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A Guide to Our Materials

August 22 2022 – Mike Yarbrough

Learn how we source the materials we craft with!
Learn how we source the materials we craft with!

At Rustic and Main, we craft rings that tell a story. Our rings are handcrafted from consciously sourced, meaningful and historic materials that give our rings a sense of depth, purpose, and history unlike any other. The rings we craft are a wearable symbol of your history and heritage that you can pass on from one generation to the next.

We are committed to the ethical and sustainable sourcing of all materials used in our handcrafted rings. This is why we use SCS-certified 100% recycled gold, repurposed and reclaimed wood, naturally shed elk antler, and other consciously curated materials to make our rings. Sourcing raw materials this way preserves the world we love while adding depth and history to the bands we craft.

About the responsibly curated materials we use to craft our rings.

Part of our mission at Rustic & Main is to responsibly source sustainable materials rich in American history. We have been able to source a vast variety of organic and historic materials to craft unique rings that tell a story unlike any other.
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SCS-Certified 100 % Recycled Gold Rings

Our 100% recycled gold wedding bands and rings use a sustainable form of refined gold that is just as pure and valuable as standard gold but eliminates the negative environmental and social impacts caused by gold mining. This gold wedding band is the perfect way to symbolize your unique style and love while passing on that love and care to our people, our planet, and future generations.

We source all of our 10K, 14K and 18K  solid gold ring bases from Stuller. Established in 1970, Stuller has a steadfast and ongoing commitment to ethical sourcing and fair trade practices.

We are proud to work with a like-minded business that believes in an Earth First Commitment and that operates with social responsibility in mind. Stuller is certified through the Responsible Jewellery Council, which holds each company accountable for protecting the human rights of those involved in the jewelry supply chain.

Gemstones

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

Featuring turquoise from the famed Sleeping Beauty Mine of Arizona. This stone, treasured globally for its distinct, pure color and the mine's iconic status, imparts your ring with unique character and grace.

Campitos Sky Blue Turquoise

Adorned with Campitos Turquoise from the Sonoran Desert. This vibrant blue gem, sourced from a historic Mexican mine, adds a pop of color and touch of natural grandeur to your ring.

Chromium (Imperial) Diopside

Chromium Diopside, an emblem of the Earth's stunning artistry. Known for its rich green hue, this 'Imperial' gemstone mirrors the beauty of nature, making your ring a testament to the planet's grandeur.

Fossilized Amber

The process of fossilization involves resin hardening over many years, capturing time in its rich, golden hues to create the semi-precious gemstone we know as amber.

Muonionalusta Meteorite

The Muonionalusta Meteorite was first discovered in northern Sweden in 1906. There are around 40 pieces known to exist. Dust and fragments from this
meteorite have been used in the creation of our rings, carrying the mystique of the universe, making these rings a symbol of celestial beauty and timeless adventure.

 

 

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Reclaimed Wood

No two pieces of wood are identical. Therefore, no two wooden rings will ever be exactly alike. Every piece of wood is unique, and we use a wide range of reclaimed and historic woods to handcraft our rings.
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Battleship Teak Wood Rings - The USS North Carolina, USS New Jersey & USS California

Teak wood is prized for its beauty and the natural oils trapped in its grain, which makes it impenetrable to the elements. The unrivaled quality of teak wood has made it popular among boat builders for centuries and is also why the U.S. Navy used teak to furnish the decks of some of its most iconic battleships. We are honored to craft with reclaimed teak wood from the decks of the USS New Jersey, the USS North Carolina, and the USS California battleships.

The rings we've made from this wood are a part of history and help us connect with the life stories of all the men and women who served aboard those vessels. Shop our collection of historic battleship teak wood rings here, or customize one of your very own using our ring customizer.

The USS New Jersey

The USS New Jersey holds the honor of being the most decorated battleship in US history. We are proud to offer the original decking from this iconic ship as an option for your ring design.

We’ve use the USS New Jersey in a variety of our ring designs and it can be used to customize your own ring. 

The USS North Carolina


The USS North Carolina led every major naval offensive in WWII, earning 15 battle stars from 1941-1947. The teak wood of the ship’s original decks was made available to the public and we are excited to offer a limited collection of rings from this story filled wood.

