Truly unique · Black zirconium
Scattered set
From £349
Diamonds flush set at irregular intervals, not in a line.
Set level with the surface so nothing catches, which is the only sensible way to set a ring worn every day. Against black oxide the stones read far brighter than they would in a white metal.
Made to order · 2 to 3 weeks · posted insured
Before you order, in one place
- What you are buying
- Scattered set, black zirconium, made to order in your size. Widths 4 to 10mm.
- Price
- £349 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
- StoneDiamonds, flush set, 0.09ct, Mohs 10
Also in: Wedding rings, Promise rings, His and hers, Men's rings
About this ring
Scattered set, in detail
Rather than a neat row, the diamonds on this band are placed at irregular intervals around satin black zirconium, as if they had been dropped there. Each is flush set, level with the surface, so the ring keeps the smooth profile of a plain band. The black is what makes the idea work: against a dark ground a white stone reads far brighter than it ever could in a pale metal, so 0.09 of a carat in total gives the impression of a night sky rather than a line of sparkle. As the hand moves, different stones catch at different moments.
How it wears
Flush setting is made for a ring worn every day: the stones sit within the metal, with no claws to snag. The diamonds are untreated and Mohs 10. The black is an oxide grown from zirconium, typically around Mohs 8, and it resists everyday marks well, though a hard knock against something abrasive can still show the lighter metal under it. A pale mark can also be nothing more than metal rubbed off whatever the ring touched, sitting on the surface. Black zirconium is hypoallergenic.
Choosing yours
Width changes the balance of stone and black. On a 4 or 5mm band the dark ground is slim and the diamonds take more of the eye, giving a fine glitter; at 8 to 10mm there is more black around each stone and every one stands on its own. It is a natural fit for someone who likes black but finds a plain black band too stern, and for anyone who wants diamonds that look scattered rather than arranged. It pairs with itself, so two can be worn together, one wider and one narrower.
Width by width
| Width | How it reads | Weight, est. | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4mm | Slim, the quietest everyday width | 2.1g | £349 |
| 5mm | Between slim and classic | 2.6g | £349 |
| 6mm | Classic, the usual starting point for a band | 3.2g | £349 |
| 7mm | Classic to broad, more of the pattern shows | 3.7g | £349 |
| 8mm | Broad, a ring that is clearly there | 4.2g | £375 |
| 9mm | Wide and bold, best on a larger hand | 4.7g | £375 |
| 10mm | Wide and bold, best on a larger hand | 5.3g | £375 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scattered set (this ring) | Diamonds flush set at irregular intervals, not in a line. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £349 |
| Waves, relieved black | Waves cut through black to bright metal. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £365 |
| Knurled, black | A knurled centre, like the grip of a tool, between bright edges. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £365 |
| 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 Scattered set
- 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 Scattered set 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 £349, and 8mm, 9mm, 10mm £375, because the wider bands take more metal to make.
- What is closest to the Scattered set in the range?
- Waves, relieved black (black zirconium) and Knurled, black (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.