My husbands titanium wedding band went missing some years ago. It was especially troubling since the ring was enhanced with a wide platinum inlay and 9, 2mm diamonds encircling the ring, and of course, was not insured against loss. We were both sad. I didn’t rail him about it because I could see he was already completely devastated. We turned the house upside down looking for the ring. We went through the trash and the cars, suitcases and backpacks. Finally, we gave up the search and I ordered a set of simple titanium rings as an anniversary present for both of us and to make him feel a little better about the loss.
At the time, my husband was a professional car detailer and it was common for him to trade car detailing for services. We had an ongoing account with our dentist and for many years enjoyed regular teeth cleaning services in trade for keeping our dentists and his family’s cars immaculate. In an effort to keep his wedding band in good shape, my husband promised me he would leave his wedding band at home while he worked on cars.
Two years after the ring disappeared, I was at the dentist for a procedure which required local anesthesia and while my dentist drilled away at some damaged tooth in my mouth, and like so many dentists do, he began to small talk with me. He asked me how the titanium ring business was going and I made affirming noises to the best of my ability given the compromising condition of my mouth. He then began telling me a story about borrowing his mothers car for a trip to some kind of dentist symposium or something. He said he had given the car over to the valet for the weekend and that when the weekend workshop ended, he returned to pick up the car. He said he opened the trunk and rolling around in the trunk, he found a titanium ring. The ring was engraved with “Your heart is my song”.
Photo Credit to Darby Davenport
At this point, I practically hit the ceiling! I yelled as best I could that the ring belonged to my husband. Of course I had to repeat this several times until he understood. He then proceeded to tell me that he thought the ring must belong to someone on staff at the hotel venue where he had stayed over the weekend. He thought perhaps his mothers car had served as a “cozy refuge” for some kind of wicked activity while parked in the parking garage and that during that activity, someone had lost a ring. So, he asked the valet if he recognized the ring. When the valet stated he did not, my dentist, who has a strong moral ethic, then proceeded to grill all the parking garage staff on shift.
As he was telling me this, I began to sweat. There was a huge wail building up in my chest and I soon began to feel an impending internal explosion. Finally, he told me that no one claimed the ring that day in the parking garage and that he had brought the ring home and handed it over to his wife who then dropped the ring in her jewelry box. As far as he knew, the ring should still be there. I felt completely wrung out at that point. I rarely enjoy procedures at the dentist, but this particular appointment took every inch of my patience and energy. We concluded the appointment with a call to my dentists wife, and she confirmed the ring was still in her possession!
Arrangements were made and I picked up the ring with no word of this discovery being mentioned to my dear husband. I had the ring professionally polished, put it in a ring box, bought a nice card and made dinner reservations. My unsuspecting husband sat down to dinner after a full work day, exhausted and very hungry. After we placed our order, I handed him the card. I don’t fully remember the written content in the card, but it was enough to make him tear up. I thought, “Just wait! This card is nothing compared to what you’re about to see!” I then placed the ring box on the table and said, “Will you marry me, again?”. Oh how I wish I had a picture of his face as he opened the box and realization slowly crept over his expression.
The loss of his beautiful wedding band provided one of the most miraculous and memorable moments of our years together. I don’t recommend attempting to purposely create a similar experience, but I do appreciate the lessons we learned from this. I often hear from customers who’ve lost their wedding rings and the biggest concern is the feelings of the spouse. There is often a huge degree of stress being placed on the person seeking to replace the lost ring and I continually feel grateful that I did not do that to my husband. We let go and we were rewarded, though it took two years! Our love was strengthened that day and we were given a very special story to share that was and continues to be ours and ours alone.
Here in Northern California, fire season is in full swing and is proving to be more challenging each year. And each year, we owe our safety to those men and women who go out to meet each new flame with everything they've got! This summer we've had more than our share of smoke filled skies and we've only just reached August. With thousands of acres going up in flames, I am in awe of these dedicated and courageous people who gear up and run right into the path of danger so that we can sit back in the safety of our homes and complain about the poor air quality.
