The Legend The most renowned artist of Edo period Japan, Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾 北斎) achieved global recognition for the breathtakingly beauty of his "Views of Mt. Fuji" ukiyo-e landscape paintings. Each print was crafted through the monumentally arduous process that woodblock printing is known for, a difficulty that was compounded by Hokusai's decision to use a wide variety of rich colors within his works. Our HOKUSAI ring takes inspiration from the most famous of the 36 paintings in this set: The Great Wave off Kanagawa, which depicts a tremendous wave off the coast of the town of Kanagawa while Mt. Fuji rises subtly in the background. The Ring The rich navy blues that dominate the central theme of the image have been replicated by our smith through a rhodium (platinum) layer that has been carefully applied over a band of hand-crafted katana steel, with an artful polished center that represents the crashing of ocean waves. To accurately express the blues of the painting, we offer rings of two different hues. You may select either a dark navy blue for your ring or a lighter sapphire coloration that each symbolizes a different portion of the artwork. Like the rest of our products, your HOKUSAI is crafted entirely by hand, and comes with a custom bamboo box. Stainless Option If you so choose, you can request for the smith to add chromium into the steel he hand-crafts for your accessory (which will give it the stainless quality) for an added cost. Select "Yes" under the stainless variant to indicate your desire for this option. It is highly recommended that you select the stainless option if you tend to have sweaty fingers, as sweat will potentially cause oxidization on the inner metal. For non-stainless variants, oxidization (if it occurs) can be managed with the use of a carbon steel eraser. Care As the finish on our Hokusai ring is done through electroplating, it is important to note that constant or excessive physical friction will cause discoloration. We apply a layer of lacquer to the ring for initial protection, but it is highly recommended to replace this layer (both on the outside and inside of the ring) within a month or so using a jewelry sealant.
