Help Center

We are based in and ship from New Zealand. All our work on this website is priced and charged in US dollars (USD) US$. We do show approximate equivalent prices in other major currencies on our website for your convenience.

Our sterling silver jewellery typically runs from US$75+ and our solid gold jewellery items would start from about US$350-

The classic guideline is 1-2 months salary. Recent international surveys show that on average, men in the USA spend around 2 months salary, men in the UK about 1 month and men in Japan up to 3 months of their salaries.

No - However, our customers shopping in store or having items delivered in New Zealand must pay 15% Nz government GST (sales tax), if we are shipping to you outside of New Zealand you will save 15% off the regular NZD store price and this is accounted for in the approximate currency values shown on the website.

There is generally no specially separate charge to have an item designed, and we would discuss your budget with you during our preliminary conversations but typically we would expect a custom job to start at least US$350-

Yes - we ship internationally to nearly all countries with Fedex International Priority . Click for Shipping & Returns information

Fedex International Priority - Typically takes 5 days. Available to most countries, but, with some exceptions, cannot be a PO Box address.

Within New Zealand - CourierPost targets delivery to business addresses by 9am the next working day and to residential addresses the next working day, to over 180 towns and cities. (Rural addresses may take a day longer.)

If the item is in stock it can potentially ship out same day (Monday-Friday). If the item has to be made or we have to discuss the design with you it will normally take 1-3 weeks

Within New Zealand - NZ$10- CourierPost targets delivery to business addresses by 9am the next working day and to residential addresses the next working day, to over 180 towns and cities. (Rural addresses may take a day longer.) 
International Courier - NZ$19- to Australia. NZ$39- to North America, the United Kingdom, and most European and Asian nations. Available to most countries, but cannot generally be a PO Box address

Yes - multiple items on the same order ship together for the same shipping charge. Click here for Shipping and Returns page. 

If we already have the right item made in your size in our studio it will only take the regular shipping period of between 2-7 working days.

If we have to make the item especially for you then you should expect at least another 1-3 weeks depending on the item.

No - Due to both manufacturing and licensing reasons we are unable to provide a completely unmarked gold-plated tungsten-carbide ring nor alter its engravings.

Unfortunately this is not possible for legal copyright & licensing reasons.

Yes - we are not elvish experts but we can help you work out how your message would translate into elvish on this page

If you would like us to arrange engraving for you when you buy there is a fixed cost of NZ$115- per side engraved.

Please contact us by email to discuss or select the Custom Engraving option desired at the time of order and when you have completed your purchase we will contact you to confirm the engraving detail before commencing work. Engraving typically adds 1 week to turnaround time in addition to the time to finalize the engraving design.

Provided it is an engravable metal AND there is enough room for your message to fit on the ring then our laser engraver can handle any message, pattern, pictures or symbols desired so long as you are using standard fonts, or can provide a two-tone (e.g. Black & White) image file. We CANNOT for legal reasons engrave the exact same elvish script that features on our licensed The One Ring designs. Other messages in elvish or any other language are ok, of course.

Please read our Ring Size FAQ information 

You are welcome to come back into our Nelson store anytime and we can re-size your jewellery immediately, as our craftsmen are on-site. If we have shipped your purchase to you, and only a minor adjustment is needed, then we would suggest that you use a reputable craftsman in your area or contact us to discuss the shipping options for returning it to us for re-adjustment.

We accept Paypal, Bitcoin and most credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, Amex and JCB.

Yes - if you do not have access to a credit card or PayPal etc then please contact us by email at studio@jenshansen.com with the subject "Bank Transfer" and we can explain the options for bank transfers whether you are in New Zealand or another country. Please note that international wire bank transfers may take up to a week and involve fees and paperwork with your bank.

For major purchases we can help you spread some payments over time through Paypal or via Credit Card while we craft your item. To help us to assist you, please contact us by emailto let us know which Jens Hansen item you are interested in, and what your ideal amount and frequency of instalment would be.

Please review our Returns and Refunds information.

Yes - assuming it is your own design and not a direct copy of something else then we would be glad to help you realise the design in your choice of precious metal(s) and gem(s).

Yes - we'd be glad to work with you. The best way to start is to contact us by email explaining as much as you can of your thoughts and plans.

The chain upon which Frodo 'bears' the ring in the Lord of the Rings movies was made of sterling silver and was from Jens Hansen.