I can't begin to imagine the intensity of the work these amazing humans endure! Many of California's wildfires occur during heatwaves and while I can barely function through a day of triple digits, these brave men and women are out there in full gear, in the heat and smoke confronting fire.
According to this short video the gear can weigh up to 70 pounds!
Just this week, there was a fire about 30 miles from Titanium Rings Studio. While we felt relatively safe in our location, we know many people who had to evacuate their homes, and this fire was moving very fast. Firefighters were on the scene even faster though, and they worked through the night to save our neighboring mountain town. People were able to return to their homes the very next morning. It was an amazing and frightening event to witness!
Here at Titanium Rings Studio, we make titanium rings in honor of these firefighting men and women. The rings are made to be durable and are created in a variety of styles. Whether you're a firefighter or have a firefighter in your life, these titanium bands are made to be worn as a badge of honor and support. It is with a great deal of respect and tons of awe that we make these rings in the hopes that someone out there is wearing a little piece of love from us.
The best medal we can offer...titanium.
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While I can’t help with invitations, centerpieces, event planning etc., I’m qualified to help you determine the right size and width for your wedding band. I can coach you on a good design for your life partner or fiancé. I can offer advise on the right finish for your design choice and I can tout facts about the metals being used to make the finished product. If we can’t provide the requested item, I can often send you in the right direction. Anything wedding band, engagement ring, diamonds, gold, titanium, silver, platinum, custom ring design, I’m your girl.
And this is where I have to get real with you all! Some of you simply come to our site, see something you like and purchase it without talking to me. You just show up in our online store, put your item in the cart and move on to the next task on your event-planning list (Thanks for your orders!). I get it! You have a lot of ground to cover to make your deadline. There is just one little detail that is being missed in all this rush to get it all done…YOUR ENGRAVING!!!!! That’s right, I’ve said it: the engraving in your ring. Seriously! Can you tell I’m a bit peeved about this? So, I know I’ve now lost some of you, but really, hear me out. This is huge! Planning for your big event can require a lot of focus and energy, I understand, but here’s why you must give this little detail some serious consideration:
Now that we have gone through the list of the top four reasons I can think of for getting your rings engraved, let me continue with a few more details on this topic. In my experience, many of you are nervous about coming up with a meaningful message in a few short words that can fit on a ring. Here’s the deal, simple is best. Don’t overthink it, just do it. It doesn’t have to be epic. It doesn’t have to be poetry (unless you want that); it doesn’t have to be deep. It can be funny, or something only the two of you get. Remember, it’s on the inside of the ring so it’s just for you. And this, seriously, please stop with the “Forever & Always”. I have seen it said, “Till We Are Penguins”. Now isn’t that cute! You can do it, just give it some time. Get relaxed, go for a walk, spend some time in nature and tune in to your inner love channel with a little humor thrown in. Your future self thanks you and so do I!
To see a list of suggestions to get your gears turning, check out our engraving page.
]]>Those back stores and restaurants can be the businesses that carry the best food, handcrafted goods, etc. that if we weren’t inclined towards adventure, or were short on time would have completely missed. Location isn’t everything. I like to think quality counts for something, don’t you?
Often, the location of these high quality shops isn’t a choice made by the shop owner. It is likely a matter of finance. Those main street shops pay big time for their location. And here’s the crux of the matter, just because a business can afford the high profile location does not guarantee a high quality experience. In addition, these businesses can tend towards relying too heavily on their location, causing them to become lazy and careless.
Personally, my favorite stop for a high quality coffee drink here in our little historic town of Nevada City is a tiny little cafe called Foxhound Espresso. This coffee joint cranks out the best, and most artistically presented coffee beverages I've ever had the privilege to consume. This little gem is not on our main street. In fact, there is very little going on in way of commerce in this location, and since his product is of a certain quality, the owner doesn't need to worry as long as his integrity doesn't fail.
