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Your Custom Ring & The Beauty of Nature

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Mokume is a beautiful craft dating back to 17th century Japan for use in sword-making, characterized by a woodgrain like appearance of many layers of different metals fused together to make one piece. This specialized technique of successfully forging together sheets of metal into one billet so that they are bonded and structurally sound requires great skill and years of experience as a metalsmith. 


And with this method of creating and patterning rings by hand, either through forging or carving, there is an inherent variability to how the appearance of the ring will ultimately turn out! One of the things Arn loves about mokume and the practice of making it is that not all aspects of how the final ring will look is controllable, which makes each one truly unique. We know that you love this aspect of mokume as well.  Nature never makes the same thing twice and this is one of the most striking and under-recognized aspects of what we attribute beauty to. Much like life, handmade things are unpredictable and beautiful.  


When you order your ring with us there a few paths to consider. We can help you unravel the work of choosing by walking you through the process a bit here.  We offer Custom and  Bespoke options. 


To help you visualize, here's an example. These two rings are both 7mm wide, made in our Firestorm palette (14kt red gold, 14kt yellow gold, palladium and sterling silver) and Twist pattern, with a low dome profile and etched and oxidized finish. There is no difference in the metals used or the proportion of the metals in the billet used for each ring, but they each have little details and differences that make them unique and distinct from one another!

 

Firestorm in particular of all of our billets has a range of variation that can be more noticeable and less controllable, as it is a four color combination, rather than two or three. As in its name, this palette is meant to be a whirlwind of color all mixed together to echo the complex and mesmerizing varieties of nature. 



Custom vs. Bespoke 

Our bespoke options are studio-approved alterations to existing AKM designs. For example you love the pattern but would like a different stock pallet that we offer ; while custom orders are designed from the ground up! This requires much more communication time as well as time at the bench, than a bespoke alteration.  


Here are a few examples of custom designs. This can include custom patterns designed by Arn, a custom billet different from our usual stock options, a custom setting for an unusual stone, the possibilities are wide open!
 

We wish you all a happy holiday season and a bright new year, and look forward to continuing to create with you!

 

Much love,

Arn Krebs Mokume 

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Your Custom Ring & The Beauty of Nature

Posted by Arn Krebs on

Mokume is a beautiful craft dating back to 17th century Japan for use in sword-making, characterized by a woodgrain like appearance of many layers of different metals fused together to make one piece. This specialized technique of successfully forging together sheets of metal into one billet so that they are bonded and structurally sound requires great skill and years of experience as a metalsmith. 


And with this method of creating and patterning rings by hand, either through forging or carving, there is an inherent variability to how the appearance of the ring will ultimately turn out! One of the things Arn loves about mokume and the practice of making it is that not all aspects of how the final ring will look is controllable, which makes each one truly unique. We know that you love this aspect of mokume as well.  Nature never makes the same thing twice and this is one of the most striking and under-recognized aspects of what we attribute beauty to. Much like life, handmade things are unpredictable and beautiful.  


When you order your ring with us there a few paths to consider. We can help you unravel the work of choosing by walking you through the process a bit here.  We offer Custom and  Bespoke options. 


To help you visualize, here's an example. These two rings are both 7mm wide, made in our Firestorm palette (14kt red gold, 14kt yellow gold, palladium and sterling silver) and Twist pattern, with a low dome profile and etched and oxidized finish. There is no difference in the metals used or the proportion of the metals in the billet used for each ring, but they each have little details and differences that make them unique and distinct from one another!

 

Firestorm in particular of all of our billets has a range of variation that can be more noticeable and less controllable, as it is a four color combination, rather than two or three. As in its name, this palette is meant to be a whirlwind of color all mixed together to echo the complex and mesmerizing varieties of nature. 



Custom vs. Bespoke 

Our bespoke options are studio-approved alterations to existing AKM designs. For example you love the pattern but would like a different stock pallet that we offer ; while custom orders are designed from the ground up! This requires much more communication time as well as time at the bench, than a bespoke alteration.  


Here are a few examples of custom designs. This can include custom patterns designed by Arn, a custom billet different from our usual stock options, a custom setting for an unusual stone, the possibilities are wide open!
 

We wish you all a happy holiday season and a bright new year, and look forward to continuing to create with you!

 

Much love,

Arn Krebs Mokume 

Read more

Custom Pattern Ring Process!

Posted by Arn Krebs on

Arn just finished up this custom order, here are some behind the scenes of his process! Starting out with cutting and stacking the billet, to forming and forging the pattern.
This ring is a custom pattern request as well as a custom billet, with layers of varying thickness and a gentle wave look, resembling flowing water like a river. The billet is composed of palladium and 14kt yellow gold. 

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Custom Pattern Ring Process!

Posted by Susan Freda on

Arn just finished up this custom order, here are some behind the scenes of his process! Starting out with cutting and stacking the billet, to forming and forging the pattern.
This ring is a custom pattern request as well as a custom billet, with layers of varying thickness and a gentle wave look, resembling flowing water like a river. The billet is composed of palladium and 14kt yellow gold. 

Read more

Making an Oceanic Bypass Ring

Posted by Susan Freda on

Some process images and videos of Arn creating a beautiful ocean inspired bypass ring! This ring is a variation of Arn's usual Guri Bori pattern, invoking elements of the sea such as shells, water ripples and movement. The palette here is Firestorm, which features 14kt red gold, 14kt yellow gold, palladium and sterling silver.
 
 
 

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Making an Oceanic Bypass Ring

Posted by Arn Krebs on

Some process images and videos of Arn creating a beautiful ocean inspired bypass ring! This ring is a variation of Arn's usual Guri Bori pattern, invoking elements of the sea such as shells, water ripples and movement. The palette here is Firestorm, which features 14kt red gold, 14kt yellow gold, palladium and sterling silver.
 
 
 

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The Process of Creating a Woodgrain Pattern with a Stratum Layer

Posted by Arn Krebs on

Check out this look behind the scenes of Arn patterning a woodgrain ring that has a stratum layer! This is an added detail usually seen in our twist pattern rings, but Arn had been interested in implementing it with the woodgrain pattern for some time. 

This is a Flame palette ring (14kt red gold and silver), and the stratum layer is 14kt yellow gold. 

The Final Product

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The Process of Creating a Woodgrain Pattern with a Stratum Layer

Posted by Arn Krebs on

Check out this look behind the scenes of Arn patterning a woodgrain ring that has a stratum layer! This is an added detail usually seen in our twist pattern rings, but Arn had been interested in implementing it with the woodgrain pattern for some time. 

This is a Flame palette ring (14kt red gold and silver), and the stratum layer is 14kt yellow gold. 

The Final Product

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The Romance and History of the Ring Set

Posted by Arn Krebs on

Ancient Egyptians believed that the ring finger, or the fourth finger of the left hand, contained a “vena amoris” or “vein of love” that connected directly to the heart.

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The Romance and History of the Ring Set

Posted by Arn Krebs on

Ancient Egyptians believed that the ring finger, or the fourth finger of the left hand, contained a “vena amoris” or “vein of love” that connected directly to the heart.

Read more