Hi everyone!  I desperately need your help in coming up with an extra-nifty surprise wedding band for James, for three reasons: 1) Y'all know what the heck you're doing, what with proportions, metals, creative ideas, etc. 2) James is the kind of guy who would give someone the shirt off his back after carefully starching it, first, and has not had the kind of life where his sweetness has exactly been appreciated, much less reciprocated, and 3) If I can spend more time at my computer, rather than in the kitchen where a gigantic bag of dark chocolate covered acai and blueberries from Costco is sitting, I have half a chance of getting into a wedding dress

Here's the deal: in one of those "50-50" so-called-equitable splits known as "Le Divorce", James lost a diamond he really, really liked.  He'd worn it as a pinky ring until turning it into an engagement ring for his now-ex. In a fit of pique, she hocked the diamond at a pawn shop for a fraction of its value, rather than let him buy it back from her.  It was a radiant cut, .72 ct, J/VS2, strong blue florescence. He's flexible on thecolor, and on the size (since I am Poor Single Mother/Nanny, after all), but LOVES florescent stones. (BTW, he thinks this is an idea for a far-off anniversary.  Heh heh.)  So, I'd like a single stone to be the centerpiece of his ring.

Two: He has huge fingers, at least in comparison to everyone except for our Fearless Leader DBL   (Seriously, 14.5??  That's a LOT of platinum..)  He's a size 12.25-12.5.  The boy has some very big bones. (I hear you giggling, peanut gallery!!)  I've referred to him as a "Moose-toh-Don"   So, no dainty narrow band for him.  This is a problem, because the style I am envisioning for him that I thought would suit him so well is the one that was posted on another thread using a customer's diamond in a silver band, where the diamond was set low into the ring, and the width of the band was essentially the width of the diamond.  The narrowest band I think James could wear would be 6mm.  7-8 would look better, I think, but I don't know if the budget would support it. 

Three: Platinum.  Lots of it.  He would love an iridium band, which apparently one can get if one knows someone in NASA, but I don't, and I don't know if you could set a stone in it, anyhow.  And this will be his "dress" band, for the wedding and for Date Night.  He's an subcontractor/installer for DirecTV, and looking for "regular" work as a chief engineer, so he's going to get a tungsten band to beat senseless on a daily basis instead.  He's OK with white gold, but, well, there's no way I am going to cut corners on this guy.  He's a total angel, and deserves the best, or, at least as much as I can sell my plasma for!  So lots of silky, ultra-high-polish, comfy, classy, platinum.  For, umm, special friend price.  I'd like a pony, while y'all are at it, too.

((Oh yeah, and I'm a Damn Yankee, but have obviously been spending too much time jawing with my Biloxi-born BIL and his damn sugary Southern accent.  Y'all are just going to have to forgive my y'alls.  Time to call my Jersey friends, after which I say "cawfee" again for days ))

So..am I insane?  Other than for my sweetie.  Help me out here?  I won't even consider anything pre-made, or going with anyone besides DBL.  Besides which, James already promised him all of our business, for life.  And the big lug (James, not David) is already looking at pink lemonade rings.  Sigh =)

You can get iridium in small quantities (couple of ounces) without too much of a problem; it's cheaper than platinum. The problem is working the durned thing. It's generally sintered (powder compressed and "melted") which makes for a very resistant but not very attractive finish (think "stealth plane" type finish, opaque and with a fine orange peel effect). Setting a stone - fuhgeddaboudit; it's way too brittle. But if you want a band, I am pretty sure I (and David) can find one...

If you like I can take a photo of my hubby with his band on tonight after the monkey goes to sleep (if a camera comes out my kiddo has to take tons of pics too LOL).  That way you can see for yourself how it looks.  Honestly we had issues trying to find bands to try on in nice jewelry stores because they usually didn't carry much above a 11 or 12.  We wound up buying a sterling band to see how it would look.

The pipe band is very  much what I would consider if we ever had to replace my hubby's band.  I love the way they look especially on a bigger guy.  My husband works out a lot (lifting) so he has that broad shoulder/big build to him.  Dainty is not something I would ever consider for him.  Me on the other hand is the opposite... I make a 3mm band look wide LOL

We won't get into me and shopping.  Being a shorty thing I now buy at stores that do free hemming.  That way I don't have to pay $10-20 just to alter pants.  I've had such issues finding clothes that fit so a seamstress is my friend.  I'm currently addicted to one particular store... they have a great shoe selection too 

OMC you are always shocking me with everything you know.  I had no clue you could get an iridium band!  Though I do have friends who work for NASA.

I'll second the vote for the pipe ring. I like all DBL's mens rings but that one is my favorite for now. My Hubby also wears a large size (12-13) and i think it would look smashing on him.  

Hubby's favorite ring right now is a kinda strange gear ring. It's really cool - it's a solid band with gears mounted on the outside and two notched bands on the top and bottom so the outer bands spin on the gears. It isn't very elegant but it really speaks to him and apparently it's fun to play with.

OK, the search starts now.

Engraving I think may be difficult. I don't know for sure, but the fact that it is a hard and brittle material makes any form of decoration tough to do. On the other hand, there's plenty of engraved glass, so let's see...