My Wedding Band - Sancus by Himeros

It is with great excitement that I share the results of a collaborative effort with Andrew at Himeros! As a discerning collector, I own practically every manner of adornment… but have always felt a desire for a special piece that I just couldn’t find out in the market. That missing piece of the collection is an adornment that matches my very own wedding band. Having been married for 17 years, I’ve worn a ring (the design was of my choosing) on my finger every day as a sign of dedication and love for my queen, so why not adorn myself elsewhere with the same design?

I began my quest to find such a ring in a bit of an unusual way: I first tried to 3d model it myself. However, the endeavor was quickly defeated given that I have access only to limited free tools (and lack the skills with Blender to do the deed). Further, a 3d printed ring would be made of plastic if I were to make it myself, and that certainly wouldn’t befit duplicating my wedding band. I next reached out to a number of sellers on Etsy as well as directly to a few Chinese manufacturers of rings. This provided some contacts on Etsy for those willing to branch into C-Rings, but none were quite able to achieve the goal I was seeking - and not a single Chinese producer responded to my inquiry. The next stop was to reach out to Gear Essentials and Ballistic Metal. Gear Essentials didn’t get back to me and I later found out why: within a month, they announced their impending closure. The fine folks at Ballistic Metal did respond, but the cost and capabilities fell a bit short: more than $500USD for an aluminum ring… and of course I wanted something with a higher luster to match my band. That said, I think their ask is fairly reasonable. Building the CAD model and converting to tool paths for CNC/milling is not a trivial exercise.

Nearly defeated, I shelved the project until I discovered through conversation with Andrew at Himeros that he would be willing to do such a design and production staying under the cost ceiling I proposed! With my excitement rejuvenated, I shared a few pictures of my wedding band with him along with sizing information (it was easy: I love the fit and feel of Proteus, so let’s just do that!). He quickly worked up a model and shared a digital “proof” (Andrew is clearly a talented modeller) which was all I needed to say, “Let’s do this thing!”

My wedding band, originally, is a 14k white gold band with a frosted/brushed finish. The brushed finish is split along the center line by a polished “rib” for lack of better terms that really makes the design pop. Because gold is a soft material, the brushed finish slowly faded away through the years to a more polished/rubbed finish just from wear. All told, the design is fairly simple which is what gives the ring its elegance. While discussing the design with Andrew, I did mention that I am open to any material that matches the luster of the original ring. Being an expert in Tungsten Carbide adornments and a producer of such rings, Andrew preferred it. This brought no arguments from me, of course, given that my Himeros rings are of outstanding quality and finish - plus, Tungsten Carbide can withstand extreme amounts of abuse without ever showing a scratch.

The resulting adornment is outstanding. As can be expected from the Tungsten Carbide material, the sheer weight is immediately appreciated. Given the “squared” design and lack of an inlay, the entirety of the ring is composed of this weighty medium. The term “squared” is used only to describe the exterior, of course, because Himeros rings are purpose built and Andrew knows that a radiused inner profile and thick width leads to a comfortable adornment. In this case, the inner profile doesn’t seem as rounded/gradual as Proteus, but this may simply be an illusion created by the rounded edges of Proteus. Speaking of the edges, the design features a deft rounding of the outer profile. This limits pinching and jagged contours to further drive up the comfort factor. Beyond the intelligently designed structure, the brushed finish is the perfect blend of texture with sheen offset by the gorgeously polished inner “rib” expressing a masculine and refined presence. With the fairly flat and angular outer proportions accented by the brilliant polish of the rib and ring sides/inner profile, a commanding personality is conveyed by Sancus. While I don’t often stack thick rings, I do think it would pair beautifully with a gold adornment such as Zeus (hammered and brushed texture, from Himeros) or Gold Champ (brushed texture, from King Rings).

All told, partnering with Andrew at Himeros to produce this ring was exactly the right choice. It has provided a means to finally fill that empty spot in my collection: a mate for my beloved wedding band. I think the only possible, albeit minor, improvement would be to somehow more closely match the finish of the rings. The difference can be seen slightly in the picture, but it is more pronounced in person. The wedding band is “whiter” and with a slight yellow tint (time for redipping!) while Sancus has a highly polished, but distinctly gray hue. Getting them to match would be a tall order without plating the adornment, of course. After all, tungsten carbide is naturally gray (think of the color of a saw blade) while my wedding ring is white gold and rhodium plated. Had it been produced in Aluminum, it would have been too white and I suspect Stainless Steel would leave room for improvement still.

It goes without saying, this adornment sits at the top of my collection as a favorite. While the cost was significant, having a one-of-a-kind adornment that also bears such sentimental value eases the mind.

Andrew has also shared his perspective on the creation of this adornment as well as a few additional pictures here: https://www.himerosjewelry.com/post/custom-c-ring-to-match-your-wedding-band