Icelandic Lava Burst
It's not often in life that you fall in love with something that terrifies you. When you're a kid, you may think you love some things that scare you like roller-coasters, dodging bats in the swimming pool at night, and ghost stories. But that isn't love. That is just living through the fact that sometimes doing scary things is fun. Real love is more encompassing. It keeps you up at night. You lose your train of thought over it. You daydream about it. You wonder what it's doing right now and if it's thinking about you too. That's what happened between Lava and me, though I'll admit Lava doesn't know about our deep love affair. It just carries on flowing and burning the earth alive while I twirl my hair, watch from the sidelines, and wistfully sigh. In my ever so humble opinion, lava is one of the greatest unconventional ring materials on Planet Earth.
Icelandic Lava hanging out in our unconventional ring materials Ring Room
Like all of us, Lava starts out hot and then cools as she ages. Also like all of us, Lava comes in many colors. But did you know that the color Lava cools to depends upon how hot she got while erupting? I'll leave that one alone. The color of lava rock depends upon the peak temperature the lava flow reaches, as well as what impurities are in the rock. Colors can include black, red, gray, brown, metallic silver, pink and green. Lava starts out bright orange (apx. 2200 Fahrenheit). As it cools, the color changes to bright red (apx. 1832 Fahrenheit), then to dark red (apx. 1472 Fahrenheit), and to brownish red (apx. 1202 Fahrenheit). Solid lava is black, but can still be hotter than love on Sunday morning, so don't be fooled. At its surface, the sun's temperature is only 5 times hotter at 10,000 F. So, while she isn't as hot as the sun, Lava holds a close second and that makes her the absolute best of all unconventional ring materials. The sun is like the cheerleader we are all supposed to love because she says so. Lava is like the cool girl in class who is far prettier because she isn't constantly talking about how hot she is.
I am always searching the planet for unconventional ring materials. I first fell in love with Lava in Iceland when I was there gathering unconventional ring materials to use as inlays in our wedding rings. Since then I have opened my eyes to so many beautiful lava flows and volcanoes. Icelandic Lava is still our most popular on the site, but thanks to travels and fun donations from customers and friends alike, we have lots of other types of lava in our unconventional ring materials Ring Room/Materials Library here at Minter & Richter Designs.
As with many of our sands, woods, and stones, I often find myself sitting on unconventional ring materials just waiting until some couple comes along wanting it in their rings. That was the way with Lava as well. The first Lava Ring Set we ever made was for a young, beautiful couple who were looking for the best way to combine their two cultural heritages. She was from Hawaii and he was from Iceland and I thought "Bingo!" In the end, they chose to have rings that were just opposite from each other and made from both Hawaiian Koa Wood and Icelandic Lava. Icelandic Heart and Icelandic NIght.
Icelandic Heart and Icelandic Night
Then the dams opened and everyone was on board our Lava love train. We have been able to re-imagine Icelandic Proposals in ring shape as below.
Icelandic Lava Aurora and Sunset
unconventional ring materials
Oregon is a great supplier of unconventional ring materials and lava as well! Iceland to Oregon and Back is a great example of wedding rings that have both types of lava in them.
Iceland to Oregon and Back Wedding Ring set
unconventional ring materials
And what about these three stunners, simply filled with lava and other unconventional ring materials: Icelandic Lava Burst, Icelandic Solar Flare, and Icelandic Lava Aquatic?
Icelandic Lava Burst
unconventional ring materials
Icelandic Lava Solar Flare
unconventional ring materials
Icelandic Lava Aquatic
unconventional ring materials
We recently made this ring, "Neck of the Moon" for the engagement of a couple out of lava from the volcanic crater of Cotopaxi in Ecuador. It is known as the "Neck of the Moon" to locals and we can see why!
Cotopaxi in Ecuador
Neck of the Moon Engagement Ring
unconventional ring materials
Mixing Volcanic Ash (another unconventional ring material) with Lava is also amazing looking!
unconventional ring materials
Sandblasted Volcanic Ash and Lava
unconventional ring materials
The man who designed the below wedding ring with us was from South Carolina and he was sure he had met his wife in Iceland in a previous life, ages ago, before they both were born. And we believe him! After all, love is eternal and we would all love to incorporate materials from Our Life Before. Icelandic Lava Mixed with South Carolina Garnet Sands and seashells.
unconventional ring materials
From Our Life Before - Icelandic Lava and Garnet Sands
unconventional ring materials
Volcanic Lava Wedding Ring Set - Feel the Heat
unconventional ring materials
For some reason, we have been getting a lot of calls lately from Bend, Oregon, and boy do they have some lovely lava! The black lava has gorgeous shades of gray, orange, and pink. And boy oh boy that Red Lava has me dreaming of rings in my sleep. Talk about unconventional ring materials!
unconventional ring materials
unconventional ring materials
Drummer Man is our latest ring to be made out of Oregon Lava.
