BOURBON | Black Zirconium Ring, Whiskey Barrel Wood Inlay, Black Sapphires, Flat

Material: Black Zirconium
Inlay/Feature: Wood Inlay + Sapphire Setting
Widths: 8mm
Fit: Comfort Fit
Profile: Flat Profile
Engraving: Inside

Aydins Lifetime Warranty

Every Aydins ring is covered by the Aydins Lifetime Warranty against breaks and material defects. Automatic on every order, no purchase required.

What is covered

• Cracks, shatters, and breaks in the ring itself
• Material defects in the metal, plating, coating, or inlay
• Inlay separation caused by material defect (not caused by impact or wear)

How coverage works (non-precious metal rings)

Applies to tungsten, titanium, ceramic, damascus, cobalt, stainless, silicone.

• First 6 months: free replacement, no fee.
• 6 to 12 months: $34.50 flat fee.
• 12 months and after: $54.50 flat fee.

How coverage works (precious metal rings)

Applies to platinum, 10k / 14k / 18k gold, sterling silver, sterling silver with gold plating.

• First 6 months: free replacement, no fee.
• After 6 months: quoted per case based on current metal market prices, because a warranty replacement in a precious metal requires new metal at current spot pricing.

What is not covered

• Normal wear over time (finish dulling, patina, small daily-use scratches)
• Damage from drops, impact, or excessive force
• Damage from chlorine, harsh chemicals, or abrasive cleaning
• Intentional damage
• Loss in shipping (covered only if you added the Aydins Protection Plan at checkout, first 6 months)
• Theft (covered only if you added the Aydins Protection Plan and can show FedEx proof of delivery to the correct address)
• Damage from at-home resizing attempts (use Lifetime Sizing instead)

Aydins Lifetime Sizing Program

Your finger size will change over the years. Lifetime Sizing keeps your ring fitting.

Original purchaser only. Lifetime Sizing applies to the original purchaser of the ring. It is not transferable.

• First 30 days: free exchange (unengraved rings). Engraved rings within the first 30 days: $34.50 surcharge, waived once if you added the Aydins Protection Plan at checkout.
• Year 1 after 30 days: $34.50 flat fee.
• Year 2 and after: $54.50 flat fee.
• Precious metal rings: quoted per case based on current metal market prices.

Shipping split: You ship your original ring to Aydins. We ship the replacement back to you at no cost.

Processing time

Once your ring arrives at our workshop, refunds and replacement shipments are processed in 3 to 5 business days.

How to file a claim or request a resize

Visit our Returns & Exchanges page to start any warranty claim, resize request, or return. Include a clear photo of the ring so we can confirm coverage before shipping a replacement.

Aydins has been engraving and shipping rings from our Texas workshop since 2011.

What Black Zirconium Is

Black zirconium is a metal that's been heat-treated to create a permanent black surface. The process works like this: a polished zirconium ring is fired in a high-temperature kiln (typically over 1000°F), which causes the surface layer to oxidize into zirconium dioxide, a ceramic-hard black finish that's chemically bonded to the metal underneath. The black isn't a coating, plating, or paint. It's the metal itself, transformed.

Zirconium is the same family of metals used in nuclear reactor cladding and medical implants, chosen for its exceptional corrosion resistance. For wedding bands, it produces one of the most durable black finishes available, period.

Why People Choose It

• The blackest black, and it stays that way. The black surface is fused into the metal at the molecular level, so it can't chip, peel, fade, or wear off the way plated black finishes eventually do.
• Surface harder than tungsten. The zirconium oxide layer rates about 9 on the Mohs scale, harder than the underlying metal and harder than most steel. It resists scratches and holds its finish under daily wear.
• Lightweight. Zirconium is significantly lighter than tungsten, closer to titanium in feel. Comfortable for all-day wear.
• Hypoallergenic. Zirconium is biologically inert. It's used for joint replacements and surgical implants for the same reason.
• Corrosion-proof. Doesn't rust, tarnish, or react with chemicals. Saltwater, chlorine, and sweat don't affect it.

The Tradeoff Worth Knowing

The hard outer oxide layer is what makes black zirconium special, but it's also what creates the trade-off. The layer is thin (measured in microns), so a deep gouge from sharp impact can expose the lighter zirconium metal underneath. This is rare in normal wear, but worth knowing.

Two practical notes:

• It can be cut off in an emergency. Unlike tungsten or ceramic, the underlying zirconium metal can be sawed through with standard ER tools.
• Resizing isn't possible. Resizing would crack the oxide layer. If your size changes, we replace the ring through the Aydins Lifetime Sizing Program.

Comfort Fit, Explained

Every Aydins black zirconium ring is built with a comfort-fit interior. The inside of the band is gently domed instead of flat, which reduces friction against the finger and makes the ring sit smoothly even when your hand swells slightly (heat, humidity, exercise, long flights).

One note on sizing. Comfort-fit rings often run a half size larger than standard fit, so if you've measured for a non-comfort-fit ring before, order a half size down. If you're unsure, our Ring Sizing Guide has three different ways to find your size at home.

Finishes

Black zirconium accepts a range of surface treatments before the oxidation process: high polish, satin matte, brushed, sandblasted, or hammered. Many of our black zirconium rings also feature inlays of contrasting materials (gold, rose gold, koa wood, antler, meteorite) which create a striking visual contrast against the deep black surface.

Care & Cleaning

• Clean with mild soap and warm water, dry with a soft cloth.
• Skip the ultrasonic cleaners and chemical jewelry dips. The oxide layer doesn't need them.
• No special precautions for showering, swimming, or normal household chemicals. Black zirconium is inert.
• Avoid hard impacts against rough surfaces (concrete, brick, granite countertops). The hardness that resists scratches is the same property that makes the oxide layer vulnerable to deep gouges.

Lifetime Coverage

Every Aydins black zirconium ring is backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects and the Aydins Lifetime Sizing Program. If your size ever changes, we get you into a ring that fits through the sizing program. Both are handled through our Returns & Exchanges portal, and the full warranty terms are listed on the Warranty tab.

The promise behind both is simple: a wedding band is supposed to last as long as the marriage. We build the ring to do that, and we back it for as long as you wear it.