Engagement Ring Box
May, 2023
This was a high pressure project - failure was not an option.
But it was also a fun one. From the design, to the manufacturing, to the proposal itself (she said "yes")! It was really important to me to create something special for this big moment in our lives. The custom sapphire ring needed a truly one of a kind box to pair with it. After going through all of that time and money on an amazing ring, you cannot just slap it into any ordinary $20 box - that would be lame.
I want to give a big thank you and shout out to friend and fellow engineer Ronen Sarig for providing design review feedback as well as manufacturing support from his shop.
Technical Details
Woods Used: Desert Ironwood
Other Materials: Brass locking mechanism and leather ring holder
Box Size: 2x2x2in
Finish: 2000grit followed by finishing wax
Project Challenges and Lessons Learned:
This project was difficult right from the beginning. I struggled to lock in a design I was satisfied with. I scoured the internet for inspiration and came up with boxes that fell into two main categories: (1) the DIY YouTube box made of walnut with magnets inside the lid and (2) the crazy over the top engineered boxes. I thought I could do better than (1) and diving into the complexities of (2) seemed more about satisfying my own interests then creating something for her. I was trying to find a balance of uniqueness, elegance, and simplicity. Ultimately I was happy with the design but it took some review and iteration to get right.
While this box is by no means super complicated, it required careful consideration of the mechanical stack up and tolerances with moving parts. I wanted the lid to have a snug fit, otherwise it would feel cheap. I should have spent more time thinking this through before entering the shop. Manufacturing this box was fairly straightforward because we used a CNC machine for most of it. I am so glad I went this route instead of using hand routers, drill press, etc. Overall it came out well but I definitely was not satisfied with the cleanliness of certain edges. Burl wood, with its knotty and clumpy pockets, presented challenges that practice on test pieces could have mitigated. Sharp end mills and high speeds are the name of the game.
Experimenting with contrasting materials has been really enjoyable for me. This box is made from Desert Ironwood, complemented by brass for the locking mechanism and leather for the ring holder. Spending the time to explore material options can significantly elevate the aesthetics of a project. While walnut is a popular choice for this project, I realized that this box is so small that I can work with different (and more expensive) types of woods that I normally would not be able to. I found Arizona Ironwood sold all kinds of cool burlwood blocks that were perfect for this project.
All and all a successful project, and I am happy with the end result. There is always room for improvement next time. Although, hopefully there will not be a need to repeat this project...