Similarly, online merchants pay big time for their spot in search engines as well. There is a virtual tooth and nail battle for the number 1 position with Google that costs merchants a pretty penny with no guarantees. My point is, there are some high quality businesses on page 2, 3 and 4, who simply can’t fork out the dough to gain a position on Main Street. So, just because you don’t find it on the first page doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. And, conversely, just because a business shows up on page 1 for a search, doesn’t mean their product is of the highest quality.
Titanium Rings Studio has been online for 14 years selling handcrafted titanium wedding bands and engagement rings. In the beginning, there was very little competition and we enjoyed a long stint of being great in the eyes of Google. We were number 1 for searches using “titanium rings” for about 2 years. Our position with Google has changed, but our product and dedication to integrity have not. Before you accuse me of whining, let me just say, a business that first sets out to create a product from a place of inspiration can easily be buried under the need to advertise. This is true in any venue. And that is what placement with search engines is…advertising.
We are good at making rings. We are good at customer service. We’re not always great at selling ourselves in advertising. So, when you’re searching, remember, not all the goodies place first: it’s mostly those whose focus has been on pleasing the search engines, not necessarily on pleasing you.
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The many Celtic motifs reflected by Celtic rings create strong attachments with those who wear them. The intricately knotted designs of Celtic rings draw you into the past, intriguing you with mysteries that cannot quite be revealed.
Once the pagan lords of prehistoric Western Europe, much of the history of the Celts is difficult to establish. The first written accounts come from the Romans, starting at about 400 B.C., but the Celts existed for centuries before this. A wide collection of tribes with a shared culture, Celtic civilization dominated Western and Central Europe during the Iron Age, and as Roman and Germanic peoples expanded, the Celts were pushed farther west into Britain and Ireland. The exact time of the Celtic expansion into Ireland is disputed, but archeological evidence supports that the Celts were living in Ireland in 300 B.C.
Ireland, at the western extreme of Celtic civilization, was not absorbed by Rome and the region nurtured the Celtic culture and eventually melded it into Christian civilization. The folklore, art, and history of the Celts are thoroughly integrated with the Irish people and define them culturally to this day.
Modern Celtic rings are inspired by Celtic jewelry traditions. The enclosed, single-line designs without a starting point or ending point of Celtic art capture such ancient symbols as the stag, the dragon, the horse, the oak tree, the moon, the stars, infinity, protection, love and the Celtic cross. Celtic art presents nature through designs based on spirals, geometry, or knots. Celtic knots use one or more lines that pass over and under each other to form the design, and the best artists are able to use only one line.
Celtic art took form in many mediums from stone to gold to silver to bronze. The Celtic tradition that has weathered the centuries now has been translated into the durable medium of titanium. The nature-inspired lines of Celtic art that appear on Celtic rings create a piece that you can ponder on your finger every day. If you want to honor your own Irish heritage or you admire the Celtic art for its own value, Celtic rings will align you with an ancient time.
Celtic Rings: Stylish as Ever
With the rich tradition of Celtic art to draw upon, Celtic rings come in many designs that suit men and women. You could pick a design that uniquely symbolizes your hopes and beliefs. Perhaps a Celtic ring displaying the knot would speak strongly to you. With so many designs to choose from for Celtic rings, you would rarely encounter another person wearing the same ring.
One tremendous appeal of Celtic rings is the meaning summoned by each design. The folklore and history of many tribes through many centuries have built the traditions of Celtic art, and each design tells a story or imbues you with the supposed powers of ancient mystical beliefs. For example, each crossing line in a Celtic knot protects the wearer, and the single line Celtic knots represent how all the world is connected. By choosing a Celtic ring you will be wearing something that is more than pretty. You will become part of a long cultural tradition that has endured for thousands of years.
