So you’re getting married, aren’t you? Then you must have a long list of things to do to make it really grand. And on top of that list is the wedding ring. What would it be? Sapphire, emerald, ruby, or any of the more than dozen popular wedding rings. Well, how about something unique, something out of this world—literally? A meteorite wedding ring.
Why Are Meteorite Wedding Rings So Popular
Meteorite wedding rings have not gotten into mainstream jewelry media yet, but meteorite wedding rings are becoming very popular because of their uniqueness. They are literally out, or not from, this world. A well-known jeweler compares meteorite jewelry to snowflakes—no two pieces are the same.
But before you shut out all other types of wedding rings and settle for a meteorite wedding ring, here are a few things you much know first.
Meteors and Meteorites
Have you ever heard of the song When You Wish Upon a Star? I bet you did. You may even hum the song when you feel light and merry. Well, that star you may have wished upon, that flash of light that crosses across a moonless night is called a “shooting star,”—the term commonly used to describe a meteor.
Technically, a shooting star is a meteoroid that enters the Earth’s atmosphere. When they hit the Earth’s lower atmosphere, friction lights them up, turning them into meteors. Those who survive the fiery journey and land on Earth are called meteorites.
Scientists estimate that around 48.5 tons of meteoritic materials fall on earth each day. But they just assimilate unnoticed with the Earth’s surface— depending on the type of meteorites.
Types of meteorites
- Iron Meteorites – almost completely made of metals like iron-nickel with small amounts of sulfides and carbides. Meteorite wedding rings and other types of meteorite jewelry are made of iron meteorites.
- Stony-iron meteorites – containing equal amounts of metal and silicate crystals. Though they don’t have practical use in jewelry-making, they allow us to have a deeper understanding of the world beyond our own.
- Stony meteorites – like stony-iron meteorites, not used for jewelry but to study the interplanetary mechanics that happened thousands of years ago.
What is a Meteorite Wedding Band
Before going to the core of the question, a wedding band or wedding ring is a type of ring given during a wedding ceremony to symbolize marriage. It is a sign of commitment for one another; it represents love honor and faithfulness between married couples.
Now back to the question, “what is a meteorite wedding band?” Well, it is a wedding band made of meteorite.
Wedding bands are worn by both men and women. They can be bought singly or as a meteorite ring set. Needless to say, there is a meteorite ring, womens, as well as there is for men.
But do you know that a wedding ring, as symbolic and regal as it is, is only one of three rings in marriage?
Here are the other two:
- Engagement ring – platinum or white gold is the typical material for engagement rings, such as the one in this Natalie Diamonds review. But there is no law against giving a meteorite engagement ring to your betrothed. It can stand toe-to-toe in popularity against other metals. It is rare, rarer than platinum, and stately. And it is modestly priced.
- Eternity ring – symbolizes never-ending love. It is normally given on a wedding anniversary such as the 10th or 20th. Eternity rings, like the one in this Gabriel Co. review, come in many designs, but they are usually a band of precious metal with semi-precious or colored stones.
Why are Meteorite Wedding Rings so Popular
These days, meteorite wedding rings are so hot and popular—just like any exotic custom jewelry of wood and dinosaur bone rings. Jewelry experts are not sure whether this is just a fad or will continue into the foreseeable future. However, upon looking at the entire spectrum of the wedding ring niche, they have come up with these three reasons:
Appearance
Wedding rings and bands are normally made of titanium or white gold—both whitish in color. A meteorite inlay can drastically change its drab appearance. The contrast between the shiny look of titanium or white gold against the grayish to dark color of meteorites is stunning. People just love it, whether the inlay is wide or narrow.
Cost value
The average price for a beautiful meteorite inlay wedding ring is about $500-800, which is higher than a gold inlay. Some could go as high as $2,000. But this price is compared to other exotic inlays like wood or minerals.
A meteorite is a rare material and meteorite jewelry prices are expected to be on the higher level in the jewelry price spectrum. But one can get a meteorite wedding ring set at a lower price, say $300, depending on style and design.
As a guide to your buying decision, look for a jewelry item with a smaller amount of meteorite in it. It will have a lower finished cost—very much like buying a precious metal ring, such as platinum.
Uniqueness and rarity
You can go through all the wedding rings available in the market but nothing stands out more than a meteorite wedding ring—it is made of very rare material, eye-catching, unique, and one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
It reinforces your sense of individualism.
Are Meteorite Rings Real
Before going into the meat of the question, meteorite jewelry is made of iron meteorite. But not all iron meteorites are fit for jewelry. There are three types for this purpose:
- Gibeon meteorite – is the most common iron meteorite used in jewelry. It got its name from Gibeon—a town in Namibia where it was first found in 1838. The metal, however, was dated to prehistoric times. It is composed of iron-nickel alloy and significant amounts of cobalt and phosphorus. Its beautiful pattern makes it a popular choice among jewelers.
- Muonionalosta Meteorite – got its name from the Muonio River along the border of Sweden and Finland. Though found in 1906, studies show that it dates back to 4.5 billion years ago—making it the oldest meteorite ever found. It is composed of iron, nickel, and small amounts of rare elements like gallium and germanium. It is a very stable meteorite, with a similar etch pattern as the Gibeon.
- Symchan Meteorite – this meteorite type was first found in 1976 in Symchan, Russia. It is a pallasite meteorite (stony-iron composite) containing high amounts of indium. It is fairly rust-resistant, making it also a popular choice among jewelers.
