Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Cast metal rings are made of zinc alloy poured into a mould as a single piece. They have no joint, gap or seam, they do not open under tension and their surface is smooth all the way round. That makes them far better quality than rings bent from wire and then cut or welded. Polkom is a manufacturer of metal accessories and offers cast metal rings in sizes from 1 to 5 cm, in gold, nickel (nickel free), gunmetal and black oxide – in stock and with fast delivery. Below you will find the sizes, the colours and why a cast ring is ideal for swimwear and beachwear.
What is a cast metal ring
In casting, molten zinc alloy is poured into a mould in the shape of the ring. Once it cools, the part is cleaned, polished and finished. The result is a ring with the same cross-section everywhere – without the point where the two ends of a wire ring meet.
A wire ring is made differently: wire is coiled, cut and bent into a circle. The ends either stay open or are welded. A detailed comparison of the two options is in welded or unwelded rings, and the differences between steel, zinc alloy and brass are described in steel, zinc alloy or brass rings. Here we focus on the cast ring as a ready solution for series production.
Why a cast ring is better than a wire ring
- No joint – the ring is one piece, so there is no weak point that could open under load.
- It does not open – with an unwelded wire ring the gap can widen and the strap can slip out; with a cast ring this is impossible.
- Smooth surface – no ridge or bump from welding that could snag fine fabric or wear the strap.
- Even finish – the uniform cross-section lets the plating lie evenly all the way round.
- More solid look – a cast ring looks fuller and more refined, which matters when the ring is a visible detail of the design.
Cast metal ring sizes
The cast rings are in stock in nine sizes – from 1 to 5 cm in half-centimetre steps. Choose the size according to the width of the tape or strap that will pass through the ring. On request we confirm the exact inner and outer dimensions on a sample, so you can be sure the strap lies flat.
| Size | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 1 cm | swimwear and lingerie straps, thin ties |
| 1.5 cm | straps of swimwear, dresses and tops |
| 2 cm | bikini tops, connecting details at the back and sides |
| 2.5 cm | bikini bottoms, belts of dresses and jumpsuits |
| 3 cm | dress belts, beach bags, decorative details |
| 3.5 cm | fabric belts, handles of light bags |
| 4 cm | belts, beach and shopping bags |
| 4.5 cm | wide belts, bag straps |
| 5 cm | wide straps, statement rings on bags and belts |
More on choosing the size by strap width in ring sizes for straps.
Colours: gold, nickel, gunmetal and black oxide
All finishes are nickel free – "nickel" is only the name of the silver colour. This matters especially for swimwear rings, which are in direct contact with the skin.
Gold
A warm, luxurious tone that looks excellent next to white, black, beige and saturated colours. It is most often chosen for swimwear and beach dresses with a summer, resort feel.
Nickel (nickel free)
A classic silver colour with a clean shine. It goes with almost everything and is a safe choice when the collection has many colourways.
Gunmetal
A dark, graphite metallic tone – more discreet than nickel and softer than black. It suits sporty swimwear, dark fabrics and menswear. More about this colour in what is gunmetal.
Black oxide
A matt black look that almost blends into black fabric and gives a minimalist, contemporary silhouette. Also a good choice for bags and belts in dark tones.
To coordinate the rings with the buckles, rivets and buttons of the design, see the colours and finishes of our metal accessories.
Cast rings for swimwear and beachwear
Swimwear is one of the most demanding products for a ring: the fabric is thin and stretchy, the straps are pulled with every movement and the detail is visible, so it has to look flawless. A cast ring meets these demands:
- the smooth, seamless surface does not snag or tear the fine stretch fabric;
- the ring does not open, even when the strap is pulled hard;
- the small sizes from 1 to 2.5 cm suit bikini tops, bottoms and connecting details at the back;
- the finishes are nickel free and suitable for skin contact.
Before a production run, test the ring together with the fabric and elastic under conditions close to real use – washing, sun, salt or chlorinated water. For the other swimwear components see swimwear elastic and metal logo plates for swimwear.
Where else cast rings are used
- Belts of dresses and jumpsuits – the ring holds the fabric belt and makes adjustment easy.
- Beach and fashion bags – for handles, straps and decorative accents, together with metal buckles.
- Lingerie and tops – the smallest sizes as a connector on the straps.
- Decorative details – on necklines, sleeves and belts where the ring is a visible part of the design.
When the tape has to lie completely flat, a D shape may be more suitable – see D-ring – what it is and where it is used.
OEKO-TEX® and safety
The cast rings are available with OEKO-TEX® certification, and all Polkom metal accessories are nickel free. More about certificates on the certificates page and in the article nickel free accessories for clothing.
Cast metal rings in stock from the manufacturer
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer of accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags, based in Sofia, with over 30 years of experience. The cast zinc alloy rings are in stock in sizes 1 – 1.5 – 2 – 2.5 – 3 – 3.5 – 4 – 4.5 – 5 cm and in gold, nickel (nickel free), gunmetal and black oxide, with fast delivery. Browse the rings in the gallery and send us the size, colour and approximate quantity – minimum quantities depend on the item, so request a quote.
