Ring + Grove co
Ring + Grove co
Founder's Story

Meet Jeff

The hands behind every ring

Jeff Ballantyne, founder of Ring + Grove co, Bobcaygeon Ontario

Ring + Grove co was founded by Jeff Ballantyne in Bobcaygeon, Ontario. What started as a one-person passion project has grown into a workshop producing 15,000+ handcrafted wooden wedding bands over 10+ years.

We don't use lathes. We don't use factory assembly lines. Each ring is individually handcrafted using our bentwood method — steaming thin wood veneers, forming them around a core, and finishing every piece by hand. No two rings are exactly alike.

Our materials come with provenance: Whiskey Barrel Oak from bourbon barrels, Grey Maple from Canadian forests, Santos Rosewood from South America, antler hand-selected from Finland. Every metal inlay — copper, silver — placed for contrast, durability, and beauty.

Every ring is waterproof, re-finishable, and re-sizeable. We stand behind our work with a Limited Lifetime Warranty on the clearcoat and offer free resizing up to half a size.

Featured at Made You Look Jewellery in Toronto and available worldwide through our online shop. We also supply wholesale to independent jewelers across North America.

Milestones

A Decade of Craft

2016

First Ring, First Mistake

Started in a small workshop with a lathe, a block of local walnut, and a razor blade. The first ten rings broke instantly—leading to an obsessed deep-dive into advanced cross-grain bentwood engineering.

2019

The Metal Fusion

Discovered that wood, for all its warmth, needs a backbone. Introduced titanium cores and hand-cut copper liners, creating an unbreakable hybrid structure that would define the brand.

2022

15,000 Rings

Crossed the 15,000-ring milestone. From backyard builds to a permanent shop in Bobcaygeon, Ontario. Featured at Made You Look Jewellery in Toronto — one of 100+ designer independent boutiques.

2026

Leaving the Digital Grid

Migrated entirely from Shopify templates to a custom Next.js/Vercel architecture. Building independent digital experiences tailored completely around custom client ring configurations.

“We don't want to be a massive production line. We like the fact that if a ring is being turned on bench number two, it's the only ring that exists in the room.”

Technical Specs

Our Structural Ingredients

Internal Characteristics

Ultra-dense, interlocking grain with deep purple-brown streaks. Carves cleanly and accepts a high polish. Naturally resistant to moisture.

Workshop Durability Index

9.5/10