Now back to the question—are meteorite rings real. Yes, meteorite rings are real. But No, they may not always be because there are a lot of fake meteorite rings in the market. The challenge is how to differentiate the real from the fake.
These four simple tips can help you do that…
Fake vs Real Meteorite Ring
When shopping for a meteorite wedding ring, care should be taken not to fall for fakes. Fortunately, most jewelers, for fear of ruining their business, tell their prospective clients beforehand whether a certain meteorite jewelry piece is fake or real. Some would even provide a Certificate of Authenticity to back their claim.
But just in case the above conditions are non-existent, these tips will help you determine if what you are buying is real or not:
They are magnetic
Meteorites are composed of metals like iron and nickel, hence magnetic. This is one unassailable proof of authenticity of a meteorite ring. If what you bought isn’t magnetic, then it is not real.
They rust
A corollary to their metallic composition, meteorite ring rusts. If somebody asks, do meteorite rings rust? The answer is obvious. Though there are meteorite types that are fairly stable and rust-resistant, over time, they will rust. So if a dealer claims that his meteorite weddings rings don’t rust, he or she is probably lying.
Meteorite jewelry is expensive
Meteorites are rare and are difficult to work on. Crafting one into jewelry, especially into a meteorite wedding ring requires machining using expensive tools.
Note: Meteorite jewelry is lumped in Others due to its newness in the market
So how much do meteorite rings cost? The cost varies according to meteorite type, style, and the amount of meteorite that is used in a typical jewelry item. For example, a single inlay of a meteorite ring crafted on an alternative metal could cost about $400. But for a high-quality meteorite, a ring could cost as high as $1,000. To make it affordable, some designers use only a small bit of meteorite in their creation and tag it as meteorite jewelry.
Real meteorites cannot be faked
Aside from a certificate of authenticity, which you must ask a dealer to produce before buying a meteorite wedding ring, you can do your own sleuthing by searching for the meteorite’s Widmanstatten patterns.
Widmanstatten patterns are figures of long nickel-iron crystals found in iron and stone-iron meteorites. They are finely interwoven kamacite (iron-nickel alloy found on earth), and taenite (another form of nickel-iron alloy) bands or ribbons on its surface. Widmanstatten patterns are only found on meteorites, not on any mineral rocks found on Earth.
Pros and Cons of Meteorite Wedding Rings
Shopping for a wedding ring can be a gut-wrenching process. You want to get one that is just perfect for you. You want to immortalize the moment by slipping on her finger the kind of ring that will last a lifetime. But which one?
You have gone through countless catalogs and visited your jewelry stores. But the more you did, the more confounded you are.
This article does not speak of the countless wedding bands or rings out there, but it can give you a clear idea of what you get out of meteorite wedding rings.
First, know the difference between the main meteorite types used in jewelry-making.
Gibeon Meteorite
This is the most common meteorite type used in jewelry. Its major composition of nickel, cobalt, and phosphorus gives it a beautiful crystalline pattern when polished and etched. It fits well with gold or platinum.
Muonionalusta Meteorite
This meteorite type contains some rare elements and a variety of minerals. It is darker than Gibeon but still geometric. Like Gibson, it is eye-catching and ostentatious. But its Widmanstatten patterns are much more intricate and distinct compared to the Gibeon.
But both have the same pros and cons:
Pros
- Unique – each jewelry item is as unique as your fingerprint.
- Versatile – it is stately and pairs well with other metals and minerals. It has a classy look and looks awesome when used as a gold inlay.
- Stylish – it has gained popularity among people with modern lifestyles
- Affordable – for a metal rarer than platinum, its price is very affordable
- Durable – because of their main composition, meteorite wedding rings are strong and durable.
Cons
- Rust – its iron content makes it prone to rust
- Maintenance – because of the above, meteorite jewelry wedding rings require regular maintenance.
How to Care for Your Meteorite Jewelry
Meteorites are mainly composed of iron. Being such it is prone to rust. To avoid that, here are some DIY tips to help you preserve your meteorite wedding ring.
Needed Materials
- WD-40 lubricant and a soft cloth/wipe or jewelry polishing cloth
- Soft-bristle brush
- Ring wax (available at Amazon)
Procedure
- Spray a thin layer of WD-40 onto a soft cloth/jewelry polishing cloth and wipe your wedding ring thoroughly;
- With the soft-bristly brush, gently brush the area where rust has formed;
- Leave a slight lay of WD-40 on the ring overnight so it will seep into the rusted area;
- The following day, scrub the area with a thin layer of ring wax to coat the ring. The ring wax will prevent the future formation of rust.
- Repeat the above steps until the rust is gone.
Additional tips
- Keep your meteorite wedding ring away from water or any acidic chemicals. Remove it when doing the dishes or bathing. Should it be wet by rain, do the above steps immediately;
- Avoid hitting your ring against hard surfaces to prevent chipping or cracking;
- Store your ring in an air-tight container to avoid moisture or dust buildup.
If you are in the market for a wedding ring, here’s a tip to minimize your agony of choosing the right one. Get a meteorite wedding ring. It is classy, elegant, and truly out of this world. It is the perfect expression of your own sense of individualism.
If you want to know more about how to shop for the perfect wedding ring, read our guide “Ring Shopping: What You Need To Remember For Wedding Rings.“