Yes - Jens Hansen has created the world's most accurate 'prop replica official licensed The One Ring for Weta (under their licensed from Warner Bros.) You can purchase these in gold-plated tungsten-carbide, sterling silver and 10K solid yellow gold. 

We can also hand or laser engrave rings for you with your own personalised elvish message (provided that it is NOT the famous & copyrighted One Ring to Rule Them All engraving). To ask about engraving for your ring just use the Find Out More button when you are viewing any of our pieces on the website NB: The gold-plated tungsten-carbide rings cannot be engraved.

many different sized rings were made for different scenes but we do know that for the Lord of the Rings movies Frodo wore a size 10 USA solid 18ct yellow gold Movie Ring on his finger and a size 11 when the Ring appeared on the silver chain.

Yes - The original Movie Ring was a completely unmarked 18ct yellow gold band and you can order our precious metal Replica Rings without any markings at all. Choose "Special - No Marks" in the Hallmarks options when you order.

No it is not. We are the actual and original designers, makers and creators of the 'Ring' used on screen in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie trilogies that were made here in New Zealand i.e. we made the actual 'Ring' you saw in the movies. The Jens Hansen Replica Ring is simply a faithful replica of our original Ring design for Peter Jackson as it appeared on screen.

As far as we understand, those manufacturers who have successfully applied for the right to do so from New Line Productions, Inc. may label their ring as an officially approved The One Ring™. Different manufacturers in different countries are doing this right now ‘officially’ but the rings vary significantly between manufacturer in weight, dimensions and design, and do not have the same look, feel and weight of the Jens Hansen Movie Ring actually used in the movies. Please read the independent report on Ring replicas at www.lunchip.com for more information.

No - tungsten rings cannot be resized and they are uneconomic to produce in custom sizes due to the manufacturing process.

No - The boxes are made in New Zealand but being licensed merchandise Weta can provide just one box for each The One Ring made. Unfortunately this applies even if your box is damaged unintentionally . e.g. Your puppy chewed it or you stood on the box on your bedroom floor.

Due to licensing restrictions it is not possible for us to supply you with an unplated version of the elvish rune engraved The One Ring.

While no one is going to stop you from doing this we would strongly recommend that you should not use a tungsten ring for your wedding band(s) for a number of reasons: 

1) tungsten can not be cut off in the event of emergency - specialist 'ring cracking' equipment is required to break it. 

2) tungsten cannot be resized - As we age, even if we don't change weight significantly, our fingers and joints do change shape. 

3) the plating on a gold-plated tungsten ring will eventually wear off and be uneconomic if not impossible to have replated. 

The short answer is no - While it is technically possible that an electroplating specialist may be able to replate a gold-plated tungsten-carbide ring it is not a service that we offer and it is likely to be an uneconomic (read expensive) exercise.

Here is a link to our Privacy Policy

We do have to process this manually for you but you can submit a request by emailings us at support@jenshansen.com

Also, if you would like us to delete any data we have for you as a Customer please let us know by email as well and we will action as soon as we can.

You will find examples of jewellery made of pure metals like platinum, but pure gold is soft and isn't practical for daily wear. Other metals are mixed with gold to make it more durable (and to lower its cost). For example, platinum or nickel can be added to pure gold to create white gold; adding copper produces a rose or pink tint; while silver gives gold a greenish tint. 

Even though gold will be in different carats it is still classed as solid gold.Gold-plated jewellery is when a base metal (copper, brass, nickel, silver) is covered with a thin layer of gold, giving a great look but one that will have to be maintained. 

Gold-plated jewellery can be the biggest source of allergic reactions due to the plating wearing off and the base metal being exposed to cause irritation. Jens Hansen uses Sterling Sliver as the base metal to reduce the risk of allergic reactions.

The purity of the metal used in each piece of jewellery is shown by a stamp or hallmark.

Platinum is 95% pure (PT950)

Gold 18ct is 75% pure (750)

14ct is 58.4% pure (584)

10ct is 41.7% pure (417) (10ct is the minimum for some countries to be classed as gold, eg. USA & parts of Europe)

9ct is 37.5% pure (375)

Fine silver is 99.9% pure (stamped with a half moon shape)

Sterling silver is 92.5% pure (925)

No, these are industrial metals and even though they may be light, strong, hard and appealing, the fact is they can't be sized later if your finger gets bigger (which tends to happen as we age), and often they can not be cut off in an emergency.

