Green Lantern Movie Ring
- Thread starter Sporkey
- Start date
Djinn
Sr Member
It's all about licensing. The very same reason a chrome plated brass MR lightsaber costs near $400 or a totally resin Harry Potter Wand can reach the $200's.
I'm not at all surprised anymore. Anyone that has been collecting Green Lantern related merchandise for the last decade or longer knows Warner has a long prestigious history of selling absolute crap GL rings. From the Rhodium plated brass rings in 98 to the green painted pewter ones that came with mini statues, or the chrome plated copper monstrosities found in Hot Topic, even the horrible one size fits just about no one that was packaged with rare figures. GL fans have historically had to get by with terrible "Why would they ever waste money producing that?!" products. Or wait for an entrepreneurial jeweler to help them out. And WB is pretty harsh on them when caught as well.
I'm not at all surprised anymore. Anyone that has been collecting Green Lantern related merchandise for the last decade or longer knows Warner has a long prestigious history of selling absolute crap GL rings. From the Rhodium plated brass rings in 98 to the green painted pewter ones that came with mini statues, or the chrome plated copper monstrosities found in Hot Topic, even the horrible one size fits just about no one that was packaged with rare figures. GL fans have historically had to get by with terrible "Why would they ever waste money producing that?!" products. Or wait for an entrepreneurial jeweler to help them out. And WB is pretty harsh on them when caught as well.
Underworld54
Well-Known Member
My man telling the truth right there. Well said Curtis. :thumbsup
Jack T Chance
Sr Member
Well, I hate to play Devil's Advocate, but... as our buddy nexnox said... and as we all should know, anyway... resin was used for the original, screen-used props!
Painted resin. Standard choice of prop makers for I don't even KNOW how long because it's easy to work with when making custom pieces. But I'll bet you all already knew that!
I have to throw in my two-cents and agree that it's not at all the fact that the ring uses plastic pieces, nor the everyday wearability factor. This is about the ACTUAL movie ring prop - which did in fact have plastic components - making the movie ring in all-metal would be a nice alternative for those who want durability and to wear it everyday, but in the end it wouldn't be the movie ring in the sense that the front is solid metal and not transparent green plastic.
Honus
Sr Member
Green Sapphire would do the job. There are also transparent green ceramics- either way bring your checkbook! :lol
I'm personally going with transparent green acrylic with a sterling silver shank.
Djinn
Sr Member
Yea but that would bring up the question of durability again. If the entire face of a large chunk ring was sapphire then there is a good change of cracking it or chipping away.
Honus
Sr Member
Those are probably two of the most durable transparent materials you can find. Synthetic Sapphire is used for most every high end watch crystal and while you don't have exposed edges on a wristwatch it's pretty tough stuff if you need something with decent hardness. You would be pretty hard pressed to beat synthetic Sapphire or polycrystalline ceramic in this application, provided you could afford it.
There is no low cost transparent/translucent material that I am aware of that offers anywhere near the hardness and durability of either one of those materials. Acrylic (and other similar materials) perform reasonably well for a low end solution but it will never be durable enough for casual wear. It would be best to treat any cast resin or plastic derivative ring as a special occasion piece.
sapphire is in the family as the stuff on the good "sand" paper.
Very hard stuff -its what in the rubies on the past Shadow Rings
but as he said -bring the cash for getting them made
I can understand the whole "its what the real prop is made out of"
but does not mean its what is right... display ring sure but if you wear it and mess it up boy you are going to be up set.
Very hard stuff -its what in the rubies on the past Shadow Rings
but as he said -bring the cash for getting them made
I can understand the whole "its what the real prop is made out of"
but does not mean its what is right... display ring sure but if you wear it and mess it up boy you are going to be up set.
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Honus
Sr Member
Chatham Emerald is the common synthetic Emerald but it would be a poor choice compared to Sapphire. Emerald, synthetic or natural, is extremely brittle. Chatham Emerald, even though it is synthetic, is also expensive.
The only other green stone that would be somewhat suitable would be green Spinel or Tsavorite/Demantoid (green Garnet). Spinel is harder than Garnet but is softer than Corundum (Sapphire.) I really like Tsavorite but finding material of the right size and color is unlikely as well as extremely expensive. Demantoid can be really spectacular but is also extremely expensive. The only other green stone that immediately comes to mind is Chrome Tourmaline, which is too easily damaged.
I would venture to guess it would take well over 30 carats of material to cut a piece big enough to make the green portion for the top of the ring. While it would be possible it certainly isn't probable because it would be obscenely expensive (read as many thousands of dollars) and difficult to do- if you could even find a gem cutter to do it.
Making a custom mold and producing the piece in green ceramic is really the only viable solution (in my mind) if you must have a translucent green material that is extremely durable- and that really only makes sense if you are going to produce a lot of identical rings. The total production cost is still going to be high.
So that leaves you with plastics as the only really somewhat affordable option.
If anyone can think of anything else I'm all ears.
timelordjedi777
Sr Member
I was wondering if glass was an option, or is it to breakable. I think the ring is awesome looking.
ClearCaseMan
New Member
my thoughts were you would make a mold of the entire ring to cast. make the metal part of the ring and put it in the mold then inject the green resin to fill out the emerald parts. sort of like a steel belted tire. it would look nice and be durable.
I have to agree, as much as i like this movie I really thought they could do a better job than having some plastic on a metal band. Hal should also have his traditional signet ring, which for the record was the first ring he was depicted with,he got the upgrade and used the so called kyle style ring for a few years then reverted back to the signet style. I have to say I like the look of this ring but i will feel a little silly wearing a ring with plastic or resin on it to the grocery store.
Shadowfox21
Active Member
Mattel said the had a lot of ideas for merch im curious to see the different version of toy rings they put out. If DC direct is releasing the prop then it most likely wont be wearable. The new merch kicks off in January so I guess we will have to wait and see when an actual replica comes out. As soon as any of you make a replica post it. Im sure we all want to see them.