In the hectic modern world where thoughts are always on the present and the future, people are increasingly attracted to Celtic rings because Celtic rings offer a long story instead of a sound byte. The very basic Celtic shield knot is a symbol of protection, and its artistic origins are thought to go back even farther into history than the Celts.
Celtic Rings: Capture the Meaning of Any Occasion
Birthdays, graduations, and especially marriages can be honored with Celtic rings portraying appropriate symbolism. Loyalty, wisdom, love, protection, strength, courage, your connection to nature all can be displayed with Celtic rings. Designs are created using a single line, never ending, never beginning. Where the lines overlap represent a shield of protection. Although Celtic rings are made in all metals, you can select one with an eye-catching special quality by choosing Celtic rings made from titanium.
Although titanium has only been refined and used in modern times, its quality and character translate perfectly to Celtic design. The strength of silvery gray titanium allows it to hold the intricate Celtic designs well and protects it from distortion and scratches that a softer metal can suffer. Titanium is also an increasingly popular medium for wedding rings, particularly men’s wedding rings. Many couples select Celtic rings for their wedding rings because it either honors their heritage or they appreciate the meaning of the Celtic designs.
Even when made of new materials such as titanium, Celtic rings never have a plain mass produced look to them. Each design was developed long ago by forgotten masters who were inspired by a complex culture. Celtic rings always hearken back to a lost age where family bonds were everything and the forces of nature were interwoven into every step of life.
Explore the variety of Celtic rings available and choose a design that strengthens your beliefs and honors the genius of Celtic art.
Copyright © 2005 Titanium Rings Studio, Eric Pless
Eric Pless founded Titanium Rings Studio in 1998 after mastering his craft with 11 years of experience working with titanium and silver. His artistic passion has always been with metalworking, which he studied enthusiastically even in high school shop classes. His successful artisan business, Titanium Rings Studio, crafts fine quality handmade titanium rings. Full lines of stunning wedding rings, engagement rings, Celtic rings, tension rings, friendship rings, and titanium bracelets are available.
Revised by Susan Smith 2016
Susan began working with Eric Pless in 2000. Having learned all aspects of the business, Susan went on to take over the business, with craftsman Jacob Hansard in 2012. Titanium Rings Studio continues to provide a handcrafted product, made here in the USA, with dedication to artistry and awesome customer service.
Sources:
https://blog.udemy.com/celtic-knot-meanings/ by Cate Leona
http://www.ibiblio.org/gaelic/celts.html ( http://www.ibiblio.org/ )
“Ireland Through the Ages” by Michael Jenner, copyright 1992.
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If you have skin sensitivities to some metals and you want to wear rings, then you probably wish you could talk to the person who makes your jewelry. A clerk at a jewelry counter may or may not be well informed about the possible nickel or cobalt content of the jewelry. Nickel and cobalt are the leading sources of allergic skin reactions and are sometimes incorporated in alloys of precious metals when making jewelry. At Titanium Rings Studio, however, you can find out the content of all the materials that go into its handcrafted titanium rings. You will have direct access to the artisans who make the rings and order the raw materials. Concerns about metal allergies can be fully addressed when you deal with a small artisan studio, and you can feel confident about the answers you receive.
Metal allergies affect approximately 10 percent of people, and jewelry made from hypoallergenic titanium offers many people a beautiful way of avoiding an allergic reaction. The hypoallergenic qualities of titanium are well documented and that is why titanium is often used to construct surgical instruments and joint replacement parts, especially hip joints. Lightweight like aluminum and with a strength approaching that of steel, titanium has proven itself to be a versatile and attractive jewelry metal in addition to its hypoallergenic status.
Hypoallergenic titanium jewelry allows some people with metal sensitivities to enjoy wearing jewelry, especially rings since they are usually worn for long periods of time. Titanium rings can also serve as a base material with gold, silver, or platinum applied with inlays on the top outer surface. This technique, which the artisans at Titanium Rings Studio use extensively, offers the strength and low allergy characteristics of titanium along with the beauty of precious metals. Titanium rings with gold or platinum inlays offer an attractive solution for people who have metal allergies and need a wedding ring or engagement ring.
