These are the top tips
for choosing wedding rings:
A wedding ring or
wedding band is a metal ring indicating the wearer is married. Depending on the
local culture, it is worn on the base of the right or the left ring finger. The
custom of wearing such a ring has spread widely beyond its origin in Europe.
Originally worn by wives only, wedding rings became customary for both husbands
and wives during the 20th century.
Choosing
a wedding ring –
also known as a wedding band – might seem a more straightforward task than
selecting an engagement ring, but it still involves many
important and exciting decisions!
Choose wedding rings carefully - you'll be
wearing them for the rest of your life. Wedding rings symbolize three things:
your personality, your commitment, and your fashion style. Choose a wedding ring that will
express an enduring, unequivocal love and exert a unique personality for both
the groom and the bride.
Compositions and Styles
In Western countries,
wedding rings are often made of gold.
Common engravings on the inside of the ring include the name of the partner or
the names of both parts in the relationship, and/or date of the wedding.
Choosing
a Metal
Wedding rings can be
made in one of (or a combination of) many different metal alloys. Whilst the majority
of couples still go for the traditional options of platinum or gold, other
metals such as palladium, titanium and zirconium are rising in popularity.
All of our plain
rings, and most of our decorative rings, will give you a choice of alloy once
you've chosen the design – simply change the metal in the drop-down on the
product page, and the price of the ring will refresh. Learn in details here, which metal is best for men's
wedding rings.
Antique
Jewelry and Heirlooms
A good jeweler can
adapt heirloom pieces to suit the tastes of you and your betrothed. If you
don’t have or want to use a family heirloom but are interested in antique
rings, look in pawn shops or at estate sales. Dusty or dull rings can be
cleaned up, but inspect the pieces carefully for other damage.
Old or broken jewelry
can be melted down or otherwise altered to create wedding bands. You’ll pay for
the jeweler’s time and expertise, but you’ll save money on the materials. Plus,
your rings will be unique to you.
Shape
When it comes to the
shape of the bride-to-be’s wedding band, the main consideration is how it sits
with her engagement ring.
If the engagement ring
is straight-edged, a classic, straight-edged wedding band will sit snugly next
to it. However, the gemstone setting in some engagement rings will not
accommodate a straight-edged wedding band. In this case you could either wear
your engagement and wedding rings on different hands, or opt for a curved wedding ring, sometimes
known as a fitted wedding ring
or a shaped wedding ring.
Many curved styles can
be bought off the shelf. Otherwise, good wedding-ring jewelers can
custom-design a wedding band to sit perfectly next to your engagement ring. You
might find this a rewarding and symbolic process in itself.
Choosing
Your Men's Wedding Ring Design
Traditionally men
preferred simple gold wedding bands to symbolize their love. Though over the
last 15 years men have increasingly been moving away from the traditional gold
wedding ring towards something a little different.
Types of ring styles
include simple bands made in all yellow gold, all white gold, platinum, or titanium
or tungsten; rings with inlay stripes or ribbed edges; rings with diamonds or
gemstones; rings with unique patterns; two-tone rings with a combination of
metal types, and woven or wave ring styles.
When considering
lifestyle factors and ring designs you should note that a woven, puzzle or
heavily patterned ring could be damaged whilst playing sport or working with
your hands. A ring with diamonds or gemstones may be at greater risk of having
the gem settings damaged and potentially losing a gemstone. Hopefully this
information will help you to choose the right wedding ring for you.
Band
Style
You will probably
never have considered this before but if you turn a ring on its side you will
notice the style – or profile – of its band. The most common band shapes for
wedding rings are:
Rounded-edge wedding ring: this gently curved style is the
most subtle and traditional option.
High-domed wedding ring: with its more pronounced curve,
this style is slightly taller than the rounded-edge design.
Flat wedding ring: this design has quite square edges
for a more modern look.
