Little wood science

Heartwood/sapwood
 There are types of wood (at HolzTraum acacia, rosewood, laburnum, mirabelle plum and oak) that inherently have a darker core of wood surrounded by a layer of younger, lighter sapwood. The term sapwood is used to describe the not yet fully mature wood in which the nutrients are transported.
Personally, I like the play of the two colors of these trunks. But it means that I usually have to cut these veneers myself, because in the veneer industry the sapwood is considered an undesirable waste.

Wood rays
From the middle of the trunk, extremely hard fibers radiate outwards through the annual rings like a sun. These rays are made of very hard fibers, much harder than the wood that surrounds them. For the tree, this has the advantage that a high level of stability is possible with a lower weight of the branches. In the veneer, the wood rays look like either dots or streaks that shimmer in the light, depending on the angle at which the veneer was cut. The wooden steel highlights in my collection include elm, mirabelle plum, common heather, laburnum and oak.

Bog wood
If a tree trunk falls into a moor and, as luck would have it, it matures there for several hundred years in the absence of oxygen, then the wood turns greyish-black and, to my delight, becomes more flexible, which means it is easier to process.
Such trunks are rare, which is why bog wood is an expensive rarity.
I process bog elm and bog oak.

Somked wood
Wood containing tannic acid in particular (oak and chestnut in my case) discolours dark brown to black when it comes into contact with ammonia vapours. Oak furniture in horse stables led to this discovery.
Today, whole trunks are industrially treated with ammonia in huge smokehouses. The result is evenly dark wood. The process has absolutely nothing to do with smoke.

Oxidized wood
When metal ions penetrate wood, it turns dark. A tin can carelessly left in a puddle will create an unsightly black ring on the wood surface. Sometimes you can undo the misfortune with citric acid.
A Swiss veneer factory has developed an oxidation process so that they can produce evenly gray veneer. I call it holm oak because it is the color of stone.

Softwood
Unfortunately softwood is not well suited for wooden rings. It’s just too soft. I tried it with the hardest possible softwood, a juniper trunk. The aroma when slicing was delicious, but you could score a notch in the finished ring with your fingernail.

FAQ ring selection

Yes, there is no personalization configurator on my website, because I wouldn’t even know what to set there. Much more is usually possible than a configurator would allow. If you have any questions as to whether your wishes can be implemented, call me (+49 160 933 339 35) or write me at m@holztraum-ringe.de

When you go to the checkout there is a free text field in which you can please enter the ring size, width, engraving text etc. If you missed the field, just send me an e-mail with the data.

Production usually takes two to four weeks.

If you are in a hurry, please ask BEFORE by phone.

the shipping costs are
wirhin Germany 4,50€
within EU monetary union 8,50€
to Switzerland 12,50€

For all other countries, please inquire beforehand.

I send the rings by post, the ring boxes as a consignment. Delivery to packing stations is not possible.

“Clandestine” deliveries with Hermes Shop-to-Shop are possible on request.

You can choose to pay with PayPal or in advance.

The rings offered in the shop are personalized made-to-measure products, which unfortunately cannot be exchanged according to the terms and conditions.

It is therefore all the more important that you determine the ring size in advance. Or read Giving a Ring Without a Size.

FAQ about the order process

In general, wooden rings fit just like metal rings. So the material does not play a role in determining the ring size.
Note, however, that the individual fingers of one hand have different strengths. If the ring is to be worn on a specific finger, you will need the ring size for that finger. Dehydrating drinks such as coffee, sage tea or red wine but also pregnancy can affect the measurement result.

If you don’t know your ring size and walking around town isn’t an option, you can order a ring sizer with the ring. I will then send it to you in advance free of charge.

A String, chewing gum paper, bag seals or grandma’s tape measure are definitely not suitable tools for determining the ring size at home. I can no longer change the ring size of finished rings. Expanding or compressing, as is possible with metal rings, is impossible with a wooden ring.

It is mainly a matter of personal taste how ready a ring should be.
It is generally said that a wide ring looks good on a slender finger, and a narrow ring looks better on a strong, short finger.

But it is also the case that a narrow ring tends to pinch the neighboring fingers. A washer would be the extreme. A very wide ring, on the other hand, can limit the freedom of movement of the finger.

A small ring, e.g. size 48, is 4mm narrow and 8mm wide. A medium-sized one, e.g. size 60, is narrow at 4.5mm and wide at 9mm. A really large ring, e.g. size 70, is narrow at 5mm and wide at 11mm. Medium is in between, rule of three is possible.

Luxury (most sold)
Each luxury ring in my collection is covered with a matt polished, closed layer of acrylic resin. This looks very elegant and makes it more durable and hard-wearing (a ring like this can withstand a 40° wash cycle in the washing machine).

glossy
Like luxury, only polished to a high gloss. With finely structured woods, the glossy surface emphasizes the wood structure. However, the surface can become matt or shiny over time through daily use, depending on the stress.

pure
The pur rings in my collection are stabilized with acrylic resin but not sealed. The rings are a bit more natural but also more sensitive.
Rings made of black oak are not available in “Pure” due to the structure of the wood.

I engrave in the ring using a laser engraver. The laser beam burns letters, characters or shapes into the wood. You can choose from different fonts. I can also use image templates that only consist of black and white in jpg and png format.

Light to brown wood and a ring width of 4.5 mm or more are advantageous for an engraving.

It is difficult in dark wood, because black on black is difficult to read. Here I recommend choosing the inside of the ring from a lighter wood.
It is also difficult to engrave 30 characters in a small ring. Smaller font is harder to read.

With a Bentwood ring, the wood is bent with the grain so that a ring with 3-4 thin layers of wood glued together is created from a 25-30cm long veneer strip. This process makes the ring much more statically resilient than a turned wooden ring would be, and allows a lower material thickness of 2.2 mm and upwards.

Nevertheless, a wooden ring has a limited lifespan. Comparable to floors, there are materials for eternity and some for feeling good. A metal ring lasts a lifetime, a wooden ring cannot. It will wear out like a wooden floor.
Sand and hard objects that leave dents in the wood will damage the ring. You should take off the wooden ring for gardening, climbing, playing in the sand or carrying beer crates. Showering, washing your hands or going to the sauna is no problem.

Water and heat SOMETIMES. AVOID bruising, bending or sanding.

Unfortunately, since made-to-measure rings are non-returnable, buying a ring based on an estimated size is risky. If you would like to surprise someone with a ring from HolzTraum, call me first on +49 160 933 339 35 or email me at m@holztraum-ringe.de

I have almost 100 rings in different sizes and types of wood in stock, from which you can choose one that you are happy to give away as a surprise and then return it to configure your personal dream ring.

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