But there's a problem with the "conflict-free" label - it doesn't actually guarantee anything. Advocacy groups and critics have pointed out the obvious loop-holes and flaws in the certification process. In practice, this means that murder, kidnapping, extortion, beatings, mutilation, slavery and rape continues as direct result of diamond mining, and those who seek to profit from it.

The Wall Street Journal reported from Angola on 6/19/2010, confirming that such abuses are still taking place. One of the loop-holes in the Kimberly Process is that abuses occurring in territories controlled by recognized governments don't count as blood diamonds. The WSJ reported that soldiers in Angola routinely shake down diamond miners for money, often resulting in deaths and beatings, while in Zimbabwe massacres and rapes have taken place at the hands of government soldiers taking control of diamond-rich sites. The people living nearby are then forced at gunpoint to become diamond miners - essentially slaves.

So while the Kimberly Process impeded the funding of rebel groups, it greatly increased the legitimacy of corrupt governments and dictatorships, allowing them more power to abuse their own people. Diamonds from these governments can have a "conflict-free" label slapped on them; meanwhile consumers are unaware of what people had to suffer to bring them those diamonds.

While most jewelers hope that the blood diamond problem disappears, one way or the other, even those with any sense of ethics can't afford to boycott the sale of diamonds. It's a tradition that is so entrenched in Western society that many jewelers would go out of business if they attempted it. Some jewelers, including TiRings.com, are offering alternatives like pre-configured (i.e. already crafted and ready to wear; doesn't need to be special ordered) white sapphire engagement rings, in the hope of shifting consumer habits away from diamonds as that is the only real solution. At least for now, while the problem is so significant.

Why white sapphire? It features a similar optical dispersion rate to diamonds and is rated 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness (diamonds are 10 out of 10). The white sapphire must be high quality and have the right type of cut, but even then, it is barely a tenth of the price of an inferior diamond and only a trained gemologist could tell the difference. However, there are other alternatives, like synthetic diamonds and cubic zirconia. In this case, however, it's more about being able to look down at your hand and not be reminded of a child's parents being murdered by machete, as he is stolen away to become the next generation of diamond miners.

As the ages passed, the ancient peoples searched far and wide for a way to create the perfect symbol of love. Civilizations rose and fell; great empires ruled the world and then receded back to their origins. Religions were invented then replaced; gods created and then forgotten. Yet the power of symbols was never ignored, and the search never ceased. The people found mysterious metals in the earth, some rare and others common. They discovered how to forge these metals into newer, stronger, finer rings. For a while they were happy, but as it were, all their new rings eventually became decayed and broken by the passage of time and the adventures of life. The symbols were better, but they were still breaking; and so the search went on for thousands of years, for people everywhere in this world, to this day.

It sounds like a fairytale, and yet that's essentially the true history of rings - some say it started 4,800 years ago. It's a history that's still being written, because we're still trying out new metals and other materials year after year. Diamonds were discovered early in human history to be the hardest material, able to be cut only by another diamond (diamond is adapted from the Greek word adamis, meaning "unbreakable"). However, they are too small to be cut into a ring, so it became practice to put diamonds onto rings.

However, the ring itself; the symbol representing eternity; really needs to last for an eternity. But they say nothing is forever. Is there anything out there that can actually last forever?

As of very recent history, the search may be over. Titanium has properties that range from highly useful to downright bizarre. For example, while most metals will corrode away over time, titanium actually grows its own protective layer. While most think of titanium as a metal, it's actually an element and is found in many things, even organic matter like some plants. The growth rate of this protective layer is so slow that it's not perceptible to the human eye, but it thickens over a period of years which severely impedes any kind of degradation. Potentially, this protective behavior could go on indefinitely, making it invulnerable to any natural degradation at all.

If this is in fact the end of the search, then this is what it has come to: a ring that is strong, weightless, unbreakable, and beautiful. Just like true, eternal love.

A Frost Titanium Ring

Check out these images of Frost rings to get an idea.

Frost is unique in that it can take the most punishment out of all the rings out there. It's mainly due to the textured finish, which is patterned in a way that makes scratches unnoticeable. As titanium is extremely scratch-resistant in the first place, a Frost ring virtually guarantees that it will be unaffected by even the most high-impact lifestyles. It's recommended for people who engage in activities like hiking, construction, contact sports, and so on.

How is Frost created? The Frost technique is a trade secret, and can only be achieved through handcrafting. Many rings you'll find come straight off an assembly line, but a Frost finish ring won't be one of them - so this makes it a recognizable indicator of quality. They're stunning to look at too; Frost rings sparkle in bright light, while in low light they are a subtle-yet-compelling sight to behold.

That said, titanium is not invulnerable, and can be affected is a number of ways. The most common issue is a titanium ring becoming dirty. In this event, simply use any household cleaning product, such as dish soap or window cleaner, rinse with water, and dry with a towel. Due to titanium's corrosion-resistance, you don't have to worry about ruining the facade with any household chemicals (in fact, only the most concentrated acids can affect it).

