Why bentwood, not a block.
A ring drilled from a solid block cuts across the grain in a closed circle and tends to split where the fibre was cut. We do not drill: we wrap steamed wood veneers over a core so the grain runs as a hoop, and the ring holds what solid wood usually cracks. That is the bentwood method, turned and varnished by hand in Mérida. We are not selling the hardest ring in the world; we are selling a wooden band made to last in daily wear.
The craft, step by step
Steamed veneers
The wood veneers are steamed until they bend without breaking. That is the difference from a drilled block.
Wrapped over a core
The veneer is wrapped over a core to form a hoop. It is not a doughnut punched from a plank: the grain stays continuous around the finger.
Turned by hand
The hoop is turned on the lathe and sanded to its profile. No CNC, one piece at a time.
Varnish
It is sealed with varnish for daily water. They hold up to washing hands, the shower and the sea.
Drilled block and bentwood
An honest comparison, with no competitor names.
| Drilled block | Bentwood (us) | |
|---|---|---|
| Grain | Cut, tends to split | Continuous, in a hoop |
| Weight | Variable | Light |
| Water | Depends | Daily-wear varnish |
| Making | Often CNC | Lathe, made to order |
Grain
- Drilled block
- Cut, tends to split
- Bentwood (us)
- Continuous, in a hoop
Weight
- Drilled block
- Variable
- Bentwood (us)
- Light
Water
- Drilled block
- Depends
- Bentwood (us)
- Daily-wear varnish
Making
- Drilled block
- Often CNC
- Bentwood (us)
- Lathe, made to order
Woods and materials
Do they split?
Bentwood is not a drilled block: the veneers are wrapped in a hoop and the grain runs in a circle, so there is no cut line for it to split along. It is still wood, so the varnish and sensible wear matter.
Are they waterproof?
Yes for daily wear: washing hands, the shower and the sea. Just take them off for long hot baths or a jacuzzi with strong chlorine.