uninterrupted concentration to complete the ring and he used Easter Sunday for the 5 hour process.
The result is a masterpiece handmade custom crafted heirloom ring, combining new age binary coding with a 4.5 billion year-old slice of Meteorite along with old-school craftsmanship hand engraving. From start to finish, this was about a three month project, longer than first anticipated but well worth every careful step.
Would we take the same care with your custom ring? You bet! We will take every step necessary to make your ring a perfect masterpiece just for you.
Every August, a lovely picture from 1944 permeates my everyday thoughts and takes me to the steps of a Cathedral for the wedding of my parents, Thomas N. Quilter and Mary Angela Comte. This took place in Toledo, Ohio at Holy Rosary Cathedral.
My Father and Mother first met on a picnic date at DeSales College in the early 40’s. That date turned into a marriage that spanned nearly 60 years, sharing lives totally devoted to each other, their family, their church and their community.
Wedding Day, August 21, 1944
My Father was a Naval Officer and a Physician (and later a vintner) while my Mother was a homemaker and volunteer (and later a co-vintner). There were six children, followed by fourteen grand-children and twelve great grand-children. Their lives were rich in the blessings of family and friends.
Both are now deceased but their legacies of giving and self-sacrifice live on. I had the privilege of offering the eulogy for Mother in 2010 and Dad in 2006. Few things in my life have ever given me more satisfaction.
The most important lesson learned from my parents was their work ethic. Dad’s motto was always “work hard,” “do your very best” and always “do the right thing.” Life is really very simple when you apply these three things. This is the three legged stool. And if you look into your own heart, you will always know if you really worked hard, did your very best and most importantly did the right thing.
With Rings Unique, Connie and I know we are blessed with helping customers involved with the most precious and serious of all relationships. Along with our ring artists, we are privileged to be a small part of your lives, your special wedding day or anniversary, and the legacies you will pass on.