Classic · Black zirconium
Plain black zirconium wedding ring
From £199
Black all the way round, and none of it is a coating.
Heating zirconium in air grows a hard, black ceramic-like oxide at the surface. It is not applied plating, but it is still a surface: harsh contact can damage it, and pale marks may be transferred metal rather than a scratch. Choose satin or polished in 4–10mm, and follow the maker-sourced care guidance before using abrasive cleaners.
Made to order · 2 to 3 weeks · posted insured
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
- 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 hardnessAbout Mohs 8 for the oxide (maker figure)
- 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
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.
Width by width
| 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 | 4.7g | £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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain black zirconium (this ring) | Black all the way round, and 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 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 Plain black zirconium wedding ring
- 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.
- 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, 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 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.
- 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.