Multi toned · Black zirconium
Brushed centre, polished bevels
From £255
Matte through the middle, bright along both edges.
The most repeated shape in this whole category and the reason is that it works: a soft brushed centre reads dark and quiet, and two polished bevels catch every light in the room. Ours gets the contrast from machining one metal rather than plating two.
Made to order · 2 to 3 weeks · posted insured
Before you order, in one place
- What you are buying
- Brushed centre, polished bevels, black zirconium, made to order in your size. Widths 4 to 10mm.
- Price
- £255 total. UK delivery and engraving are included and nothing is added at checkout.
- When it arrives
- 2 to 3 weeks to make, then one working day insured and signed for. Delivery in full
- Changing your mind
- 30 days from delivery, return postage paid, unless you have it engraved. The cancellation right
- Who you are contracting with
- Trothe Ltd, registered in England and Wales, company number 17431230, Lytchett House, 13 Freeland Park, Wareham Road, Poole, Dorset, BH16 6FA. Questions and complaints to hello@trothe.co.uk.
- MaterialBlack zirconium
- Surface hardnessMohs 8
- Density6.5 g/cm³
- ResizableNot usually
- HallmarkedNot applicable, non precious
- MadeTo order, in your size
- Delivery2 to 3 weeks, insured
- Returns30 days, unengraved
- EngravingOptional, included, inside the band
Also in: Wedding rings, Promise rings, His and hers, Men's rings
About this ring
Brushed centre, polished bevels, in detail
Black zirconium with a brushed centre and a polished bevel along each edge. The brushed face reads dark and soft, close to matte; the bevels are angled and polished, so they pick up light from almost anywhere in a room. It is one of the most familiar shapes in toned rings, and it has lasted because the contrast works. Here that contrast comes from machining a single metal, so the bright edges are the zirconium itself rather than a second metal plated or fixed on.
How it wears
The brushed black centre is a hard oxide, around Mohs 8, and its texture hides the fine marks of daily wear well. The polished bevels are bare zirconium, softer than the oxide, and like any polished surface they show small marks sooner than a brushed one. They are the part of this ring that records its wear. Heavy contact can mark the black, and a pale line on it may be transferred metal rather than a scratch. The ring is hypoallergenic.
Choosing yours
On a narrow band the two bevels sit close together and the ring flashes more than it shows black. On a wide band the brushed centre becomes the main surface, with the bevels framing it, and the ring reads darker and calmer.
Relieved black is the ring drawn to go with it. It shares the bright edges but keeps them satin, so two rings can match in colour and differ in shine. It suits someone who wants a black ring that still catches the light every time the hand moves.
Width by width
| Width | How it reads | Weight, est. | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4mm | Slim, the quietest everyday width | 2.1g | £255 |
| 5mm | Between slim and classic | 2.6g | £255 |
| 6mm | Classic, the usual starting point for a band | 3.2g | £255 |
| 7mm | Classic to broad, more of the pattern shows | 3.7g | £255 |
| 8mm | Broad, a ring that is clearly there | 4.2g | £280 |
| 9mm | Wide and bold, best on a larger hand | 4.7g | £280 |
| 10mm | Wide and bold, best on a larger hand | 5.3g | £255 |
Weights are estimates for a plain band of the same width in black zirconium at UK size N with a 1.6mm wall, from the model in our ring weight calculator. The price steps up at the widths that take more metal to make.
How it compares with the rings nearest it
| Ring | What sets it apart | Metal | Widths | Surface hardness | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brushed centre, polished bevels (this ring) | Matte through the middle, bright along both edges. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £255 |
| Twin groove | Two tones divided by a V cut around the centre. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £255 |
| Stepped two tone | A machined step, black on one level and bright on the other. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £255 |
| Colour line, all black | A flat black band with one anodised blue groove. | Black zirconium | 6 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £269 |
There are 25 black zirconium bands in the range, from £199 to £1,525. All about black zirconium.
The metal, in brief
Heating zirconium forms a black ceramic oxide at its surface. The colour comes from that oxide, rather than applied black plating. It is a hard surface over a softer metal core, so scratch resistance does not mean the whole ring is black or immune to damage.
Surface hardness Mohs 8, density 6.5 g/cm³, and hypoallergenic, so it is a sound choice for skin that reacts to nickel. It is not a precious metal, so it carries no hallmark.
Compared side by side: Anodised zirconium or black zirconium, Black zirconium or titanium, Black zirconium or sterling silver. Or read the full black zirconium guide.
Work it out before you order
About Brushed centre, polished bevels
- Can this ring be resized?
- Not in the usual way. The black is grown into the surface of the metal, so cutting or machining the band would show bright metal underneath. That is why the size is settled before the ring is made, and every ring is made to that measurement.
- Is engraving included?
- Yes, and it is optional. Leave the box blank and the ring is made plain. If you do want one it is laser cut inside the band where the ring is made, rather than sent out to a third party, and there is no charge and no extra wait.
- How long will it take?
- 2 to 3 weeks. It is made in your size after you order, not picked off a shelf, and that is the reason the widths and finishes are open choices.
- Can I return it if I have it engraved?
- Not for a change of mind. An engraving makes the ring clearly personalised, which puts it outside the statutory right to cancel, and it cannot be resold. Every ring shop draws the line here. Order it plain and you keep the full 30 days. Either way, a ring that arrives faulty or is not what you ordered is covered by the Consumer Rights Act, which nothing waives.
- How much does the Brushed centre, polished bevels ring weigh?
- About 2.1g at 4mm, 3.2g at 6mm, 5.3g at 10mm, estimated for a plain band in black zirconium at UK size N. Larger sizes and wider bands weigh more. It is a light ring by any standard: 18ct gold of the same size is more than twice the weight.
- What widths does it come in, and do they cost the same?
- 4 to 10mm. 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 10mm are £255, and 8mm, 9mm £280, because the wider bands take more metal to make.
- What is closest to the Brushed centre, polished bevels in the range?
- Twin groove (black zirconium) and Stepped two tone (black zirconium). The comparison table on this page sets them side by side on metal, width, hardness and price.
- What if I get the size wrong?
- If it is unengraved, return it inside 30 days and we refund it, and we pay the postage. Use the free ring size finder first if you are unsure, and if the ring is a surprise, ask us and we will talk you through the ways to find out without asking them.