14 carat gold is very hard but it is paler than 18 carat.  14 carat also contains less gold than 18 carat, and is more likely to give allergy or corrosion problems depending on the wearer’s skin.

That said, the color difference is not ‘dramatic’ and many people are very happy with 14 carat. You will find some excellent articles at http://www.18carat.co.uk/information.html which may help you make up your mind about which type of gold to have your jewellery made in.

A diamond’s beauty is extremely complex. Understanding what makes them beautiful is not a simple task.  As specialists in diamonds, we want to help you make an informed decision when selecting your diamond. 

Diamonds are forever; but not all are created equal.  At Jens Hansen we act as your independent guide, showing you a large range of non-conflict stones, and recommending the perfect diamond for you and your budget. 

The individual sparkle and brilliance of a particular stone depends on its carat, colour, clarity and most importantly cut.  

The vast majority of the world's diamonds are now mined in Russia, Australia and several African countries such as Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zaire and Sierra Leone.  Once the diamonds are extracted, approximately 80% pass through the hands of De Beers and on to the cutting centres of Antwerp, New York and Tel Aviv. From here diamonds may take a number of different channels before being mounted into a piece of jewellery.

We buy cut and polished diamonds directly from reputable and trusted merchants to ensure our customers get the quality you deserve, for the right price. 

A diamond is a crystal made up entirely of carbon atoms.  When the crystal forms without any interference it becomes a pure and perfect octahedral shape, however, during their growth most diamond crystals encounter varying heat or pressure, or even other diamond crystals, and this can alter their form and characteristics. These alterations help determine the shape, color and clarity the polished gem has once it emerges from the earth.

In addition to their superior brilliance, luster, fire and dispersion, diamonds are also the hardest natural substance on earth.  Diamonds rate a 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which means they are resistant to scratches and do not easily break, chip or crack; diamonds are several times harder than the next-hardest substance, corundum, which is more commonly known as ruby and sapphire.

Finding the rough diamonds is only the first step. Once diamonds have been mined and processed out of the 'overburden' (that is, the kimberlite rocks in which they are imbedded), the rough crystals are sorted and categorized according to their size, color, shape and other characteristics.

The most common route is through the channels of De Beers' Central Selling Organization (CSO).  The majority of what is bought through the CSO is sent to London to be offered to buyers through De Beers' marketing arm - the Diamond Trading Corporation (DTC).

The DTC holds ten week-long selling sessions called 'sights' each year. These sights are by invitation only, and only a handful of diamond manufacturers from around the world (called 'sightholders') are allowed to attend. These sightholders may cut the rough diamonds they buy themselves, or they may sell some of the rough diamonds to smaller manufacturers. These smaller manufacturers cut the rough diamonds and sell to jewelry manufacturers (who set the diamonds into finished pieces of jewellery and then sell the jewellery to jewellery retailers), or to diamond wholesalers (who then, in turn, sell the diamonds to diamond retailers). 

We buy cut and polished diamonds directly from a sightholder, eliminating the middle men and ensuring our customers get the quality they deserve for the right price.
In the less common route from mine to market, some independent miners elect not to sell their mine production to the DeBeers cartel. Instead, they offer newly mined diamonds directly to other world buyers.

Carat:  Is the size a diamond is measured in, referring to the weight - one carat is equal to approximately 0.2 grams. Size does matter but a low quality big diamond won’t sparkle as beautifully as a smaller high grade diamond.  Most common sizes used in solitaire engagement rings are .25ct, .50ct, .75ct, 1.0ct and sometimes higher.

Cut:  The quality of the stone’s proportions, polish and symmetry. The perfect cut is based on a mathematical formula and determines overall brilliance. Ideal and excellent cut stones are going to give you the most reflects/fire in combination with the other 4 C's. 

Clarity: Most diamonds naturally have trace impurities or other tiny imperfections that can detract from the pure beauty of the stone. Flawless diamonds are the rarest and most sought after. The colour scale for transparent diamonds runs from D-F (colourless), G-J (near colourless), K-L (faint yellow), to Z (light yellow).  

Colour:  Like a prism, a well cut stone divides light into a rainbow of colours, reflecting as flashes of ‘fire’. Any colour in the stone itself acts as a filter so the clearer and whiter the diamond, the better the ‘fire’.