Drummer Man Oregon Lava Wedding Ring
unconventional ring materials
Symbolically, lava as an inlay in your wedding ring is a no-brainer. It is beautiful, timeless, and full of raw energy. What could be more symbolic of passion than lava? Fire's physical embodiment is the Lava Stone and it is perfect for a wedding ring. Any ring you see on our entire site could have one or more of its inlays replaced with lava from anywhere. How will you design yours? To get started on a Custom Lava Wedding ring, simply call 617-326-6671 or email sales@minterandrichterdesigns.com with the below missing information. We will get you started!
Ring A - ____________________________ (name or description of ring – or name of ring on website you are basing your design upon))
apx. size - __________ (we would base your sizers around this size. Custom Sizers are highly recommended, see below in signature for info.)
width - __________ mm
Finish on metal - _______________________ (satin? Sandblasted? Mirror?)
Shape of edges - __________________________ (rounded? Flat? Pinstriped?)
Any interior anodizing? If so, what color? - ___________________ (blue, green, bronze, sunset, pink, purple)
engraving phrase - _____________________________________________ (if desired)
Ring B - _________________________________ (description of ring – or NAME OF RING on our website you are basing your design upon))))
apx. size – _____________ (we would base your sizers around this size. Custom Sizers are highly recommended, see below in signature for info.)
width – _____________mm
Finish on metal - _______________________ (satin? Sandblasted? Mirror?)
Shape of edges - __________________________ (rounded? Flat? Pinstriped?)
Any interior anodizing? If so, what color? - ___________________ (blue, green, bronze, sunset, pink, purple)
engraving phrase - __________________________________________ (if desired)
Instagram Handle - ______________________ (Do you want to get tagged with a pic of the ring while we are making it?)
Wedding hashtag - ___________________________
wedding date - _________________________
latest must-have by date - __________________
Do you want a Lifetime Care Option? If so, which level? _________________ (STANDARD Level, PREMIUM Level – see below in signature for info.)
Full STREET shipping address - ______________________________________________
Choose either STANDARD or PREMIUM LEVEL of Lifetime Care Options: PURCHASE ONCE AND YOUR RING IS COVERED FOR LIFE!
PREMIUM LIFETIME CARE ($275) - WE WILL MAKE YOU A NEW ONE FOR FREE IF YOU LOSE IT!!!
Covers all damage for life
Covers a one-time free re-make should you ever lose your ring with unconventional ring materials
Not available for Meteorite Rings
Unless waived for special circumstances, must be purchased as part of the original transaction.
Includes return shipping
STANDARD LEVEL OF LIFETIME CARE ($200)
Covers all damage for life
Does not cover loss of the ring with unconventional ring materials
Includes return shipping
FAQs
Q: How do I get sized?
A: WE STRONGLY SUGGEST PURCHASING MINTER & RICHTER CUSTOM SIZERS to guarantee you get the absolute perfect fit for your ring. The industry-wide standard for ring size carries many variables (different measuring tools, ring widths, ring materials, and design). Factory-made bands are sized LESS accurately than our handmade bands. Therefore, getting sized at a factory jewelry store does not guarantee that the size will be correct. We offer Sizing Exchanges for life for half price. But getting Custom Sizers ensures that you will not need a sizing exchange. A sizing exchange is 50% the cost of the original if you were not sized on our custom sizers.
- Minter & Richter Custom Aluminum Sizers ($45 for a set of 3 sizers): If you have a general idea of what your ring size might be, we can make you a set of custom aluminum sizers (plain aluminum bands) in three different sizes at your preferred width. This allows you to spend time wearing each sizer for a day or two and finding out which one offers the most comfortable fit. Finger size can fluctuate slightly throughout the day due to water intake, temperature, etc. so this is an excellent way to get an accurate representation of exactly how your final ring will fit. We request that customers purchase their final ring(s) at the same time as the sizers. We will ship you the sizers along with a SASE for convenient return (domestic only – international must pay for return shipping). Once you confirm your ring size we begin making your rings with unconventional ring materials!
(**Please note that sizers can add approximately 2 weeks to order processing.)
