Bespoke Commemorative Rings for Clubs and Organisations
Turning meaningful materials into wearable pieces of history
Some materials carry far more than their physical value. A piece of stadium seating, timber from a historic building, metal from an engineering project or fabric from a retired uniform can represent decades of shared history, achievement and identity.
At True North Forge, we create bespoke commemorative rings using meaningful and historically significant materials supplied by clubs, businesses, charities, heritage organisations and other groups.
Each project is developed individually in our workshop in Portlethen, Aberdeenshire. The result could be a single presentation ring, a numbered limited edition, a collection created for supporters or a special piece made to raise money for charity.
This is not conventional corporate merchandise. Every ring is individually handmade and designed to preserve the story of the material within it.
Rings made from your history
A bespoke organisational commission begins with the material and the story behind it.
Depending on its condition and suitability, we may be able to incorporate reclaimed timber, metal, fabric, stone or another significant material into a handmade ring. The material can become the central feature of the design or be combined with titanium, precious metal, opal or another carefully selected inlay.
Possible materials may include reclaimed stadium seating, timber from historic buildings, whisky cask wood, retired uniforms, tartan, material from aircraft or ships, components from engineering projects and items associated with expeditions, anniversaries or significant achievements.
Every proposed material is assessed before a project is accepted. We consider its condition, safety, stability, provenance and how successfully it can be prepared for use within a ring.
Where an item is rare or irreplaceable, we will discuss the process carefully before any material is sent to us.
You can view examples of how we incorporate natural, historic and meaningful materials into our rings in our natural inlay ring collection.
Limited edition commemorative rings
A permanently limited collection can give supporters, members, employees or collectors the opportunity to own a genuine piece of an organisation’s history.
Each ring can be individually numbered and supplied with agreed presentation packaging and information explaining the origin of the material. The number of rings produced can be connected to an important year, anniversary, achievement or other part of the organisation’s story.
A collection might mark the anniversary of a club, the closure or redevelopment of a historic venue, a major sporting achievement, a significant expedition or an important milestone in the life of a business.
Once the agreed edition has been completed, no additional rings using that edition number or identity would be produced.
Provenance and material stewardship
For commemorative and limited edition projects, the history of the material is as important as the finished ring.
Before production begins, we will discuss what evidence is available to support the origin of the material and how that provenance should be recorded. This may include photographs of the original item, written confirmation from the organisation, historical records or an agreed certificate supplied with each ring.
Where appropriate, we can photograph and document the original material before it is prepared, record the number of rings produced and connect each individually numbered ring to the agreed source material.
The ownership, storage and return of any unused material will also be agreed before work begins. We will never make claims about the history or authenticity of a material beyond the evidence available to support them.
Charity, heritage and presentation pieces
Bespoke projects do not have to be created for general sale.
We can develop a one off ring for a heritage collection, museum display, award, retirement presentation or charitable auction. A limited collection can also include a specially numbered ring donated to an archive or auctioned to support a charity chosen by the organisation.
The commercial structure is agreed separately for every project. This may take the form of a direct commission, an official licensed collection, a wholesale arrangement, a revenue share or a charity fundraising project.
Logos, crests, names and other protected branding will only be incorporated with the appropriate permission from the rights holder.
Corporate anniversary and recognition rings
For businesses and professional organisations, a handmade ring can offer a meaningful alternative to a conventional trophy, plaque or long service gift.
A ring could recognise a major company anniversary, the completion of an important project, long service, retirement or an exceptional contribution. Where suitable material from the organisation is available, it can be incorporated directly into the design.
This is particularly meaningful for businesses connected to engineering, energy, aviation, maritime work, construction, distilling and other industries where a specific material can represent the work and people behind the organisation.
The design can remain consistent across a collection while allowing each ring to be made to the recipient’s individual size and preferred width.
Sporting clubs and supporter collections
A sporting venue holds an enormous amount of shared history. Materials removed during renovation or redevelopment can sometimes be preserved and transformed rather than discarded.
Subject to suitability and permission, reclaimed seating, timber or another authenticated material could be incorporated into a limited collection of rings for supporters. Each ring could be numbered and connected to an important year, trophy, player, venue or anniversary.
We can also explore presentation rings for heritage trusts, charitable auctions, club awards and significant individual achievements.
Our aim is not simply to place a club badge onto a ring. It is to create something that genuinely contains part of the club’s story.
Unusual materials and previous projects
True North Forge has extensive experience working with materials that are personal, unusual or difficult to incorporate into jewellery.
Our bespoke work has included Amazonian bark for a project connected to an adventurers club, military uniform material, whisky cask wood and timber with personal or historical significance. We also regularly create memorial jewellery using ashes, hair, fur and other deeply meaningful materials.
These projects require patience, careful preparation and an understanding that the material cannot simply be replaced if something goes wrong.
Not every material will be suitable, but we are always interested in hearing the story behind it and exploring what may be possible.
How a bespoke organisational commission works
The first stage is a conversation about the organisation, the material and what the finished project should represent.
We will ask for photographs, dimensions and any available information about the material, including its history and provenance. From there, we can assess whether it is likely to be suitable and begin discussing the ring design, quantity, numbering, presentation and intended audience.
For larger or limited edition collections, we would normally develop an initial design and prototype before the full collection enters production. This allows the organisation to review the material, appearance and overall concept.
The final structure and timescale will depend on the complexity of the design, the amount of preparation required and the number of rings being commissioned.
Handmade in Scotland
True North Forge is run by Katie and Graeme from our workshop in Portlethen, Aberdeenshire.
We originally opened as LumoBlue in October 2020 and became True North Forge in April 2025. Since opening, we have created more than 3,000 rings for customers throughout the UK and around the world.
Every ring is individually handmade by Graeme. Nothing is mass produced or drop shipped.
Before becoming a full time ring maker, Graeme worked offshore as a subsea engineer. That engineering background remains central to the way we approach materials, precision and unusual commissions.
We are a very small business, which means organisational projects are not passed between departments or handed to an outside manufacturer. Katie manages the project and communication, while Graeme develops and makes the rings.
Discuss a project with us
If your club, organisation or business has a meaningful material or story that could become a commemorative ring, we would love to hear about it.
You do not need to have a completed design before contacting us. Send us the story behind the project, photographs of the material if available, an idea of the number of rings required and any important dates or anniversaries connected to it.
We can then discuss what may be possible and how the project could be structured.