Designing Your Own Mokume Gane Ring
Designing your own Mokume Gane ring is an exciting and deeply creative process. Due to the unique process of fusing, forging and carving the different metal combinations, no two rings will ever look the same. Each customer walks away with a one-of-a-kind ring and story that encapsulates their personal taste. If you are looking to purchase one of these stunning rings as a wedding band or for daily wear, there’s a number of different factors to consider to produce your perfect piece. Find everything you need to know about the process of designing your own Mokume Gane ring below.
Choose your Mokume pattern options
It is the precious metal patterns that make Mokume Gane so popular! We use 4 main pattern styles across our Mokume Gane pieces, each with entirely different results.
Forged
A Forged ring has beautiful cylindrical shapes that appears like a topographical map, each hill ebbing and flowing into the other. This pattern is the result of combining brute and gentle force with the infusion of intense heat, where no two rings are ever the same.
Twisted
Twisting the pattern into your ring is a delicate process, resulting in longer strokes of colour. With just the right amount of heat and careful not to overdo it, the twisted pattern is a beautifully subtle take on Mokume Gane.
Twisted & Forged
Combining the unique Forged pattern with the flow of our Twisting Technique, this patterning creates a multitude of effects and is a great choice for those that love a surprise.
Starburst
As an offshoot of the Twisted pattern, this styles brings some symmetry to the fold of metals to create more of a cohesive and balanced pattern.
The patterns we create at Jason Ree are influenced by our powerful love for nature and are just as unique as the environment around us. We use these techniques to influence the general pattern of the ring, however each piece will have its own unique shapes and quirks to make it undeniably your own. Once you have settled on your desired ring pattern, it’s time to choose your colour mix!
Choose your Mokume colour options
There are infinite possibilities with Mokume Gane colour combinations, so it is important to have a look at a large variety of options to get a feel for what you like. When you design a Mokume Gane ring with Jason Ree, we will work with you to incorporate any of the colours your heart desires. We offer a large range of colour combinations inspired by the vibrancy of the Australian landscape, not limited to:
- Varying shades of yellow from 18ct or 22ct of gold
- Red using 18ct rose gold and copper
- Deep brown using
- Silverish greys from varying amounts of platinum, palladium and silver
Each one of our iconic colour mixes are named after a tree that shares common colours with the golds such as Acacia, Ironbark, Tea Tree and Blue Gum to tie back into the beautiful mokume pattern within the wood grain metal. Your skintone will be influential in choosing what looks best on you, but keep in mind that different patterns will show different quantities of metal, e.g Forge pattern shows bigger 'blobs' of colour then the Twist pattern so don’t be afraid to play around with different combinations.
To make it even easier to choose what colours you’d like to include in your design, we’ve created this downloadable Mokume Gane ring sheet to compare a few of our most popular colour combinations. However, the easiest way to try on our full range is to book in a design conversation in our Sydney store!
Choose your Mokume ring width & style
Now we have your colours, metals and pattern, it’s time to design the perfect fit. We can craft a ring to fit a finger of any size, whether you prefer a slimmer band or a thicker statement ring. Generally we make the minimum width cut off at 3 or 3.5mm as otherwise you cannot really see enough of the Mokume pattern any thinner.
We also are experts in a number of Mokume ring styles. You can try on a number of different ring fits in store from a flat, band style to a rounded comfort fit, to see what suits you best.
Once we have a good idea of what ring size and fit you prefer, we can get stuck into work!
Choose your Mokume ring finish
If you are designing a custom piece, consider what finish you prefer. At Jason Ree, we usually brush the Mokume rings, as it shows the contrast of different colours and patterns best. But you can also choose a polished finish, which will make the ring’s pattern appear much more subtle.
You can choose either finish for your ring and also change you mind at a later date.
How long does it take to make a Mokume Gane ring?
Depending on the pattern, width and additions like embedding gemstones or engraving, a custom Mokume Gane ring can take anywhere from 2 - 6 weeks to complete. If you have a key date in mind, we will do everything we can to make sure that ring is on your finger as soon as possible.
What if you need something changed? At Jason Ree, we want you to be thrilled with your Mokume ring. We give you the option to change your ring within 30 days of receiving it. You can change any feature of the ring and will only be charged if you choose a more expensive metal combination or style.
How do I look after a Mokume Gane ring?
Once you have your perfect custom-designed piece, you’ll find Mokume Gane rings are easy to clean and maintain. Simply wash with warm water and a mild liquid soap whenever your ring needs a spruce up or purchase a jewellery cleaner.
When you design with Jason Ree, we offer free engraving and lifetime upkeep of your Mokume rings. Save time and energy by dropping your rings in to us to bring them back to their best. We can engrave any font inside your rings including your own handwriting, fingerprints or any other image that is special for you.
Mokume gane is the ultimate symbol of love and strength, forged in fire and shaped by hand. We’d be honoured to be a part of your design journey as award-winning Mokume Gane specialists.
Look in your design conversation with Jason Ree by booking in a complementary Mokume Gane consultation here.