Help me find a ring like this?

January 27, 2013 10:13 AM

I was watching a movie a few weeks ago and saw a ring that I need to have. My normally masterful googling skills have failed me. It doesn't have to be exactly the ring pictured (for example, the circle could be smaller, it could be gold-tone, the circle itself could instead be square or rectangular or octagonal) but I want that thing strapped to my finger ASAP. I've searched etsy and this is the closest I've found but the leather bit is too wide for my liking. I have contacted a couple sellers on etsy whose stores include leather-based accessories and inquired about commissioning my dream ring but I have received no replies as yet. It's times like these that make me real sad that etsy alchemy doesn't exist anymore.
posted by likeplus to clothing, beauty, & fashion (7 answers total)

If you can find a metal ring that you like, this is something a cobbler/leather worker/shoe repair place could make for you easily. It looks like just the ring, a strip of leather and two studs. You could even make it yourself if you are at all crafty.
posted by payoto at 10:33 AM on January 27

I think it's this "one of a kind" leather ring. They appear to be sold out, sadly.
posted by Charity Garfein at 11:32 AM on January 27 [3 favorites]

make one. you will need:

- a small piece of leather (probably 3" x 3" will make you 3 or 4 rings, or give you wiggle room if you mess up)
- an exacto knife with a new blade
- a metal ruler
- a rivet kit (get it at a hobby store or leather goods store, it should include the anvil and 20 or so rivets. this will be the most expensive part, maybe 5-10$)
- a hammer
- (optional) a hole punch kit- if you use thin leather you can cut the holes for the rivets
- a small o-ring
- some paper, a pen, scissors and tape

to make:

1. cut out a piece of paper about 3" long and the width you want the leather on your ring to be.
2. loop one end of the paper around the o-ring and tape it down to the other side of the paper.
3. balance the o-ring on your finger, wrapping the taped piece of paper around your finger like the band of the ring. loop the untaped end of the paper under the o-ring, pulling it taut until it fits your finger. tape it down.
4. make a mark with the pen on each end of the paper where you want the leather to be riveted down. it should be large enough for the rivets you got plus about 3mm on either side.
5. cut the paper on your marks so you can remove the o-ring from the taped parts, but make sure that you cut it so that you are left with one piece of paper (you'll need to preserve the spaces that was looped around the o-ring; if this doesn't make sense in writing you'll see what i mean when you start fiddling with the paper). this is the pattern for your leather piece. make dots or x's where you want the rivet.
6. use the metal ruler and exacto to cut your leather piece (hold the leather down with the ruler along the edge to be cut and run the blade down the ruler. This is why you can't use a plastic or wood ruler)
7. punch or cut holes for the rivets. they should be a little bit smaller than the rivet itself.
8. rivet the leather ends around the o-ring. the second one is probably going to be a bit of a pain, so if you have some extra leather, you might want to practice.
9. wear your awesome new ring!
posted by par court at 12:16 PM on January 27 [6 favorites]

That's it, Charity! How did you find that?

Thanks for the instructions, par court. Craft challenge accepted! I'm going to head to the crafty store shortly. I suspect attempts 1-3 will be disastrous.
posted by likeplus at 12:48 PM on January 27 [1 favorite]

I've seen these elements in some double-wrap leather belts. You could try looking in your local TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Ross for a cheap belt that has this connection; then it's only a matter of cutting the right length on both sides and taking it to a shoe repair place and asking them nicely to stitch it together (or you could do it yourself with a large needle). I've made similar leather rings for myself when I was a teenager.
posted by Ender's Friend at 3:47 PM on January 27

I wish I could say it was my amazing powers of jewelry hunting, but... I just Googled "leather ring," and it was the third image.
posted by Charity Garfein at 8:50 PM on January 27 [1 favorite]

This shop has some options.
posted by illenion at 7:20 PM on January 29