Soon after borrowing a Dremel instrument from Cudahy Substantial College (with permission), Banner Ream began crafting his first personalized ring.
Now, Ream, 20, has been functioning his own organization for a yr and a fifty percent referred to as Chromestar Layouts.
His to start with consumer was a good friend who preferred a promise ring for their girlfriend. It was this pal who coined the title Chromestar Designs — mainly because it sounded neat.
On the other hand, it was Ream’s realization that course rings can get high-priced that initially received him interested in constructing his tailor made bands. He wished to develop a thing Cudahy-themed as a considerably less highly-priced possibility for himself and other people. What he designed was a “Packer Delight” ring manufactured of tungsten carbide with a purple and gold glow stone inlay together with white pearl, deep room pearl and azure blue opal.
Even though just one of his very first ambitions was to embody the reminiscences of 4 yrs of higher school in a single ring, Ream is discovering new means for individuals to preserve fond recollections near to them, together with those people of beloved pets. He has previously crafted a ring that contains his lately deceased cat’s ashes so he generally has a piece of his feline close friend with him.
He calls them “pet memorial rings” and ideas to commence offering the company in mid-November on his site, www.chromestardesigns.com. Ream is finalizing a package that can be mailed to shoppers and back to him with the ashes. He has also been in talks with a handful of area veterinary hospitals and mentioned they are interested in marketing the merchandise.
Ream expects these rings to charge around $225. His common line ranges from $60 resin rings into the mid-$ 150s for most bands with a number of standout solutions, such as a deer antler with rose gold liner, costing $225. Dimension does not affect pricing.
Ream also offers earrings on his website for $32 a pair, a enterprise he called “a facet task.”
Ream generates his rings in a corner of his basement. He usually employs lab-grown opal, shade pigments and strontium aluminate glow powder. The pigments are blended with the glow powder and inlaid into a channel in the ring with synthetic opal. The mixture is impregnated with cyanoacrylate to change the inlay into a composite, and the rings are concluded with hand sanding and sharpening.
Each and every ring takes about 2½ hrs to complete.
Some rings also make use of carbon fiber, antler, stones, and white and black ceramic amid other resources. Ream sources most of his supplies off the world-wide-web — primarily a provider in Canada. All rings are produced to order and each listing on his site began as a custom made purchase.
Ream stated his intention is to make each ring anything “great, one of a kind, durable and handcrafted” and not “grossly overpriced,” indicating some competing businesses charge upward of $400 for each piece.
COVID-19 lockdowns enable Ream release his creativity
Ream grew up in Cudahy and graduated from Cudahy Large School. Now he life in Milwaukee, near to the South Shore, and attends UW–Milwaukee. He’s even now choosing on his big.
“At heart, I’m a Cudahy resident,” Ream reported. “I would do anything to give back to that superior university.”
Ream stated his practical experience in metal store class and engineering classes assisted give him the abilities and knowledge essential to craft his handmade jewellery.
“I questioned what I could do at residence and quarantine gave me ample time to pursue it,” Ream stated.
Right after producing a several rings with the Dremel, Ream obtained a drill press. He mentioned it wasn’t essential, but it helps make ring-creating significantly a lot easier.
“With a tiny creativity, you can make most any machine work,” he reported with a giggle.
Most of his gross sales have been term-of-mouth and through social media like Instagram and Tik Tok. His consumers are largely from Wisconsin and Michigan, but he also sold multiple rings to a girl in Utah and has a buyer in California.
To individuals thinking about turning a hobby into a side hustle, Ream instructed to “just think in what you do” and “find buddies that guidance you.”
“Put your religion behind it and other folks will adhere to,” he stated.
Ream has normally beloved earning points. As a Boy Scout, Ream claimed he won each and every Pine Wood Derby he participated in. He also tried out forging knives for a time but identified it wasn’t his forte.
“I have an thought in my head so let us make it take place,” he reported. “I sort of mostly just like a obstacle.”
Just one of those ideas is to eventually open a storefront.
Everyone intrigued in purchasing a custom ring can access Banner Ream at 414-759-8142 or [email protected]
Get in touch with Erik S. Hanley at (262) 875-9467 or [email protected]. Like his Fb page and adhere to him on Twitter at @ES_Hanley.