Other terms you might
hear when it comes to wedding-band shapes include D-shape wedding ring, court wedding ring or concave wedding ring. Don’t be
unnerved by all this terminology; find a jeweler you trust who is prepared to
give you plenty of time and who will answer your questions patiently.
Other
Considerations
Nowadays couples often
favor jewel-set wedding rings.
If you like this idea you should consider the harder stones (such as diamonds,
rubies, sapphires, emeralds, topaz) as time takes its toll on softer varieties.
Diamond-set wedding rings are the most
popular option.
Couples often want to
have their wedding date engraved on the inside of their wedding rings and
sometimes there is room for other sentiments too. If you are doing this, make
sure you write down exactly what you want inside your ring – including use of
capital letters etc – and ask your jeweler what font or style (e.g. italic)
will be used.
Be sure to check out
how long it will take for your wedding bands to be ready. Allowing at least
eight weeks is a good rule of thumb. Ask your jeweler, and if the rings will
not be ready in time, don't panic – ask them about a 'loaner' ring. Also be
sure to get advice on sizing – a common mistake is to order a size too big.
Families often pass
down wedding rings as heirlooms so this may be an option for you. If so, you
probably will want to leave any original engraving inside the ring. It might
also be appropriate to note in your will who you would like your rings to go
to.
The trick is to choose
rings that you and your partner are happy with. Don't worry about other
people's choices, but do ask around and look in jewellery stores, in magazines
and online for inspiration.
The main things to
consider when choosing your wedding rings are: budget (of course); durability
(what will the ring be exposed to every day, whether the metal withstands
everyday wear and tear); color
(yellow, white, grey or black) and sentimentality/tradition.
How to Choose
a Comfortable Wedding Ring
Instructions:
1) Shop Together. The engagement ring was the big surprise, but you
should decide on wedding rings together. Many women already know what they want
on their wedding ring, so sitting down and talking can help get both spouses on
the same page. Make some preliminary choices before you hit the stores. What
color metal are you interested in -- yellow or white? Are you interested in
something simple or over-the-top? Work out these questions to home in on what
you are looking for.
2)
Decide on Matching or Separate Bands.
It is possible to buy wedding rings together so they coordinate, but it is not
absolutely necessary. For example, if a man is concerned with a ring appearing
too effeminate he can get a different style from the woman.
3)
Start Your Search Early. Once
you have a basic idea of what you want, head out to the jewelry stores. Give
yourselves at least two months to browse, research price and revisit rings that
catch your eye. Allow even more time if you’re interested in a custom piece --
extras like engraving can take up to one month.
4)
Be Different. Don’t
fret if you like platinum, while he likes yellow gold. There’s no rule that you
have to match metals or even styles. Pick wedding bands that reflect each of
your style sensibilities and tastes. However, some aspect (which can be as
simple as an inscription) should match.
5)
Set a Budget. A
plain 14-karat gold band starts at around $330; plain platinum bands cost
upwards of $600 apiece. Diamonds can add considerably more to the cost. The
price of engraving on the inside of the wedding band depends on the font and
whether you have it engraved by hand or machine.
6)
Be Practical. Keep
your lifestyle in mind at all times: What's the point of buying something
pretty if it makes you uncomfortable or you have to remove it often (and
increase your chances of losing it)? Remember: You will wear this band every
day. The idea is to choose something that becomes a part of your life
seamlessly. If you work with your hands often, look for a streamlined ring with
little to no frills.
7)
Think Long-term. Don't
be afraid to be trendy, but make sure the style you choose is something you'll
still want to wear in 20 years (not to mention at all the jobs, PTA meetings,
and social functions in between).
8)
Size It Right. Most
people rarely take their wedding bands off; they wear them through summers,
winters, exercise, pregnancies -- all times when your fingers swell and
contract due to heat, cold, water retention and weight gain. To find the size
that will best weather all these changes, do your “final fitting” when you are
calm and your body temperature is normal. Never finalize your ring size in the
morning (you retain salt from the night before), after you’ve just exercised
(fingers swell), or when you’re extremely hot or cold.