Metal allergies do not have to eliminate your ability to wear jewelry, especially a wedding band. Many choices are available for hypoallergenic jewelry, and titanium rings provide an attractive and durable option worth considering. With the multitude of styles available in handcrafted titanium rings, you will not even feel like you have to make compromises when selecting jewelry.
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Finding another soul on this earth with whom you want to share your life is a major milestone. It represents the synergy that two unique beings create when they come together in love. The titanium rings that we craft at Titanium Rings Studio are designed to symbolize this unique relationship between you and your loved one.
A ring is a symbol, a celebration, a personal triumph, and a declaration of something deeper that is often too difficult to put into words. The more you think about what a ring symbolizes, the less sense it makes that most rings are mass produced on a lathe or a mill, soullessly put together and shipped out with an attitude that implies something commonplace and ordinary.
Titanium Rings Studio: Designing Your Life
If a ring is a reflection of your relationship, shouldn’t it be a one of a kind item that will never be duplicated in the exact same way again? That’s what we believe at Titanium Rings Studio. In our artisan facility here in Nevada City, California all the titanium rings we create are custom made and finished by our highly skilled, artist and craftsman. Couples seeking the perfect titanium wedding rings or promise rings come to us for bands that are original, made-to-order, and dazzling in their aesthetic elegance. We use that same attention to fine quality and detail to create a tribute to these unique relationships.
Titanium wedding bands, promise rings and friendship rings made at Titanium Rings Studio are available in an endless variety of styles, and are customized to meet your exact needs. From the more contemporary styles with our Design 22 collection to the more traditional rings, making use of precious metals, in our Titanium Platinum and Titanium Gold collections, we’re working to create a wide variety of wedding bands to suit all tastes in style.
Titanium Wedding Rings that Reflect Your Lifestyle
Our in-studio craftsman handcrafts titanium wedding ring in an amazing array of design options. Titanium rings can be ordered in black, blue, or in special alloys of gold, sable and platinum. You can customize your ring channels or take frost titanium selections out for some rougher handling. Or you can work with a member of our creative team to develop totally unique designer wedding rings for you and you’re partner-to-be.
If your personalities are better represented by colorful displays and richly textured patterns, try the embossed Exotica selection titanium rings or the Celtic line of titanium rings. These offer appropriate symbolism and eye-catching tones of red, green, blue and purple. Boone rings feature some of the boldest and most innovative designs in shape and style, including the carved series, color inlays and laser inlays.
Every time we receive an order for titanium wedding rings, promise rings, or friendship rings we know that we are part of something special, something greater than any one of us alone could ever be. That’s why we go out of our way to customize your titanium ring selections. In fact, we won’t even start to create a single ring until you give us the "go ahead". It’s your personal vision of your relationship that allows us to create the unique custom titanium rings that we offer.
]]>Every marriage is a unique union of two individuals. The great care and attention to detail that often goes into wedding plans can include the selection and creation of the wedding rings. Couples enjoy the option of having their wedding rings handcrafted for them personally by a skilled artisan. Titanium Rings Studio has a wide selection of titanium wedding rings and has helped numerous couples over the years to celebrate marriage with handcrafted rings and wedding ring sets.
A wedding is a time for indulging in special services such as a tailored dress, a beautiful cake, catering, hairdressers, photography, and musicians. Out of all these wonderful luxuries, your wedding rings will be the most lasting keepsake of your wedding day that you can admire every day for years. Because wedding rings offer this chance for permanent enjoyment, couples view handcrafted titanium wedding rings as a sensible way to lavish themselves with a meaningful symbol of their commitment to each other.
Wedding rings are arguably the most important symbol of marriage. The act of placing the rings on each others fingers is incorporated into the exchange of vows. With this to consider, some couples decide to have their wedding rings created by studio artisans instead of buying rings from a big, faceless jewelry retail chain. It makes sense. For example, a skilled florist is usually engaged for the wedding flowers instead of picking up generic bouquets at the grocery store.
