Wooden Ring Tests

How long do wooden rings last?

After making rings out of many types of wood over the last 15 years we have a pretty good idea of what woods make the best rings. Below are details from the best performing wooden rings.

Purpleheart Ring Test

I made a ring out of purpleheart that lasted about 3 years until my roommate shoved it on his finger that was too big for the ring. When he tried to yank it off, it split.

Ebony Ring Test

My next ring, I made out of ebony. I never took it off. I washed the dishes wearing the ring, I showered with it on, I surfed with it, I played soccer with it on (even as a goalie), I played basketball with it. After a year of testing, I was very impressed with the durability of ebony. I ended up giving away the ring and went on to continue my research.

Ipe Ring Test

My next ring was made out of ipe. I regularly played racquetball and other sports wearing the ipe ring, and I was extremely impressed by the durability of the ring. It did however end up breaking when I slammed it on the hardwood floor playing basketball after almost a year of wear. (Ipe rings will be on the site soon.)

Hard Maple Ring Test

For the last year I have been wearing a hard maple ring. I've kept it on while working on my car, moving heavy furniture, carrying suitcases, doing pushups and pull-ups, swimming laps at the pool, and spending time regularly in the hot tub. So far, it has been great.

Are they unbreakable?

Although I've been quite impressed by the durability of some of the woods I've tested, I've worn enough rings to know that no matter how hard the wood is, wooden rings WILL break—that's just how it is. However, the more careful you are with your ring, the longer it will last. One way to make sure your wooden ring lasts is to make sure you get the right size ring.