Mokume Gane Rings

Mokume Gane is a Japanese phrase that means "wood grain metal." The techique was developed during the 17th century by Japanese master metalsmiths to add adornments to the Samurai swords of the elite warrior class. The process of creating these beautiful patterns includes clamping around 10 to 30 layers of metals between steel blocks and heating the stack in a kiln, allowing the layers to fuse but not melt. It is then forged and rolled to reduce thickness. The finished result is an unique pattern of precious metals merged together to create a topographical map, each result being individual with no two patterns being the same.