FAQs

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David’s custom work starts at $350 Canadian for a simpler classic Touch Wood Ring. Highly figured single wood rings, for example; Juniper Heartwood and Bethlehem Olive start at $400. An interior liner adds $100 to a design.

Featured knots, tapers, and other embellishments add to the cost of a design.  A design with a single inlaid band, a single spiraled inlay, or a couple of inlaid bands generally runs in the mid-range; $450 to $600.

The more complex designs will be at the higher end $650+

In this higher range will be designs with liners and multiple components; crushed stone or shell inlays, crossed-spiraled inlays, braided inlays, and multiple inlaid bands.

All our prices are quoted in Canadian Dollars. I use xe.com as a reliable currency converter. We will quote you a set price just as soon as we have worked out the details of your custom design and I can always give you a rough idea of the cost of any design you're considering.

We can ship anywhere Canada Post delivers ~ which is almost every corner of the globe.

* We know that these are challenging times. It's just the two of us here and we're pretty easy to talk to. Please feel welcome to email Nicola to discuss payment plans or reduced prices in special circumstances. If you want a Touch Wood Ring, we want to make it happen for you.

We recommend you get your finger sized by a reputable jeweler. Size the finger you are going to wear the ring on, not the opposite hand. Get it done twice! Please get sized on the same width of ring sizer as the ring you want David to make for you. Narrow and wide rings can fit quite differently. If you are using a ring to get a measurement, be sure the jeweler is using a metal mandrel (not a plastic mandrel). A mandrel is a metal cone-shaped tool used to take a ring size measurement. A plastic mandrel is not reliable as a sizing tool.

Try on some different (conventional metal) rings. When you find one that's perfectly comfortable, note the width of the ring, get it sized; design your wood ring with that one in mind. Remember too, a wood ring is warm, not subject to temperature changes the way a metal ring is. And, there is no weight to a Touch Wood Ring, a very different experience to wearing gold or titanium, or silver.

...you are taking a bit of a risk. You might ask your partner's mother or sister or one of their friends if they know his or her ring size. You could also borrow one of your partner's rings from the finger you want to put a ring on, and take it to a jeweler to have it sized. Again width is a primary consideration. (A ring is such a personal thing - it is tricky to make decisions on style and fit for someone else.)
 

For your own ring, we recommend that you have your finger measured at least twice. Measure once during normal temperatures early in the day, and once at the end of a long day. Please remember that the wider your ring is, the tighter it will fit, and the more critical it is to get the right size. Again, we recommend you try some rings on and see what feels comfortable.

Don't rely on a measurement of cold fingers, as this is when fingers are their smallest. Please note that we can only guarantee we will build the size you order. You must guarantee that it will fit! David is, however, able to resize most rings to some degree.

You are welcome to copy/paste pics of rings you like from our website or social media or provide a written description or even a sketch. Think about what type or types of wood you would like your ring to be made from. If you choose woods that we feel do not match up well, we'll steer you in a better direction. Go ahead and play with designs - colour outside the lines! We're here to help!

We have loads of information that might be of interest if you want to consider the mythic or spiritual qualities of the woods you are choosing. See' Meanings of Woods'. 

You might want to consider skin tone when deciding on light or dark woods for your wood ring. Consider your preference for obvious or subtle wood grain.

Keep in mind the types of activities you are likely to be involved in while wearing your wood ring. If you like a wide band (6mm or more) we strongly suggest you consider having it tapered since tapering will protect the wood on the inside of your hand from coming in contact with heavy or sharp objects you might be handling. A tapered ring can still look like a full ring when it is worn. David does what we call a 'hidden taper' or a more obvious 'full taper'.

Do you like the feeling of a substantially thicker ring on your finger or would you rather not know it's there? Have some fun at a costume jewelry counter - try different rings on and see what's comfortable.

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Your timeframe and our schedule - When you first contact us, please let us know if you have a 'needed by' date and we'll let you know our schedule and our next available shipping dates. David is often booked a few months ahead but please contact us if you want a ring in a very short time frame as are often able to accommodate a more urgent request. Thanks. 
 

I like to have time to get to know you, and David likes to spend a few weeks with each ring he creates. Even the simplest ring requires at least 8 hours of individual attention over a certain number of days for the finishing, drying, and curing processes. Generally, we book folks in a particular month when their rings are going to be created and they are finished by the end of that month. We normally ship at the end of the first week of the following month.

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Caring for your Touch Wood Ring.  

• For the first 3 or 4 weeks, the finish on your ring will continue to cure and harden. Your ring is newly finished and just changed climates from our place to yours. David’s best recommendation is to give your ring a minimum of 3 weeks before beginning to wear it. This gives the natural ingredients in the finish time to cure and harden. The best place to acclimate your ring is somewhere out of reach of cats and dogs, on a dresser or a shelf ~ perhaps resting in an open ring box, at normal indoor temperatures, and not sitting in direct sunlight. It is fine to leave it on the presentation card ~ or not. 

• Your ring is strong and durable. It won’t break if you bang it on a wall or drop it on the floor. It is however still made of wood and requires that you be conscious of wearing it, especially while you get to know your ring. Take note of what it is you do with your hands that might scratch or ding your ring and have a safe place to keep it during these activities. Wearing your ring on a soft cord or leather ‘necklace’ is a good option when you are rock climbing, bike riding or house cleaning . . . that kind of thing. 

• Once you are wearing your ring ~ if you find it is tight when your hands are warm, or due to swelling in your fingers, be careful not to remove your ring using your fingernails. Run your hand under cold water. Using a little bit of soap, gently work the ring off your finger, then dry your ring. 

• Your ring is finished in a natural and durable wood finish. Once cured, this finish is water-resistant but not waterproof.  Best not to wear your ring for showering, bathing, swimming, or dishwashing. Common sense stuff. A hand wash in warm water will not harm your ring ~ it’s the products (especially the antibacterial kind) you’ll want to avoid as these can be hard on the finish.  

• The finish protects your ring from ultraviolet light and rapid changes in temperature. Still, it’s best not to leave your ring on a car dash or windowsill or anywhere it will be subject to temperature extremes. Remove your ring if you are wearing rubber gloves or when working in conditions where it is subjected to constant moisture.  

• When the finish on your ring shows wear, it can easily be touched up and should be tended to whenever bare wood is exposed. We offer a total refinish for a small fee plus the return shipping. If at any time you wish to return your ring for refinishing, minor resizing, or to repair some accidental damage, please be in touch ~ send us an email. We are always here for you and always happy to hear from you.