In short: You can wear a Bentwood ring in everyday life at all times, including when washing your hands, showering and swimming. You only need to take it off where you would take off any other jewellery. Scratches are part of it, just as with a gold ring, and they can be refreshed. With normal wear, this is free of charge, and the warranty lasts a lifetime.
No question comes up more often in consultations than this one: “Does a ring made of wood really hold up?” I understand the doubt well. You associate wood with furniture and floors, not with a piece of jewellery that sits on your finger every day for decades. So here you get the answers as honestly as I would give them to you at the table.
Can the ring go in the water?
Yes. Washing your hands, showering, swimming: the ring can stay on your finger. In everyday life you don’t have to think about taking it off, and that is exactly how it should be with a wedding ring.
When should you take it off?
My rule of thumb is simple: take the ring off wherever you would take off any other piece of jewellery. For everything else it can stay where it belongs. When it comes to everyday durability, I make no distinction from a classic gold ring.
Why does the wood hold up?
Many assume that a wooden ring is simply varnished or oiled. That would be a protective layer on the outside, and it wears off at some point. With our rings it is different. The wood is compressed under high pressure (12 bar) and fully impregnated with synthetic resin, and finally sealed with a special resin. It remains real wood, and its resilience comes from the material itself. The process has a patent pending.
How do you care for the ring?
Best by wearing it. That sounds almost too simple, but it is true: the natural oils of your skin, hand cream and sun cream keep caring for the wood all the time. A ring that is worn stays more beautiful than one lying in a drawer. You don’t need a care routine or a care set. If you like, you can get a wood butter; it is purely cosmetic, like a polishing cloth for a gold ring, and makes no difference to durability.
How does the ring change over the years?
It does not fade and does not lose its colour. What forms is a patina, as with any ring that is lived in. Scratches can appear, and I don’t want to hide that from you. Gold gets scratched too. For me these marks belong to it, because they tell your story. And if you want the ring to look like new again, that is possible at any time.
Refreshing and warranty
After a few years you can have your ring refreshed by me. With normal wear, this is free of charge.
Then there is the warranty, and with us it is not limited to two years. It lasts a lifetime. Should anything ever be wrong with your ring, you simply drop by and we look at it together. I am even glad about every piece of feedback: since 2015 I have improved the process year after year, and a lot of that goes back to the experiences of our customers.
What do couples who have worn their rings for a long time say?
You don’t have to simply take my word for it. Two voices from our Google reviews:
“Almost two years on our fingers and still as head over heels in love with our special, beautiful rings from Bentwood as on the first day!”
“At the same time they are incredibly comfortable to wear, which is at least as important for a piece of jewellery that is meant to accompany you every day.”
The best way is to form your own impression: drop by and take the rings in your hand yourself, in Lohn (SH) or in Oftringen (AG). The next post is about the engagement ring and seven things you should know before buying.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I shower and swim with a wooden ring?
Yes. A Bentwood ring can stay on your finger when washing your hands, showering and swimming.
How long does the warranty on a Bentwood ring last?
A lifetime. It is not limited to two years.
What does it cost to refresh a Bentwood ring?
With normal wear, the refresh is free of charge.
About the author
Jan Berger is a trained carpenter and the founder of Bentwood. The idea came up in 2014; from 2015 he developed the process with his grandfather that he uses to make wedding and engagement rings from wood, precious metals and gemstones. Consultations take place in Lohn (SH) and Oftringen (AG).
