His & hers mokume-gane wedding bands from James Binnion

[SMC]

My fiance and I just received our mokume-gane rings from James Binnion (http://www.mokume-gane.com/). We live in Seattle, and James and Terry (his wife) are located in Bellingham, WA so they're only about 1.5 hours away. We were able to make a few trips up to visit them on our way to Vancouver to pick out our rings. They're super nice people to work with. They gave us a whole variety of quotes and combinations in order for us to pick one that worked within our budget. I highly recommend them.

We originally wanted platinum everything, but James advised us to use palladium to keep the costs down. He also said that palladium had a stronger grey color which provided a strong contrast with the sterling silver. He explained that the sterling silver is required in the metal mix so it can be etched back. They sent me a bunch of ring gauges in quarter sizes so we could get the exact fit - unfortunately, my ring is still too tight when stacked with my e-ring, so I had to send it back to get resized (and am waiting to get it back). I had to go up a little over a quarter size for the rings to stack comfortably.

His ring:

• palladium 950 and sterling silver in tight woodgrain pattern with platinum flush square rails with a platinum liner

• size 8.5

• 6mm wide (1mm rails + 4mm mokume)

Her ring:

• domed comfort fit etched ring in palladium 950 and sterling silver with a platinum liner

• 28 inlaid diamonds that are 0.005 cts each (28 diamonds because we're getting married on Dec 2

• size 4

• 4.5mm wide

I originally wanted a narrower band as I have short fingers, but James and Terry explained that we needed a band at least 4.5 to show the mokume and I also wanted the diamonds inlaid to follow the woodgrain pattern.

Photos from Terry:



IRL shots:



My fiance is so stoked about the ring that he can't wait to get married so he can wear it!

 

[blackprophet]

I am dying to get one of his rings for my upcoming wedding. But not sure if I can justify the cost.

Your rings are awesome. Especially like the way he fit the diamonds into the grooves.

I might just have to follow suit!

 

[luv2sparkle]

They are just beautiful! Congratulations! You must be so excited, you big day is coming up so quickly! I hope it's a magical day! What a wonderful way to start a new year!

 

[SMC]

I am dying to get one of his rings for my upcoming wedding. But not sure if I can justify the cost.

Your rings are awesome. Especially like the way he fit the diamonds into the grooves.

I might just have to follow suit!

I strongly suggest contacting Terry for a quote. They offer a wide range of metals so there's probably something that can fit into your price range!

Yeah, I wanted a plain band at first (the plain bands can go as narrow as 3mm) but my fiance suggested I try on the one with the diamonds - and there was no turning back after that! I wanted larger diamonds originally too, but the combination of a smaller finger size and my desired band width made it hard to fit all the diamonds in there. I'm really pleased with how it turned out though!

They are just beautiful! Congratulations! You must be so excited, you big day is coming up so quickly! I hope it's a magical day! What a wonderful way to start a new year!

Thank you! I'm very excited.

 

[VRBeauty]

Both rings are exquisite! Congratulations, and best wished for the upcoming wedding!

 

[yssie]

I love them!!! So unique and so handsome

 

[SMC]

Both rings are exquisite! Congratulations, and best wished for the upcoming wedding!

Thank you! The bangles that we got our moms from IDJ are also getting here this week. I'm anxiously awaiting pictures from Luann.

I love them!!! So unique and so handsome

Thank you! My fiance was surprisingly picky about his wedding ring. He wanted something different and he wanted our bands to match. I think that these make us both very happy.

 

[WhoaNelly]

Those are super cool I just bookmarked James Binnion's website---so beautiful and I love the way he also produces mixed metal bands. Congratulations and here's to wedded bliss!

 

[SMC]

Those are super cool I just bookmarked James Binnion's website---so beautiful and I love the way he also produces mixed metal bands. Congratulations and here's to wedded bliss!

Aww, thank you so much! I think that my choice of a mokume band is a bit different from what other ladies on this forum would've chosen, but I do love it. I think that mokume is more popular as men's bands.

I love his mixed metal bands too! I'd love a mixed metal bangle someday.

 

[Circe]

This. Is. UH-MAZE-ING. I love mokume, but I've never seen diamonds inlaid to follow the grain before - that's magnificent! I don't know which Dec. 28th is is that was set for the wedding day, 2013 or 2014 onwards, but no matter which ... mazel tov!

 

[SMC]

Re: His & hers mokume-gane wedding bands from James Binnion

This. Is. UH-MAZE-ING. I love mokume, but I've never seen diamonds inlaid to follow the grain before - that's magnificent! I don't know which Dec. 28th is is that was set for the wedding day, 2013 or 2014 onwards, but no matter which ... mazel tov!

Thanks Circe! We got married 12/28/13 so we've been husband and wife for a little more than a week.

 

[audball]

So nice!! My husband wanted a ring from him SO SO SO bad. We loved it and it was so perfect, but we just couldn't swing it! I can't wait to see pictures of yours with your Sholdt!

 

[WhoaNelly]

You've inspired me and my fiance to look into such rings for our set! So beautiful: I love the organic feel. Congratulations and enjoy! And a big thank you for introducing me to James Binnion!

 

[SMC]

So nice!! My husband wanted a ring from him SO SO SO bad. We loved it and it was so perfect, but we just couldn't swing it! I can't wait to see pictures of yours with your Sholdt!

audball - Actually, your set was what I originally aspired to but DH was very insistent on a matching set. James Binnion offers many different metal combinations, so there could be a band in your price range - perhaps for a future upgrade?