The USS California


While awaiting its inspection, the USS California was sunk in the attack on Pearl Harbor. However, shortly after, the USS California was resurrected from the harbor and sent into battle in WWII. The deep history and rich coloring of this wood make it one we couldn’t pass up on offering as a part of our historic ring collection, and we especially love how it looks paired with gold in The Gold Rush.
 

WWI & WWII Rifle Stock Wood

The Springfield 1903 rifle was the standard-issue firearm that accompanied American soldiers in the trenches of World War I. The M1 Garand rifle replaced the Springfield 1903 during World War II.

As crafters, we appreciate the tough grain of American walnut used in these stocks. We acquired several of these historic rifle stocks, which were too damaged to be suitable for rifle making but are still in perfect shape for making our WWI and WWII rings.

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Reclaimed Whiskey Barrel Wood

Whiskey barrel rings have proven to be some of our most popular products. Many whiskey aficionados savor the opportunity to make a deeper connection to their ring by selecting a whiskey barrel from their spirit of choice. We make rings using Jack Daniel's, Jim Beam, Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, and many other American bourbon barrels. For those who prefer Scotch whisky, we've been able to use barrel wood from Lagavulin, Laphroaig, and others.


 
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Antique Walnut Wood

We're always looking for local sources of historic wood, and we were lucky to connect with a collector from right here in North Carolina for our antique walnut. They have helped preserve history by procuring reclaimed wood from historic barns. The walnut wood we use in many of our rings comes from a historic 19th-century tobacco barn just outside Asheville, NC. The barn is over 100 years old, and the walnut trees used in the barn's construction were at least a century old when they were cut down. Wearing this ring feels like having a tangible connection to our pioneer ancestors.
 
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Weathered Maple Wood

Weathered maple has become a popular wood choice. The combination of gray color and unique grain pattern make for a truly eye-capturing ring. We do all our weathering in-house, taking the light-colored maple wood through a natural process to produce a beautiful final product.
 

Other Unique Materials

To tell a more nuanced story, we incorporate other materials into our rings, from flower petals and meteorite dust to Celtic tartan ribbons and coffee beans. We enjoy using these remarkable materials because they tell a unique, personal story. Here are some of our favorite stories behind these alternative wedding band materials.

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Naturally Shed Elk Antler

Our antler rings are made using naturally shed Elk Antler. Antler is a material with just as many unique qualities as wood. No two antlers are alike, and the variations of color and grain make it an exciting material to incorporate into our rings. We source all our elk antler from a company that collects naturally shed antlers across west and middle USA. We have nothing against hunting, but we like the idea that the majestic animals these antlers came from are still roaming the wilderness.


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WWI Uniform Wool

 World War I U.S. uniforms are typically made of wool, a material known for its superior ability to keep a soldier warm, even when wet.
 
We acquired several pieces of WWI uniforms mostly from private individuals. In doing so, we've been able to create rings that pay tribute to those who served in the Great War.

Agatized Dinosaur Bone Fossil

We use authentic agatized dinosaur bone fossils found in Utah for our Dinosaur Bone Rings. This unique form of agatized dinosaur bone is created as minerals in the soil replace the cells of the dinosaur bone. The result is a reddish hue that still resembles the capillary systems of these ancient creatures. The bones are normally stand-alone and not part of a full or even partial skeleton, so it can be very difficult to identify a particular species they come from.


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Leather Rings

 We craft all our leather rings from genuine American-made leather. We source our leather from the Horween Leather Company, based in Chicago, IL. They were founded in 1905 and are one of the only leather makers still using traditional, old-world tanning techniques. It's simply the highest-quality American leather we can find.
 

Customer Provided Materials

Of course, many of our materials come straight from you! Our customers have come to us with many great ideas over the years and sentimental materials with one question in mind, "Can you make a ring out of this?" 
These stories have touched us deeply, and we always do our best to accommodate these requests as best we can.
 A woman once came to us with wood from her late grandfather’s handmade table from 1945. Another asked us to make a ring for her nephew using wood from a church pew from his grandfather's church and the ribbon from his grandmother's bible. We've made rings using crushed rock from a couple's favorite rock climbing location. We've inlaid fabric from dresses, military uniforms, and parachutes into rings. We've crafted rings out of wood from homes, barns, and many other types of buildings. The list goes on and on...
 
We're always open to your ideas and would love to hear the stories behind the elements you want to include in your ring. If you have an idea for a band made from a material that holds special meaning for you, please send us an email at team@rusticandmain.com to let us know! We're here to tell stories and help you share your history with your loved ones.