These Reticulated Bands Bring Power to Pairs and Ring Stacks
Bario Neal reticulated bands create an organic contrast — much like the hot- and-cool technique of “reticulation” itself. As wedding rings, anniversary jewelry, or an addition to a favorite stack of rings worn together, they’re delicate yet strong, and come in many widths that suit feminine and masculine styles.
Reticulation is a technique of heating and quenching that produces jewelry with a wavy or uneven texture. Think of running your fingers on a topographic map or hiking a natural terrain. During the process, an artisan uses a torch on a sheet of metal alloy (often a mix of mostly silver with a small percentage of copper) to make the metals separate and soften. This creates that signature rippling that twists-and-shouts in Bario Neal’s Reticulated Three Band for example.
The metal is then quickly cooled and sets. According to Emily Shank, Bario Neal Studio Coordinator + CAD Designer, after about 10 rounds of heating and cooling, the metal sheet is ready to be shaped into rings, pendants, earrings, and more. She says reticulation works best with silver, but Bario Neal now uses molds to handcraft reticulated bands (which ensures collection consistency) so clients can get the designs in all golds and platinum too.
The molds mean we can customize rings for clients, including making bands wider — the Reticulated Five Band is our widest reticulated collection ring — or more narrow, like our popular Reticulated One Band.
Following Bario Neal’s commitment to ethical jewelry making, we use recycled or Fairmined metals when we’re making reticulated bands like our Reticulated Four Band.
“Many of our clients come in looking for our reticulated bands,” Emily says. “The freeform style isn't very common in fine jewelry, and for a couple looking for wedding bands that are a bit different, rings like the Reticulated Two Band and Reticulated Two Wide Band set us apart.”
Reticulated Bands With Gemstones
To add a gemstone to Bario Neal’s most popular reticulated band, we used a burnish setting to design Reticulated One Diamond Band. The white diamond (or champagne diamond or blue sapphire — because we just had to add more colors last year) nestles flesh in the band, making this a good everyday band with a gleam for someone who often works with their hands. Reticulation created a pretty ebb and flow of metal thickness in this band and the addition of a gemstone finishes off the look with an irresistible wink.
If you’re looking for sustainable and ethically sourced gemstones, rest assured that Bario Neal uses only fully traceable gemstones, even when it comes to smaller diamonds like the ones we use for this Reticulated One Diamond Band design.
Reticulated Ring Pairings
Bario Neal’s reticulated rings make great wedding bands for couples who want similar styles with subtle differences like width. If one partner is wearing a more traditional engagement ring with a gemstone, even one with a non-textured and polished metal, this is a duo that can sing.
- “I’ve seen wonderful pairings with a very classic solitaire engagement ring and a Reticulated One Band,” Emily says. “It's unexpected and the reticulated look goes with everything.”
- For a double-take of natural waves, Emily likes how well the curves of the Bend Diamond Ring and the Reticulated One Band go together.
- We have clients who make the Reticulated One Diamond Band their engagement ring and add the Reticulated Two Band as a wedding band.
- Mix smooth and wavy metal and gemstones: Pair a Reticulated One Diamond Band with our Nikko White Sapphire Pear Ring.
Stacking Reticulated Bands
We never pass up chances to stack rings. Emily says one of the best things about her job is that she gets to see so many Bario Neal rings at her bench — and she can’t resist putting different bands and rings together to see how they look.
- Emily’s three-ring stack pick: the Reticulated One Champagne Diamond Band in yellow gold, the Reticulated One Black Diamond Band in white gold, and the Reticulated One Fuchsia Sapphire Band in rose gold. “Yes, you have all the same ring, but it looks like you have a whole variety,” Emily says.
With a hot torch and a quenching bath, the technique of reticulation brings all the senses to jewelry design. And that energy carries through in the texture and organic flow of natural and classic bands. Contact Bario Neal today to learn more about how we use artisan techniques like reticulation and more to handcraft our ethical jewelry and create lasting, meaningful pieces for everyone.