The Legend
The mythical star-crossed lovers of Japanese mythology, Princess Orihime 織姫 was the daughter of the Emperor of Heaven who fell in love with Hikoboshi 彦星, the cowherd star. After their marriage, Orihime refused to sew the beautiful cloth that her father loved, while Hikoboshi let his cows roam all about heaven. Angered, the Emperor separated the two lovers across the milky way, only letting them meet on the 7th day of the 7th month after being moved by the tears of his daughter. This day is now celebrated famously in Japanese tradition as "Tanabata" or the "Star Festival".
The Rings
The wistful beauty of this legend is captured in the design of our ORIHIME & HIKOBOSHI rings, hand-crafted in a forge-welded titanium alloy that is folded multiple times in the traditional methods before being anodized in sacred flame to create an exquisite masterpiece whose luminescent sheen is reminiscent of the starry sky.
This pair of rings is a member of our premium collection, which has the metals in its construction personally hand-picked by the smith before being carefully molded to perfection. Each set is exclusively made-to-order, and coloring/markings will vary from set to set depending on the composition of metals in each ingot. This spectrum can range widely from colors like dark navy blue with golden striations (as above) to sky blue with darker striations, golds, greens, and purples etc. If you have a specific preference please make sure to mention it to us via email and we'll see what we can do, but there is no guarantee that the smith can create the exact coloration that you desire due to the nature of the creation process.
Please note that due to the level of production and effort that goes into the creation of the metals used for the ring set, we do not offer refunds for the Orihime and Hikoboshi.
Custom Engraving
Each ring has the option to come inscribed with the kanji for Orihime and Hikoboshi respectively and is a symbol of undying love; perfect for the special someone in your life. Alternatively, you may select a custom engraving of your choice to be inscribed on the rings.
Care
As the finish on our Orihime and Hikoboshi rings are done through anodization, it is important to note that constant or excessive physical friction will cause discoloration. We apply a layer of lacquer to the rings for initial protection, but it is highly recommended to replace this layer (both on the outside and inside of the rings) within a month or so using a jewelry sealant.
Sizing
Should you choose to acquire the ORIHIME & HIKOBOSHI, send us an email at info@hatanosen.com to inform us what size each ring should be, as well as any custom engraving designs you might desire!