I’d Like My Ring Samurai Style [Metalwork]

Despite a lifelong fascination with the pinkie ring and a short flirtation with a Livestrong bracelet, I’ve never actually worn jewelry. I would need to revise that stance, though, for this ring forged by Samurai swordmaking technique.

Metalworker James Binnion has adapted the mokume gane solution to rings, giving them a layered, grainy effect as seen above:

Mokume gane is…a metal working technique developed in Japan approximately three to four hundred years ago, wherein two or more layers of metal are permanently joined together in alternating layers to form a stack (or billet). Within the traditional Japanese technique the bond was achieved by diffusion welding of the layers in a charcoal forge. On this laminated billet patterns of the various colored alloys were created by a mix of cutting, twisting, and forging of the laminate in how you can expose the diverse layers. The patterned billet was then formed into finished work by applying standard forging and fabrication techniques.

Binnion clamps up to 30 layers together, laminating them in an electric kiln before forging, carving, and rolling into beautiful finger candy. The end result: wedding bands that look forged from a petrified forest. [ James Binnion via Core77 ]

Source

This post is tagged: fabrication techniques, four hundred years, japanese technique, lifelong fascination, livestrong bracelet