The Indie Wedding Guide would like to thank our returning sponsor Simply Wood Rings again this month. This month we talked with the designer himself Mr. Gustav Reyes. We love we he does with wood and know that movement of environment friendly and fair trade is hitting the world of wedding rings, and he remains the cream of the crop in our book!
Wood Rings seem like a genius idea for those who are environmentally
conscious, but what are some of the other reasons to purchase a wooden
ring bridal set?
To begin with, there's going to be a lot of overlap between a customer
base that seeks exclusively environmentally healthy products, and one
that would choose a wooden ring for any other reason.
A lot of our customers feel connected with the specific woods because
of it's significance in their life or in their culture. We create
rings out of wood salvaged from musical instruments, ancient woods that
connect the wearer to a long-gone past, and woods chosen and paired for
their symbolism and historical significance. I have crafted
commissions for people out of wood from a tree on their land, one from
where they grew up, from family heirlooms or relics, and from places
people have traveled that they don't want to forget.
We use conflict free sources for our metals and stones, as well.
Again, there's a lot of overlap between sourcing that's going to be
conflict free or ensure fair trade and labor conditions and sourcing
that will be environmentally conscious, but they are not explicitly the
same thing. We seek out both, as a business, but a customer could be
coming to us for either.
And of course, you always have customers who are attracted exclusively
to style. A wooden ring is going to be a fundamentally different kind
of accessory from something made of metal. We sell wedding sets to
couples where the man wants to wear a wedding band, but isn't
comfortable wearing a metal piece of jewelry. A wooden band makes a
statement that he's hip and eco-conscious, but it's a very masculine
style of ring. There are people who have allergies to metals and
can't wear any kind of jewelry other than something like what we
provide, which makes us the natural choice when trying to select a
wedding band.
What inspired you to begin crafting rings out of wood?
I was working for a cabinet-maker, trying to figure out where I wanted
my craft to go, when my wife asked me if I could create a ring out of
wood for her. She has metal allergies, so that first ring was an
entirely practical request that gave birth to a new direction for my
work as an artist.
That first ring, a labor of love to find a way to create these rings
that would be elegant and durable, is how I discovered the method used
to create these pieces. Each ring since then has been an opportunity
to improve this method. When I started selling the rings, it was the
support of a community that was eager for a product like this that
allowed it to grow so quickly into the business with which I support my
family. I owe a lot to Rob Kalin over at etsy.com who supported my work from vary early on, and helped to get it in front of the right consumers.
The craft has come a long way since those early days, but my wife still
has the first ring, and the basic principal involved in the rings?
creation has remained the same.
What are the important factors in caring for and maintaining wood rings?
Most of the same things that can damage your skin will damage the
rings. Exposure to harsh chemicals, over-frequent washing/drying, rough
treatment (wearing the ring while lifting or operating machinery) are
all things that could compromise its finish, and thereby the integrity
of the ring itself. The finish is the most important factor in keeping
the ring in good condition, and if it is worn down, scratched, or
chipped it can allow water into the wood which damages the ring from
the inside. The rings are designed to be lived in and incorporated
into the pacing of our lives, so most of your daily activities are
fine. Although we recommend the ring be remove during hand washing the
occasional wash will not harm the ring as long as the finish is in good
condition. The rings do require a bit of extra thought and care, and
we hope we have the kind of customers who are willing to put that in to
owning an item that is both an art object and a piece of jewelry, but I
am here to support them in that endeavor. Whether it's refinishing a
ring as it gets older, or fixing it when it has gotten damaged, I will
always work with the owners of these pieces to help them enjoy their
ring for as long as possible.
Again a special thanks to Mr. Reyes, you can find more of his collection at his website Simply Wood Rings.
