European 4-in-1
Large and small
Categories: Jewelry; Products
Word count/read time: 436 words; 2 minutes
My rings are handmade welded precious metal masterpieces designed just for you!
Find the current ones
here.
Rings are a status symbol: Superbowl rings, wedding bands, engagement rings,
graduation or class rings. They are the most popular jewelry item due to
these factors, the ease with which they are made, and being truly unisex.
What better way to flash wealth than huge diamonds set in platinum?
To really
qualify as jewelry they need to be a solid, continuous band, tension settings excluded.
Slotted rings of the same construction and size are substantially weaker and enjoy
snagging things. Unlike a necklace or earrings,
rings see lots of use and abuse from daily activities.
Chainmaille is composed of many rings.
Finger rings should use micromaille-sized rings
since larger ones don't conform to a small diameter finger
while remaining comfortable, low-profile, and aesthetically pleasing.
The fluid nature of chains makes them more susceptible to catching and being damaged as a result.
Sizing a chain is difficult because one row or link often adds more than a full ring size.
That means playing with several jump ring sizes and wire diameters to get it just right
or breaking up the weave for a sizing bar/section.
It's challenging to make a seamless, continuous weave. Some weaves do not
mate to themselves well; others are too thick, bulky, or intricate.
Responsible maillers use saw-cut rings. Unfortunately, ugly pinch- and shear-cut rings are quite
common. Their sharp edges and host of other dangers are an invitation to trouble.
Responsible maillers also close their rings fully and properly
because gaps and misaligned edges exacerbate the problems immensely.
Otherwise it shows how unskilled, lazy, and how little they value quality.
Unfortunately, that describes most chainmaille.
Which brings us back to construction methods. Most
chainmaille uses butted rings which are not welded, soldered, or riveted closed. Only the strength
of the metal prevents the chain from falling apart, a dicey proposition at best.
Welding becomes a necessity with micromaille. Make that doubly so for silver, gold, and the other
precious metals.
All of my jump rings are saw-cut and closed properly before being welded or soldered
because legitimate jewelry demands and deserves nothing less.
These micromaille denizens are not the easiest to manufacture!
In summary, chainmaille rings are awesome but have way too shortcomings to leave things to chance.
You get what you pay for so it all comes down to what compromises you're
willing to accept. Inexpensive chainmaille rings are poorly made with substandard construction and
materials. That leaves few choices if quality and durability matter.
Luckily, you found the best place for high-quality goods.
Posted by M: October 14, 2020
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