Help Center

We are based in and ship from New Zealand. Our base pricing is in New Zealand dollars (NZD) NZ$ and depending on the country you are shipping to we do show and allow purchase in approximate equivalent prices in other major currencies on our website for your convenience.

Our sterling silver jewellery typically runs from NZ$199+ and our solid gold jewellery items would start from about NZ$650-

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 NZ$590- or equivalent.

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

Shipping is generally free for orders over NZ$449- or equivalent.

For order where shipping is payable:
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$35- to Australia.
• NZ$55- to North America
• NZ$69- to the United Kingdom, and most European and Asian nations
• NZ$109- Some countries have higher shipping charges and you will see the cost during Checkout.

Shipping is 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$140- 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.