9)
Check for Quality. This
applies to all rings, but it bears repeating here. Make sure wedding bands have
two marks inside the band: the manufacturer's trademark (proves they stand
behind their work) and quality mark (24K or PLAT, for example -- proves that
it's what they say it is). If the ring consists of two or more metals, make
sure there is a quality mark for each.
10)
Clean It Often. Cleaning
your wedding rings is a cinch. For a ring with no stones, simply rub it with a
soft, lint-free cloth (chamois is good). If your wedding ring has stones, wash
and soak it in warm sudsy water, gently brush with a soft toothbrush or eyebrow
brush (too much pressure can loosen your stone from the setting), rinse, and
pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth.
11)
Protect Your Investment. Yes,
metals -- even platinum -- are vulnerable. Avoid wearing your ring when doing
rough work or sports (which can nick and scratch your rings) and when working
with concentrated chlorine, which is found in bleach, chemical cleaning
solutions, and swimming pool disinfectants (which can cause pitting or
discoloration to your band). Nicks and scratches are most obvious on matte
finishes and most easily affect platinum, which is softer than white or yellow
gold on the surface but more durable overall. Luckily it's easy for your
jeweler to reapply -- or change -- the finish or plating on your ring to
restore its former glory.
12)
Keep It Safe. You’d
be surprised (and probably a bit scared) at how easy it is to lose your ring.
Hopefully, you’ve chosen something that you rarely have to remove. When you
absolutely have to do the deed, put it in a designated place, so you’ll always know
where it is (pockets don’t count), and never near a sink. The most dangerous
time to remove your wedding ring? When you’re away from home. That’s when rings
are most likely to be lost or set down and forgotten
Tips & Warnings
Men's rings come in
many different styles that are bold and masculine.
Consider your cultural
heritage - there are styles of rings and stone settings that have traditional
meaning.
Ask your parents about
family heirloom rings. A family stone is a great way of passing on tradition
and welcoming in-laws to the family.
Before buying
anything, make sure that the jeweler has proper certification and the stone has
its own "cert" from an industry recognized association.
High set rings have a
tendency to snag on clothing.
Where to
Shop
Choose
a good jeweler. The
main thing to remember here is that expensive doesn't necessarily equate with
being the ideal jeweler. Look for a store that makes you feel comfortable,
where the staff are pleasant and helpful, and where the advice they provide
gels with you. As well, be sure to look somewhere that fits within your budget
range; this avoids the inevitable disappointment at finding something that
would be "just perfect if it didn't cost so much". If you can, check
that the jeweler is registered with a society, association, or organization
that regulates, certifies, etc., jewelers, such as the National Association of
Goldsmiths in the UK.
Ask around your
married friends or your family for recommendations on a good, trusted jeweler.
Obviously, this will mean they'll know what you're up to, although you can just
say that you want to buy a nice piece of jewelry.
An online jeweler such
as James Allen or Blue Nile can be a good option if you're willing to accept a
little less "hand-holding" for a better price. (You might consider this an advantage as a low-pressure sales
environment, but a good retailer shouldn't pressure you, either.) Be sure
to check that the jeweler has an excellent reputation because a customer could
be at much greater risk of subtle fraud with diamonds and precious metal than
with most other products.
If you decide to buy
your rings new, you can check out mall shops, larger standalone jewelry stores,
department and discount stores, local jewelers and reputable websites. As with
so many other things, the Internet has changed the way people shop for
engagement and wedding rings. Some Web sites allow you to search by stone shape
or price. They can also help you finance your purchase (not that we recommend
buying more ring than you can afford) and help you insure it.
You may think that
locally owned jewelry shops can’t compete on price with the large chains.
However, depending on the local store’s target clientele, some may be able to.
Some small shops cater to wealthier shoppers, but many are in direct
competition for the same people who shop the large chains. Because of this
competition, many of these shops may be more affordable with their pricing, and
they usually offer superior service, including on-site jewelry designers.
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