Truly unique · Black zirconium
Knurled, black
From £365
A knurled centre, like the grip of a tool, between bright edges.
The centre of the band is cut in a fine diamond knurl, the grip pattern on a tool or a watch crown, in black zirconium between two polished bright bevels. Tactile, which is the point of it.
Made to order · 2 to 3 weeks · posted insured
Before you order, in one place
- What you are buying
- Knurled, black, black zirconium, made to order in your size. Widths 4 to 10mm.
- Price
- £365 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
- ResizableSpecialist assessment
- 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
Knurled, black, in detail
The centre of this ring is cut in a fine diamond knurl, the crosshatched grip found on a tool handle or a watch crown, here in black zirconium. On either side a polished bevel, cut back to bright metal, gives it a clean, machined edge. The knurl does something a smooth band cannot: it breaks the light into a fine grain of tiny points, so the black looks textured and alive rather than flat. This is a ring meant to be handled, and most of its character is found under the thumb rather than by the eye.
How it wears
A knurled surface is already made of small ridges and valleys, so a fine scratch has nowhere obvious to show. The black oxide on the knurl is hard, about 8 on the Mohs scale, and its ridges take everyday contact well. The bright bevels are the softer metal beneath the oxide and will gather the faint marks every polished edge collects, which softens their shine rather than spoiling it. A hard impact can still mark the black and expose the lighter metal. Hypoallergenic throughout.
Choosing yours
The knurl reads best with room around it. At 8 to 10mm there is a broad band of texture between the bevels and the ring has the solid, engineered feel it was drawn for. At 6 or 7mm the pattern is still plainly a knurl but sits more quietly, and at 4 or 5mm it becomes a narrow textured stripe between two bright edges. It was drawn to pair with Relieved black, so the two rings share the same black and bright metal while each keeps a surface of its own.
Width by width
| Width | How it reads | Weight, est. | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4mm | Slim, the quietest everyday width | 2.1g | £365 |
| 5mm | Between slim and classic | 2.6g | £365 |
| 6mm | Classic, the usual starting point for a band | 3.2g | £365 |
| 7mm | Classic to broad, more of the pattern shows | 3.7g | £365 |
| 8mm | Broad, a ring that is clearly there | 4.2g | £390 |
| 9mm | Wide and bold, best on a larger hand | 4.7g | £390 |
| 10mm | Wide and bold, best on a larger hand | 5.3g | £390 |
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. A pattern cut into the surface removes a little metal, so the finished ring is slightly lighter. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knurled, black (this ring) | A knurled centre, like the grip of a tool, between bright edges. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £365 |
| Waves, relieved black | Waves cut through black to bright metal. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £365 |
| Scattered set | Diamonds flush set at irregular intervals, not in a line. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £349 |
| Roman numeral | Your date, cut around the whole band in numerals. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £329 |
There are 17 black zirconium bands in the range, from £199 to £625. 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 Knurled, black
- Can this ring be resized?
- Black zirconium needs specialist assessment. GETi describes resizing as difficult and time consuming, rather than completely impossible. The oxide surface, construction and requested size change need consideration. Do not assume a local jeweller can alter it or that a replacement is automatic. Ask whether the proposed solution alters the original band or supplies a remake, and confirm the finish, engraving, cost and timing.
- 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 Knurled, black 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 are £365, and 8mm, 9mm, 10mm £390, because the wider bands take more metal to make.
- What is closest to the Knurled, black in the range?
- Waves, relieved black (black zirconium) and Scattered set (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.