Classic · Black zirconium
Plain black zirconium wedding ring
From £199
Black all the way round. None of it is a coating.
A flat court band in black zirconium, made in your size in widths from 4mm to 10mm. £199 from 4mm to 7mm and £225 from 8mm to 10mm, delivered free in the UK, with engraving included. About 3.2g at 6mm in UK size N. Made to order in 1 to 2 weeks, with 30 days to return it unengraved.
The black is grown from the metal rather than plated onto it, so there is no coating to peel or flake. Heating zirconium in air turns its surface into a hard, black ceramic-like oxide of about Mohs 8. It is still a surface: harsh contact can damage it and a pale mark after a knock may be metal transferred from the other object rather than a scratch. Satin or polished, in 4 to 10mm.
Made to order · 1 to 2 weeks · posted insured
Ask a question about this ring
Before you order, in one place
- What you are buying
- Plain black zirconium, made to order in your size. Widths 4 to 10mm.
- Price
- £199 total. UK delivery and engraving are included and nothing is added at checkout.
- When it arrives
- 1 to 2 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 hardnessAbout Mohs 8 for the oxide (maker figure)
- Density6.5 g/cm³
- ResizableNot usually
- HallmarkedNot applicable, non precious
- MadeTo order, in your size
- Delivery1 to 2 weeks, insured
- Returns30 days, unengraved
- EngravingOptional, included, inside the band
Also in: Wedding rings, Promise rings, His and hers, Men's rings
In short
Plain black zirconium wedding ring: price, weight and delivery
| Width | How it reads | Weight, est. | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4mm | Slim, the quietest everyday width | 2.1g | £199 |
| 5mm | Between slim and classic | 2.6g | £199 |
| 6mm | Classic, the usual starting point for a band | 3.2g | £199 |
| 7mm | Classic to broad, more of the pattern shows | 3.7g | £199 |
| 8mm | Broad, a ring that is clearly there | 4.2g | £225 |
| 9mm | Wide and bold, best on a larger hand | 4.8g | £225 |
| 10mm | Wide and bold, best on a larger hand | 5.3g | £225 |
Weights are estimates for a plain band of the same width in black zirconium at UK size N with a 1.6mm wall, from our ring weight calculator. Not sure of the width? The band width guide helps you choose.
- When it arrives
- 1 to 2 weeks to make, then one working day in the post.
- Delivery and returns
- Free UK delivery, insured for its full value, tracked and signed for. 30 days from delivery, return postage paid, unless you have it engraved. How returns work
- Size
- UK A to Z+10, half sizes included, all one price. Buying it as a surprise? Choose I do not know yet and we confirm the size with you before anything is made. Find your size
- Resizing
- 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.
- Titanium or black zirconium
- Titanium is the lighter of the two at 4.5 g/cm³ against 6.5. Black zirconium has the harder surface, around Mohs 8 against 6. Neither is plated and neither tarnishes. Black zirconium or titanium, compared
- Working with your hands
- Take any ring off for abrasive or heavy work and follow your workplace rules around machinery and electrics. Wedding rings for hands-on jobs
About this ring
Plain black zirconium wedding ring, in detail
The flat court shape again, this time in zirconium heated until its surface turns to a hard black oxide. The colour is grown from the metal rather than laid on top of it, so the band is black on the face, on the edges and on the inside. In satin it is a deep, soft black that takes in light and reads close to matte. Polished, the black gains a glassy depth and reflections slide across it as dark highlights rather than bright ones. Nothing interrupts the surface.
How it wears
The black oxide is around Mohs 8, harder than titanium, so it shrugs off much of the everyday contact that marks softer metals. It is still a surface over a paler zirconium core and a hard knock against stone or steel can mark it. A pale streak after such a knock can be metal transferred from the other object rather than damage to the ring. At 6.5 grams per cubic centimetre it has more heft than titanium and it is hypoallergenic.
Choosing yours
With nothing else on the band, width becomes the whole design decision. A 4 or 5mm ring is a slim dark line on the hand; 6 or 7mm is a steady, everyday width; from 8mm it turns into something graphic and deliberate.
Satin is the more understated finish and the better one at hiding small marks. Polished suits someone who wants a little shine even in black. If one of you prefers bright metal, Plain titanium shares the same flat court shape, so the two rings match in form and differ only in colour.
How it compares with the rings nearest it
| Ring | What sets it apart | Metal | Widths | Surface hardness | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain black zirconium (this ring) | Black all the way round. None of it is a coating. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £199 |
| Relieved black | Black cut back to bright metal 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 |
| Brushed centre, polished bevels | Matte through the middle, bright along both edges. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £255 |
There are 28 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. It is 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 Plain black zirconium wedding ring
- How much does the Plain black zirconium ring cost?
- £199 from 4mm to 7mm and £225 from 8mm to 10mm. That is the whole price: UK delivery is free, insured and signed for and engraving inside the band is included. The size makes no difference to the price.
- 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.
- How should I look after the black finish?
- Remove it for gardening, climbing and gym work, where harsh contact can damage the hard oxide surface. Pale marks may be softer metal transferred onto the ring rather than a scratch. Have an uncertain mark assessed before using abrasive cleaners so the remedy suits this ring's finish.
- Is engraving included?
- Yes. 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. There is no charge and no extra wait.
- How long will it take?
- 1 to 2 weeks. It is made in your size after you order, not picked off a shelf. 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. 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 Plain black zirconium 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 £199 and 8mm, 9mm, 10mm £225, because the wider bands take more metal to make.
- What is closest to the Plain black zirconium in the range?
- Relieved black (black zirconium) and Twin groove (black zirconium). The comparison table on this page sets them side by side on metal, width, hardness and price.
- Can I see the Plain black zirconium on my hand before I buy it?
- Yes. Our free ring try-on draws this ring onto a photo of your own hand, at any width from 4mm to 10mm, from this ring's own photograph. Press See it on your hand under the photograph. Each email address gets three pictures every thirty days and your photo is deleted once the picture is made.
- What if I get the size wrong?
- If it is unengraved, return it inside 30 days and we refund it and pay the postage. Use the free ring size finder first if you are unsure. If the ring is a surprise, ask us and we will talk you through the ways to find out without asking them.
- What should I know about black zirconium before I buy?
- The oxide is around Mohs 8: scratch resistant, not scratch proof. A hard knock against stone or steel can mark it and show the lighter metal underneath. A pale line is often metal rubbed off something else, which cleans away. Our maker refinishes black zirconium depending on the damage. Around machinery and electrics, follow your workplace rules on jewellery, whatever the ring is made of.