Titanium rings with high-polish finishes are more prone to scratches if a scrape or impact is severe enough. If this happens, you may have to have your titanium ring polished - fortunately, however, all the solutions are low-cost. Click here to have your titanium ring re-polished. You can also try a cream metal polish if the problem is not severe.

Be warned, however, that certain titanium ring types must be handled with caution. They are: anodized (colored) rings, inlayed (or two-tone) rings, and stone-set rings. In general, it is better to clean these with a half-ammonia (such as Windex), half-water solution and soak for several minutes. Air dry on a soft towel and repeat as necessary until clean. The need for caution with these ring types is not to protect the titanium, but the other metals, gems and oxide layers.

To give you an idea, here's a really neat tool which allows you to experiment with different designs from our website: interactive Stackable rings tool

(Just click and drag the rings from the left to the space on the right.)

The great thing about Stackables is that you leave your options open. Sometimes you want to wear just one thin, low-key ring. Other times, you want to match an outfit with various colors and prominent accessories. You can also sandwich your regular ring behind or between Stackables, allowing you to switch it to smaller fingers and still hold the ring in place. Stackables allow you to mix and match to suit your mood.

When you buy more than one you qualify for our 7% discount for ring sets. Check them out: Stackable Titanium Rings.

Best of all, it’s a place where you get to share your thoughts, and read the thoughts of everyone else involved: be they the customers who enjoy our rings, the artisans who design and make them, or the support crew who hold the ship together.

Here’s the link: http://www.facebook.com/tirings?ref=nf

Just click on the “Like” button at the top center of the page to add us to your list (you may have to log in, the box for that is in the top right corner).

To kick it off, one of the first things we’re announcing is our Discount Range of titanium rings (well, more like “re-announcing.” Long-time customers will be aware that we’ve featured the discount range for a little while, but kept it low-key until now).

Here’s the deal: TiRings was founded on the idea of offering the highest quality handmade titanium rings. But sometimes you want a titanium ring for, say, a small gift and don’t want to pay “highest quality handmade” prices, right? The Discount Titanium Rings Range is the answer to that. They’re high quality machine-made titanium rings, rather than handmade, and cost just a fraction of the price.

Here’s a link to one of the rings in the Discount Range to show you what we’re talking about: $89 Discount Cable Fortitude Ring.

Once again, click here to follow TiRings on Twitter.

Here is what we do know. The use of titanium in jewelry is a modern phenomenon, not something that human civilization has been involved with for a long time (as with gold). Titanium was only discovered in 1791, and an efficient method of adapting titanium ore to a usable metallic form for jewelry has only been with us for a matter of decades.

As far as we can remember, the first titanium jewelry was being sold in the early 1990s. Well before the craft reached its maturity (i.e. now), initial jewelers had even figured out “anodization” – the almost magical process of bringing brilliant color to titanium (and some other materials) by applying an electrical charge to it.

It seems to be a complete mystery as to who exactly was the first to make titanium jewelry; however all we can offer is that Eric Pless here at TiRings.com was one of the first, so we often put these questions to him.

Eric is our chief designer (and, no less, our chief in general) and remembers experimenting with a sheet of titanium during the early 1990s. How he came to having the titanium to experiment with in the first place almost didn’t happen: Eric was on the phone ordering jewelry materials from his supplier, and decided on the spur of the moment to request a sheet of titanium, too. It was an off-hand decision that forever changed his destiny.

During these experiments, and watching how versatile and beautiful titanium was to work with, Eric knew that he would from that point on devote his working life to titanium jewelry.

To understand the gravity of this decision, you have to understand the craft at that point in history. For the experienced jewelry designers who made the switch to titanium, this was risky stuff. On the one hand, there’s thousands of years of jewelry-making tradition (using materials like gold and silver) and a guaranteed market for it; on the other, a brand new metal for which there was no demand, let alone even common awareness (at the time). Eric chose the big question mark, but it paid off.

That’s about it from our end, but if you can fill us in on some of these blanks, please get in contact with us. It’s not surprising that there’s now a Wikipedia page about titanium rings, given their rising popularity. We’ll add to this as we know more!

But there’s another feeling that to me is the very epitome of Valentine's Day: the yearning lover. It’s the people who secretly desire someone they know, and haven’t yet made their feelings known. For many people, the thought of revealing their desires are terrifying.

It’s fascinating to note that, out of the millions of species on Earth, humans are the only ones that will hide their true feelings about who they want to make their lovers. There are thousands of unique courting rituals among the animals; not a single one involves keeping desire a secret. Perhaps nature has some lessons for us.

Make this Valentine’s Day the one that you seize, and remember forever - for better or for worse. Start with a gift and a letter. If nothing comes of it, then that’s fine. You did your part and can go on with your life without having lived any regrets. That burden is lifted from you.

