Adding Textures to Your Wedding Band

Last month I made a mandala out of fresh flower petals. Just like this, hammering hundreds of dots by hand is a meditative process. Everytime I put on a textured ring, I’m reminded of the long hours and work behind each piece, and the meditative qualities that went into it.

Textured metal rings, even without a gemstone sitting on the throne, hold a special place in my heart because of the love that went into them. 

They feel incredibly organic to touch. Far from the traditional smooth and shiny finish, these rings tempt my tactical senses. 

Some textures and finishing are common (like the satin vs shiny finish), but sometimes different jewelers call their finishes by a different name. So here are the textures and finishes you can find at Gardens of the Sun. 

Often called interchangeably ‘satin’ or ‘matte’ finish. It’s modern, sleek and more subdued to let whatever gemstones you have shine through. With satin finishes, the brush doesn’t penetrate deep into the ring, creating a light texture. The ring still feels quite smooth to touch and diffuses light more than reflecting it. 

Metal/Color : 

Durability : Will need repolish every now and then.

Design tips :

A brushed finish is a timeless classic. If you don't want your wedding ring to be too flashy, this is your go-to option. It has a soft diffusion of light, so it’s more warm and subtle. Brushed finish is created by placing the ring against a high-speed spinning brush which moves in one direction. Since it’s still operated by a hand, you’ll notice how the lines aren’t straight, which gives it a more organic feel. 

Our brushed finish is a little more defined than the satin finish. 

Metal/Color : 

Durability : Over time it may become smoother, a burnishing process from friction you’ll encounter in everyday life.

Design tips :

Stardust finishing is slightly more grainy, more textured. You can actually feel this sandblasted finish with the tip of your fingers. Similar to a brushed texture, stardust has a more diffused reflection and a satin-like look. It’s a more textured option compared to the traditional satin-matte finish. The great thing about this finish is that it won't easily scratch, which is bound to happen over the lifetime of any ring. 

Metal/Color : 

Durability : Doesn’t scratch easily.

Design tips :

Also called hammered texture, this finish is a favorite because of its understated effect. Each small dent is lightly and carefully done, so it makes just enough overlapping textures to create a mirror effect. 

This finish is decorative, and for some, is more than enough! As a wedding band, it’s a statement piece; as a dainty ring it’s a fun texture to up your stacking game.

Metal/Color : 

Durability : Bumps and scratches are hard to spot against the hammered texture, but over time some of the shine may be lost.  

Design tips :

Lines are for those who love venturing out into the unknown. You can interpret these lines any way you want, and that’s the beauty of it. Everytime we look at it, something new speaks to us, like reading the lines in our palms. These lines are done by making a deep imprint into the ring, leaving visible canals so to speak. Each pattern is random, so no two rings are the same. 

Metal/Color : 

Durability : The oxidised silver might become less pronounced over time.

Design tips :

Wabi sabi means accepting one’s imperfections. Kind of like this slightly rugged finish, which gives the ring a whole new dimension. This finish is created by hammering tiny dots into the ring, one by one, by hand. The bumps are smaller and deeper than our faceted finish, giving it a more grainy texture. It’s set on a shiny ring for a contrasting effect

Our ready stock wabi sabi gold comes with a tiny black diamond inside the ring. 

Metal/Color : 

Durability : The shiny part will show scratches over time 

Design tips :

This is where you can play with oxidised silver! Tiny dents are made for the texture, then a chemical process is introduced to change the surface color of the metal. Oxidised silver is technically a sped up tarnishing process. But since it’s only done on the surface, it doesn’t affect the durability and the properties of the metal. That being said, over time, the surface layer may come off and reveal the sterling silver underneath.  

The pattern is rough and random, so no two rings are ever the same.

Metal/Color :

Durability : The oxidised silver will eventually fade off and reveal the shiny silver underneath.

Design tips :