The answer depends on whether you are investing in the diamond itself, or in what a diamond represents.

Diamond prices have been steadily increasing for the past 20 years, and diamonds tend to hold their value. Given this, it is extremely unlikely that diamonds will ever entirely lose their value, in spite of how the market may change in the future. However, no one can predict, with absolute certainty, which way the market will swing and, in general, we do not recommend buying up high-quality diamonds as a main part of a financial/retirement plan.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a source of beauty and a symbol of eternity and everlasting love, there are few objects you can choose that will surpass a diamond's perfection. Diamonds have inflamed man's passions since the first moment they were discovered, and their power over our emotions and desires has only grown since then. As a timeless and beautiful gift to yourself or as an emblem of your commitment to another, a diamond is an excellent investment. 

Ultimately, whether you choose to consider it an investment, a symbol, or a unique work of art, you can be certain that by buying a Jens Hansen diamond, you are always getting a beautiful diamond and an excellent value for your money.

The "Ideal Cut" is a cut based on a specific set of proportions for a round brilliant diamond proposed by gem cutter Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919. 
While Tolkowsky's original theories presented only one particular combination of proportions for creating the best balance of brilliance and dispersion, today the American Gemological Society recognizes any diamond falling within a narrow range of proportions and finish quality as being an "Ideal Cut" (also called an "AGS 0" or "AGS triple zero").

There is no physical difference between a diamond that is certified and one that is not. A certificate does not change the nature of a diamond in any way. The difference between a certified and an uncertified diamond is that, with the certified diamond, you have tangible, legal assurances as to the particular nature and quality of the diamond you are purchasing.

A certified diamond comes with a diamond grading report guaranteed by an accredited gem lab. This report assures that the diamond is independently recognized as possessing all the qualities specified by that report. When you buy a certified diamond, you are getting a diamond with beauty and pedigree. 
An uncertified diamond is not necessarily a bad diamond; certainly, it can be as beautiful as its certified counterpart.  Below are some reasons why you would want to buy a certified diamond. 
A diamond grading report adds value to a diamond. The quality assessments made by independent labs, such as GIA or AGS, are recognized worldwide. These quality assessments are used by appraisers to determine the insurance or replacement value of your diamond. If you purchase an uncertified diamond, there is no guarantee that the appraiser will appraise your diamond at the same level at which the jeweler who sold it to you did. 
A quick note on how reports from various independent labs compare with one another: GIA and AGS are considered the industry leaders, and the final word on gem quality, among diamond dealers worldwide. While plenty of other independent labs exist, some are a bit lax in their assessments of diamond quality and do not command the same respect for consistency and quality of grading that GIA and AGS do. For this reason, if you are in the market for a diamond, make an effort to buy only GIA- or AGS-graded diamonds.   
A diamond grading report adds an increased comfort-level to your purchase. Because the quality of your purchase has been independently verified, you can feel assured that you have made a wise purchase and that you have received exactly what you have paid for.

The precious stones are diamond, ruby, emerald and sapphire, while all other gemstones are semi-precious.

This distinction reflects the rarity of the respective stones in ancient times, as well as their quality: all precious stones are translucent with fine colour in their purest forms, except for the colourless diamond, and are very hard (8-10 on the Mohs scale).

Other stones are classified by their colour, translucency and hardness. The traditional distinction does not necessarily reflect modern values, for example, while garnets are relatively inexpensive, a green garnet called tsavorite, can be far more valuable than a mid-quality emerald.

We have a wide range of stones available, from precious diamonds to semi-precious Lapis. We like to use a range of sizes, shapes and cuts for the most interesting jewellery. Jens favoured the cabochon cut for most of his early designs and used a lot of semi-precious stones. 

It wasn’t until later that he started using the full range of stones and cuts, which we continue to work with today. We will also use our customers' stones, whether they be ones someone has bought on their travels or from jewellery that they would like to have remodelled.

This is a list of birthstones, and a bit about the colour and wear of each gemstone.

January – Garnet. Garnets are found in many colours - mainly red, orange, and yellow, but they can also be green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink and colourless. Garnets have a range of hardness on the Mohs scale of about 6.5 to 7.5. So they are great for everyday wear.

February – Amethyst. Amethyst occurs in primary hues from a light pinkish violet to a deep purple. Amethyst was once included with the most valuable gemstones (along with diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald), but it has now lost much of its value due to the discovery of extensive deposits in locations such as Brazil. It is now commonly used in silver designs, which bring out its fantastic colour.

