Mokume wedding bands- can''t pick a designer!

[grassydance]

Hello all!

If any of you have experienced buying mokume gane wedding bands or e-rings, I would love to see! I''m having trouble deciding on a designer. I fell in love with the wood grain pattern on the Steven Midgett rings from mokume.com, but I haven''t seen any of them in stores, and I''ve never heard from anyone who has bought from him before. That makes me a little nervous... Is there a designer that you swear by, and can I see? Thank you so much!

-Nan

 

[Bella_mezzo]

We got my DH a titanium ring with mokume inlay from bruce boone and LOVE it. We were considering Andrew Nyce whose work is also gorgeous!!!! but DH looses everything, so we figured a less expensive ring was a better idea

 

[whitby_2773]

chris ploof - heaven to earth.

i''ve bought his meteorite rings and also his damascus steel ring. utterly gorgeous workmanship, and i''ve talked extensivel about his mokume gane.

chris pioneered the seamless mokume gane ring - meaning there is no join, and that obvious ''dot'' you get on mokume gane isn''t in his rings. they''re just, in my opinion, a step above.

he''s also a great guy and very easy to work with, and spent some time answering questions when one of the PS ladies here had some issues with a mokume band she bought from a different manufacturer.

his web site is very easy to remember - www.chrisploof.com

i can''t recommend him too highly.

at the top end, pricewise, of the market is george sawyer. his stuff is so expensive it''s prohibitive (in my opinion). i also dont think his work is any better than chris''s. but take a look.

will be interested to follow this journey with you. good luck!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

oh yes, chris ploof''s work is also awesome!!!

 

[grassydance]

Good to hear! Thank you.

 

[grassydance]

That''s definitely encouraging! Thank you. Can you tell me what you mean by the "dot?" I realize that there is usually a seam on a mokume ring, but I just assumed the lines in the pattern would stop and probably not line up perfectly. I haven''t seen too many though, because pictures on the internet usually don''t show that side of the ring, haha!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Date: 1/14/2010 10:13:54 PM
Author:grassydance
Hello all!

If any of you have experienced buying mokume gane wedding bands or e-rings, I would love to see! I''m having trouble deciding on a designer. I fell in love with the wood grain pattern on the Steven Midgett rings from mokume.com, but I haven''t seen any of them in stores, and I''ve never heard from anyone who has bought from him before. That makes me a little nervous... Is there a designer that you swear by, and can I see? Thank you so much!

-Nan

Steven Midgett is a very highly respected artisan. His book is one of the best on mokume and his work is great. I wouldn''t hesitate to get one of his rings.

James Binion is another huge name among goldsmiths (http://mokume-gane.com/index.php). He throughly understands all aspects of the craft and of metalurgy. His knowledge is just amazing and his work reflects that.

Finally, Richard Wise is a very trustworthy dealer and he has several mokume rings. His eye for jewelry and gemstones is very good and his merchandise is certainly of the highest quality.

 

[grassydance]

Oh I''m glad to hear that someone else has a good opinion of Steve Midgett! I''ll check out those other people too. Thank you!

 

[Rhea]

Date: 1/14/2010 10:30:48 PM
Author: whitby_2773
chris ploof - heaven to earth.


i've bought his meteorite rings and also his damascus steel ring. utterly gorgeous workmanship, and i've talked extensivel about his mokume gane.


chris pioneered the seamless mokume gane ring - meaning there is no join, and that obvious 'dot' you get on mokume gane isn't in his rings. they're just, in my opinion, a step above.


he's also a great guy and very easy to work with, and spent some time answering questions when one of the PS ladies here had some issues with a mokume band she bought from a different manufacturer.


his web site is very easy to remember - www.chrisploof.com


i can't recommend him too highly.


at the top end, pricewise, of the market is george sawyer. his stuff is so expensive it's prohibitive (in my opinion). i also dont think his work is any better than chris's. but take a look.


will be interested to follow this journey with you. good luck!

I'll second Chris! Love his work, my DH's wedding band by him is gorgeous.