Abstract: An integral ring which is contains at least 35 weight percent of a precious metal selected from the group consisting of silver and gold and has a porosity of less than 0.1 percent, a Vickers pyramidal hardness of at least about 120, and a tensile strength at least about 60,000 pounds per square inch. The ring has an inner diameter of from about 0.55 to about 0.93 inches, and outer diameter of from about 0.61 to about 1.09 inches, a thickness of from about 0.03 to about 0.08 inches, and a circumference of from about 1.7 to about 3.5 inches. Disposed about and extending around the entire outer surface of the ring is a first annular groove and a second, spaced apart annular groove, and at least 10 adjoining recessed areas are disposed between and communicate with these annular grooves. Each of the first annular groove and the second annular groove has a width of from about 0.01 to about 0.02 inches and a depth of from about 0.008 to about 0.018 inches.