Having wedding rings handcrafted by a skilled artisan is an option that couples should explore. Feedback from previous customers of Titanium Rings Studio indicates a high level of satisfaction with the titanium wedding rings we have crafted. Your blossoming partnership has been made by two unique people and personalized handcrafted wedding rings offer a perfect way of representing your special union.
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Titanium rings and police officers have a lot in common. They are tough and roll with the punches all while looking good.
Being a law enforcement officer is more than a job. It's about your dedication to protecting people and enforcing the law. It's about taking your place on the thin blue line that separates society from disorder, and there are times when you need to honor your service with something tangible – a solid and beautiful symbol of what your duty means to you and others.
Titanium rings, especially when they include blue lines in their designs, make an attractive and durable gift for law enforcement officers. A career milestone like an academy graduation, promotion, or retirement can be celebrated with the gift of a titanium ring. Officers that frequently work together might also choose to build camaraderie by getting custom titanium rings.
Titanium provides an excellent material for making jewelry worn by active people. The metal is resistant to corrosion and scratching. Lightweight and nearly as strong as steel, titanium embodies the virtues of law enforcement officers who must react quickly and with resolve.
An anodizing treatment to grooves cut into titanium rings creates a marvelous blue that looks great next to the soft shine of titanium. You could consider your titanium ring as a badge for your finger.
Law enforcement officers contribute uniquely to society. They do a job that most people would never do. There's no question about it. You deserve to be rewarded with a titanium ring handcrafted as your personal symbol of your chosen career.
]]>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 “anodizing” – 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 Titanium Rings Studio 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 is 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!]]>For me, gift giving has become a watered down experience since shopping for jewelry has made me weary. Most merchandise looks the same and if it doesn’t, the price is ridiculous whether or not the item is desirable. Most jewelry is being manufactured now in batches and duplicates by someone I don’t even know, and will probably never meet let alone talk to. Who are these people and where do they live?
I know crafty people who make crafty gifts catered to the recipient’s tastes! My daughter makes earrings and necklaces for her girlfriends, who are always thrilled to wear her personalized art pieces. These talented craftspeople are to be respected, if not worshiped for their saintly pursuits. I mean really. Who has the time? Which leads me to discuss the subject of this long-winded dissertation, I design it. The artist makes it. This is what “custom designed, handcrafted” means. And if you look online, you will find many resources for handcrafted custom jewelry.
I like the idea of working with an experienced craftsman, who not only has the time and talent, but the desire (if not the obsession) to make jewelry, beautiful jewelry, wonderful, magical jewelry. The very pieces of personalized jewelry I seek as gifts for the loved one’s in my life. I can see the two us, the craftsman at his workbench, and I with a picture in my mind working together to alter the blueprint for my plan just enough to make the creation feasible. But, I have never pursued this dream of mine as I simply assumed the cost would be way over my budget.
I have discovered and want to share with you that a custom designed product does not necessarily mean an expensive product. As I stated before, the craftsman who will be skillfully handcrafting my jewelry piece is an artist. He wants to make my jewelry. And he has never seen a design quite like mine. He is excited, even anxious to get started. If you come across one who isn’t, keep looking. There are many willing artists to interview. He will be willing to negotiate a price just to have the opportunity to make something he has never made before. Who knows, his customer may have come up with a design that he would not have created without her. And this design could become wildly popular-you get where this is headed, don’t you? The relationship between customer/designer and artisan has deepened. We contribute to each other and a quality piece of jewelry art is born at the agreed upon price.
I am already dreaming of the next handcrafted, custom design I will manifest. It is a titanium ring with my daughters name engraved on the outside. Fitted for her pinky finger and flush set with a delicate blue sapphire. The words “My One And Only…” engraved inside the band. I can already see the look on her face!
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