Truly unique · Black zirconium
Waves, relieved black
From £365
Waves cut through black to bright metal.
Two lines swell and cross around the band, cut through the black oxide so the wave is the bright metal itself against black, with bright bevelled edges to finish it. One metal, two tones, nothing plated.
Made to order · 2 to 3 weeks · posted insured
Before you order, in one place
- What you are buying
- Waves, relieved 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
Waves, relieved black, in detail
Two lines swell and cross as they travel around the band, cut through the black oxide so the wave itself is bright metal. Bevelled edges, also bright, frame the black on either side. The contrast is strong and it moves: where the lines cross they meet in a small bright knot, and where they part the black opens up between them. Livelier than the straight-lined black rings, it takes every bit of its contrast from a single metal, darkened at the surface and then cut back, with no plating anywhere on it.
How it wears
Black zirconium's oxide sits around 8 on the Mohs scale, so the dark field holds up well against the small scratches of ordinary days. The bright waves and bevels are the metal beneath the oxide, with no black coating on them to wear through: they are already the colour they will stay. Harsh contact can mark the black and expose a lighter line of its own, though a wave pattern absorbs a stray mark far more easily than a plain black face. Hypoallergenic, and easy to wear all day.
Choosing yours
A wave needs width to swell properly. At 8 to 10mm it has room to rise and fall in long curves and the bright bevels become a firm frame, which suits someone who wants the pattern seen. At 6 or 7mm the crossings come closer together and the ring reads as a rhythm of light and dark. The slimmest widths, 4 and 5mm, keep it subtle on a slender finger. It pairs with itself, so a couple can share the same wave while each wears it at a different scale.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waves, relieved black (this ring) | 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 |
| 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 Waves, relieved 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 Waves, relieved 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 Waves, relieved black in the range?
- Knurled, 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.