March – Aquamarine. Aquamarine (from Lat. aqua marina, "water of the sea") is a blue variety of beryl and is a relation to Emerald. The deep blue version of aquamarine is called maxixe. Aquamarines are relativity hard but can be brittle, so avoiding hard knocks is advised. (Bloodstone is also this month’s birthstone).

April – Diamond. Diamond is the hardest natural material known, with a hardness of 10 (hardest) on this scale. Diamond's hardness has been known since antiquity, and is the source of its name. When it comes to colour in order of rarity, colourless diamond, by far the most common, is followed by yellow and brown, by far the most common colours, then by blue, green, black, translucent white, pink, violet, orange, purple, and the rarest, red."Black", or Carbonado, diamonds are not truly black, but rather contain numerous dark inclusions that give the gems their dark appearance.

May – Emerald. Emeralds are a variety of beryl that is green in colour and has a hardness of 7.5 - 8 on the 10 point Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Due to most emeralds being highly included, their toughness (resistance to breakage) is classified as generally poor so any large knocks should be avoided.

June – Pearl. Pearls occur in the wild, but they are rare. Cultured or farmed pearls make up the majority of those that are currently sold. Pearls from the sea are valued more highly than freshwater pearls. Imitation or fake pearls are also widely sold in inexpensive jewellery, but the quality of their iridescence is usually very poor - and generally speaking, artificial pearls are easily distinguished from genuine pearls.Pearls have a tendency to absorb moisture so it is best to avoid submerging them in water or spraying perfume while you are wearing them. (Moonstone & Alexandrite are also birthstones for this month).

July – Ruby. Rubies are pink to blood-red gemstones, a variety of the corundum. Rubies are a relative of sapphire and are in the top three hardest stones on the Mohs scale of hardness.

August – Peridot. Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one colour: basically an olive green. The intensity and tint of the green however depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure, so the colour of individual peridot gems can vary from yellow-green through to olive green to brownish green.

September – Sapphire. Sapphires are one of the hardest coloured stones. They come in Blue, Green, Orange, Pink and Multi-coloured (Parti Sapphires). The only colour they don’t come in is red (these are rubies). Sapphires are fantastic for everyday wear. They are found in many different places; Sri Lanka have Ceylon Sapphires which are a fantastic vibrant blue; and Australia has mainly party ones or a dark blue almost black coloured sapphire. The most prized sapphires are found in the Padar region of Kashmir. These are rarely available as the mines have been on hold since around 1979.

October - Opal. Opals are commonly found in Australia and Asia. They are usually made up as a dome which consist of three layers - two of quartz and one tiny piece of opal between them, or two layers of quartz and one of opal. Because the opal has the quartz glued to the opal it is not advised to get these stones wet or give them a hard life; they should only be worn for special occasions and in a good strong protective setting. (Pink Tourmaline is also this month's birth stone and is far better than opals for everyday).

November – Topaz. Pure topaz is colourless and transparent but is usually tinted by impurities; typical topaz is wine, yellow, pale grey or reddish-orange, blue brown. It can also be made white, pale green, blue, pink (rare) and reddish-yellow or opaque to transparent/translucent. Orange topaz is also known as precious topaz, while Imperial topaz is yellow, pink (rare, if natural) or pink-orange. Brazilian Imperial Topaz can often have a bright yellow to deep golden brown hue, sometimes even violet. Naturally occurring Blue Topaz is quite rare. Typically, colourless, grey or pale yellow and blue material is heat treated and irradiated in order to produce a more desired darker blue.Mystic topaz is colourless topaz which has been artificially coated, giving it the desired rainbow effect. (Citrine is also this month’s birth stone).

December – Zircon. Zircon is a remarkable mineral, if only for its almost ubiquitous presence in the crust of Earth. It occurs in igneous rocks (as primary crystallization products), in metamorphic rocks and in sedimentary rocks (as detrital grains). Large zircon crystals are seldom abundant. Zircon occurs in many different colours, including red, pink, brown, yellow, hazel, black, or colourless. The colour of zircons sometimes can be changed by heat treatment. Depending on the amount of heat applied, colourless, blue, and golden-yellow zircons can be made. These stones are precious gems and should not be confused with Cubic Zirconias, which are synthetic. (Turquoise is also this month’s birthstone).