Ha, you say – what about the awkwardness, the embarrassment, the ridicule, if the love is unrequited?

Consider that you’ll suffer more from the steady suppression of your true self and feelings over your lifetime, than by enduring ridicule or awkwardness right now. Even when you "fail," you get ahead, because you tried, you learned, and now you’re stronger for it. There’s an ancient Roman proverb we need to be reminded of whenever faced with a difficult path, and it goes, "Fortes fortuna adiuvat." Fortune favors the brave.

Valentine’s Day is the day that much of the world has set aside for just one thing: giving a gift to someone you care about. There’s true wisdom in gift-giving, something that we humans have been doing for as long as there have been civilized societies. Use this day well and be brave when it comes to that special someone you care about - the results can be dramatic.

1) How to Find Out His Finger Size
We can’t stress enough how important it is to start by getting the correct ring size. With titanium rings, resizing can be difficult. Enlarging a ring can only be done with the correct tools, and thus usually incurs a fee. Conversely, shrinking a titanium ring simply isn’t possible. In our experience, it’s always better to go with a snug fit rather than a loose fit.

Rings are separated by quarter sizes, so be sure to find out his size to the nearest quarter. Your best option is to get a sizing kit from a reputable dealer, such as TiRings.com. You receive a free ring sizing kit when you place an order (TiRings.com will wait to hear what size you need before sending the ring itself), which so far has yielded a 100% success rate. With your own sizing kit, you obtain the most accurate results because the size of a finger can change depending on things like the time of day and the temperature (strange, but true). Additionally, you can make the ring a surprise gift by sizing his finger covertly - here’s a quick guide to secretly getting his ring size.

Your other option is to go to your local jeweler and have his finger size measured (it’s usually free). However, be aware that there is no standard of measurement between jewelers.

2) What Kind of Guy is He?

Usually, common sense is all that’s needed when determining which ring to buy for a man. Is he a flamboyant? Practical? An introverted enigma? There’s no such thing as a “regular guy,” so consider his true personality carefully.

If he already wears jewelry, you’re going to want to give him something unique and special. You could try to wow him with an elaborate piece, or even choose an obscure design technique, such as Mokume Gane or Sable. However, if he’s never worn jewelry before, it’s probably wise to avoid starting him off on anything flashy, bulky or heavy (side note: titanium is ultra-lightweight, thus making it an excellent first ring).

Guys who are show-offs, and like flashy accessories, might prefer shiny or sparkling finishes because they attract attention. However, even guys who don’t fit this category may still prefer a titanium ring that makes an impression. If that sounds right for your guy, opt for styles and finishes that are polished or sparkle like our Frost titanium rings. Conversely, reserved or stoic personalities may prefer the subtle tones of Satin titanium rings, Black titanium rings, and so on.

Remember, there’s a ring for everyone. Titanium rings can be adorned with religious symbols, tribal or national insignias, and more. They can also be inlayed with any other metal, like gold or platinum, as well as set with gems, such as diamonds (check out our diamond titanium rings, for example).

3) Type, Grade and Finish

Most of the time, the titanium used in rings is going to be aircraft grade (or Ti 6-4 – that’s 6% aluminum, 4% vanadium, 90% titanium; the added mix makes it three times stronger than pure titanium!). Some retailers sell “pure” titanium (99% titanium) and other alloy blends, however over the years it has become apparent to most dealers that aircraft grade is by far the superior choice due to its strength, scratch-resistance, and beauty. At TiRings.com, we use only aircraft grade titanium for this reason.

You should consider what kind of finish best suits the ring-wearer, based on his everyday life. For example, construction workers, carpenters, and other professionals who work extensively with their hands should opt for a Frost titanium ring. Frost’s surface is crafted in a way that easily hides the scratches that inevitably occur for those who work with their hands. Certain chemicals can also take their toll on jewelry; however titanium is very corrosion resistant, and thus makes an ideal material for this.

4) Engravings

For handmade titanium rings, engravings are free at TiRings.com. (However, this doesn’t apply to the Discount titanium rings range).

So, what to write? Like any blank canvass, the hardest part is coming up with something in the first place. Here’s our advice: don’t stress out about it.

If you’re really stuck, keep it simple – a touching expression of love or friendship in 3 or 4 words is usually fine. Alternatively, if there’s a message that only the two of you would understand, that could make the message special. Just remember that he is probably going to be wearing these words for a long, long time. Avoid silly, immature or temporary expressions (or even a recent nickname that he hasn’t fully consented to!).

Next, choose something from our selection of ring engraving fonts, which also includes examples of previous engravings.

On a technical note, you do need to consider word length. Be sure to have a shorter backup engraving in mind if we let you know that your intended one is too long. 15 characters (with spaces) is average, but more can be accommodated - it depends on the size of the ring and the font type.

Lastly, engravings cannot be changed, so choose your words carefully. They also cannot be removed without changing the shape and/or size of the ring!