Rustic & Main started in a small garage in Charlotte, NC…but has since grown into a custom luxury jewelry movement rooted in craftsmanship, storytelling, and heritage.
The Origin Story
Mike, Rustic & Main owner and a lifelong tinkerer and IT professional, began experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome from long hours at the keyboard. His traditional gold wedding band—cold, hard, and unforgiving—became uncomfortable to wear. So, one day, he went to the garage and crafted a simple wooden ring. The next day, someone noticed and asked for one just like it. That moment sparked something.
Over the next year, Mike poured his time into perfecting the craft of wooden rings. The earliest pieces were made from meaningful materials: cherry wood from the tree in Mike & his wife Summer’s backyard, reclaimed whiskey barrel wood, and teak from the historic USS North Carolina battleship. These weren’t just rings—they were wearable stories.
Over the past decade, Rustic & Main evolved into a business with over 30 teammates. They now offer wedding bands made from gold, wood and titanium as well as engagement rings and if you can dream it up, it’s likely the team at Rustic & Main can bring that vision to life.
Rustic & Main Luxury Concept
Rustic & Main believes there’s nothing more luxurious than something made just for you. While they offer signature designs you can purchase online, their specialty is custom work.
From engagement rings incorporating heirloom stones to wedding bands made with coffee grounds from your favorite café, military uniforms, or even a beloved dog’s bandana—they help turn your story into something you can wear forever.
Rustic & Main proudly crafts their bands right off of Ramah Church Road near downtown Huntersville. Their engagement rings can be designed in-house, and then the ring’s components are sourced through their trusted US partners.
After a two-year search, Mike and Summer Yarbrough found the perfect in-house jeweler that allows the team to keep jewelry design and creation close to home.
Staying true to American-made values hasn’t been easy—especially during the pandemic when many competitors moved production overseas—but Rustic & Main never wavered, and it’s paid off in quality and trust.
The Crafting Process at Rustic & Main
Crafting something meaningful takes time and care. Each custom band passes through the hands of skilled artisans—starting with woodworkers or metal crafters and ending with detailed inlay work. Engagement rings and other fine jewelry designs can start from ideas pulled together from anywhere, whether it’s a Pinterest board or a drawing on the back of a napkin. Rustic & Main has several designs at their retail store to help spark the imagination, too.
Once the customer approves the design, it goes to the CAD CAM rendering stage. If a customer is not sure of the design, a high-resolution resin cast can be made. This is a great way to tell what the piece will look like in real life. Once the design is greenlit the gold is cast and the stones are sourced. From concept to completion, a single piece can take up to 6 weeks once the design is nailed down, with multiple quality checkpoints throughout.
Whether through emails, video calls, or personal visits, the design process is tailored to make every step as meaningful as the final product.
The Inspiration
Rustic & Main draws inspiration from the things they love—military service, American history, fine art (Monet, O’Keeffe), architecture, antiques, and nature. That’s why you’ll see elements like rifle stock, military fabric, dinosaur bone, meteorite, and lavender buds in their rings. Every material is chosen for its story and character.
Some of their favorite custom stories include:
- A ring made from pipe wood belonging to a late grandfather, inlaid with gold from another grandfather’s ring and lavender from the bride’s bouquet.
- A memorial ring crafted from a dog’s favorite bandana.
- A couple who married without rings—just string on their fingers—finally receiving custom bands with the string inlaid.
- “The Myzelle,” a ring designed by us in honor of a beloved grandmother.
At Rustic & Main, they treat every customer like family, a luxury in itself. They understand that each piece crafted marks a moment—often one of life’s most significant. And while traditional jewelry stores may overlook the groom’s experience, we love seeing men get excited about their wedding rings. When they help design a piece that tells their story, they feel truly part of the moment.
Rustic & Main is not just another jewelry brand—they are the jewelry world’s answer to bespoke. The mission is simple: help people connect with their stories through meaningful, luxury handcrafted jewelry.