Here's a picture of my wedding stack. I have to admit that I just wear my wedding band now that I'm married - it's lower profile and more comfortable than having a heavy platinum ring with a spinning diamond on my finger. Yes, my Sholdt is crying from neglect.

You've inspired me and my fiance to look into such rings for our set! So beautiful: I love the organic feel. Congratulations and enjoy! And a big thank you for introducing me to James Binnion!

You're welcome! James and Terry Binnion are fantastic people to work with! They gave me multiple quotes on different metal combinations so we could find one that worked in our budget.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Very pretty rings! And congrats on your marriage!!!

I'd get a thinner band to wear with the Sholt e-ring and just alternate wearing the M-G band and the set.

 

[SMC]

Very pretty rings! And congrats on your marriage!!!

I'd get a thinner band to wear with the Sholt e-ring and just alternate wearing the M-G band and the set.

Excellent idea. I actually already have a band that I can wear with my Sholdt. It's a thin sapphire one. I was going to sell it, but I'll probably keep it for now.

 

[audball]

audball - Actually, your set was what I originally aspired to but DH was very insistent on a matching set. James Binnion offers many different metal combinations, so there could be a band in your price range - perhaps for a future upgrade?

Here's a picture of my wedding stack. I have to admit that I just wear my wedding band now that I'm married - it's lower profile and more comfortable than having a heavy platinum ring with a spinning diamond on my finger. Yes, my Sholdt is crying from neglect.

Aww, thanks! I love that you having matching rings! We've agreed that we'll get upgraded bands for a future anniversary. Maybe 5th if we can swing it. The one he loves is this one. We got a quote and it's just not in budget. He only loved this specific one. We even found that Green Lake Jewelry Works uses Jim for their mokume work and have the same ring on their website. The quote through Green Lake was cheaper than directly through Jim, but still out of what we wanted to spend on rings right now. Our whole elopement was less than the cost of the ring! He'll get it someday, and I'll get a diamond band too.

 

[SMC]

audball - Actually, your set was what I originally aspired to but DH was very insistent on a matching set. James Binnion offers many different metal combinations, so there could be a band in your price range - perhaps for a future upgrade?

Here's a picture of my wedding stack. I have to admit that I just wear my wedding band now that I'm married - it's lower profile and more comfortable than having a heavy platinum ring with a spinning diamond on my finger. Yes, my Sholdt is crying from neglect.

Aww, thanks! I love that you having matching rings! We've agreed that we'll get upgraded bands for a future anniversary. Maybe 5th if we can swing it. The one he loves is this one. We got a quote and it's just not in budget. He only loved this specific one. We even found that Green Lake Jewelry Works uses Jim for their mokume work and have the same ring on their website. The quote through Green Lake was cheaper than directly through Jim, but still out of what we wanted to spend on rings right now. Our whole elopement was less than the cost of the ring! He'll get it someday, and I'll get a diamond band too.

That's beautiful! My BIL and SIL have bands similar to that one, but in yellow gold instead of rose. What band did your DH end up getting to tide him over until your five year wedding anniversary?

 

[audball]

That's beautiful! My BIL and SIL have bands similar to that one, but in yellow gold instead of rose. What band did your DH end up getting to tide him over until your five year wedding anniversary?

He got a tungsten band that is 6mm wide and brushed/matte finish. He loves it. And it was $40. My plain 2mm flat comfort fit band was $199. So we definitely spent very little! His was from an Etsy seller, mine was from eweddingbands.com.
https://www.etsy.com/transaction/138653082?ref=fb2_tnx_title

 

[SMC]

That's beautiful! My BIL and SIL have bands similar to that one, but in yellow gold instead of rose. What band did your DH end up getting to tide him over until your five year wedding anniversary?

He got a tungsten band that is 6mm wide and brushed/matte finish. He loves it. And it was $40. My plain 2mm flat comfort fit band was $199. So we definitely spent very little! His was from an Etsy seller, mine was from eweddingbands.com.
https://www.etsy.com/transaction/138653082?ref=fb2_tnx_title

I think both of your bands are lovely. I actually think that spending little on men's bands is the way to go! I'm convinced that my DH will lose his at some point in the future, but he promised me he would be careful. My best friend actually purchased 5 of the same wedding bands ($50 each) for her DH when they got married, since she knew he would lose them.

 

[audball]

I think both of your bands are lovely. I actually think that spending little on men's bands is the way to go! I'm convinced that my DH will lose his at some point in the future, but he promised me he would be careful. My best friend actually purchased 5 of the same wedding bands ($50 each) for her DH when they got married, since she knew he would lose them.

Thank you! We're happy with them. Andrew has been very good and has started just wearing it 24/7. Since he'd never worn jewelry, I told him not to wear it for sleeping or showering until he at least made sure his skin wasn't having any negative reactions to any of the alloys. He was good to go and wears it all the time now. I take mine off for showering, sleeping, cooking, applying makeup, and any gym/physical activity. His way is more fun, but not the PS way! Got to keep the sparkly clean! I could wear my plain band with the Sholdt for everything else, but they fit perfectly worn together and the band is a tad loose with the engagement ring and I wouldn't want to chance losing it. I'm a sentimental sap.

 

[Laila619]

Really cool and nice looking bands! Congrats!!