Choosing a Wedding Ring
Buying a wedding ring should be an exciting experience. Your wedding rings are a symbol of your love for one another that will be worn for the rest of your lives. However the many different types of rings, materials and designs can also make the decision a bit overwhelming. The decision process will require you to put a bit of extra thought into your purchase, and rightly so its not every day that you make a purchase that will stay with you for life.
There are a few factors that you should take in to consideration when choosing what wedding ring to buy, as well as choosing a design which you find attractive, there are also a number of more practical points that relate to the wedding ring design that you need to consider. As well as choosing an attractive wedding ring design the ring should fit correctly, be a comfortable to wear and be practical and suitable for your life style and of course the rings should be within your financial budget.
These might sound like blatantly obvious points to be making, but its surprising how many people don’t get them right, especially when buying their wedding rings online or without the help of a knowledgeable sales assistant. Making an incorrect decision when choosing your wedding rings might end up being a decision you regret. Whilst some problems can be corrected, many can’t, so getting it right the first time can prevent a lot of heart ache later on. Whilst buying a wedding ring might not be as simple as you may first think, with a little bit of preparation it should be an easy and enjoyable experience. The following guide will set out everything you should need to help you in the process.
As you might expect, women usually find buying a wedding ring a little bit easier than men do (or at least more enjoyable). Typically women are better informed about wedding jewellery because they are more likely to be familiar with it through their friends, the media that they read etc. Because women are more knowledgeable about jewellery in general, choosing a wedding ring might be less of a daunting task than it would be for a man and therefore more enjoyable. Also men will also have a different set of criteria to women when it comes to choosing a mens wedding ring. For this reason the following guide will separate the buying process for men and women in to different sections.
Ladies Wedding Rings
The first point a women needs to consider when choosing her wedding ring is not applicable for men when they buy a wedding ring. When a women buys a wedding ring she will have to take into consideration the design of her engagement ring. There are a couple of factors that she should build in to the equation when choosing her wedding ring design.
The first is that the wedding ring should complement the design of the engagement ring. The wedding ring should not distract attention away from the engagement ring. However, this is not to say the wedding ring should be plain or uninteresting. The engagement and wedding rings should appear as if they were meant to be together!
What Shape of Wedding Ring Do You Need?
The next consideration is the shape of wedding ring. The main reason for considering this is because certain wedding ring designs may not be ideal when worn with your engagement ring. Obviously this depends on the design of your engagement ring.
Engagement rings come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They can have a straight edged band that can easily accommodate a straight edged wedding ring design. But sometimes the engagement ring might have a curved or non-straight edge to the ring band. Also the engagement ring may have gemstones that are positioned low on the band and may restrict what shape or design of wedding ring can be worn with it.
Obviously when you are shopping for a wedding ring these are things that you are going to need to take in to consideration. If you buy a wedding ring that is not compatible with the physical design of your engagement ring then you might find it uncomfortable to wear both rings together or the rings may just sit unevenly and not look good together. You may also find that any protruding gemstone settings can even cause or become damaged themselves because they contact with the adjacent ring.
If you have an engagement ring that is not ideal for use with a straight edged wedding band then you will better suited opting for a curved wedding ring or a fitted wedding ring. Of course there is nothing to stop you from wearing a straight wedding ring even if it is not compatible with your engagement ring, but why compromise? Don’t forget you will be wearing your rings for the rest of your life. Both rings should look like they were made for each other, buying a curved or fitted ring is by far the better option. Take your time to make the perfect choice, there is an endless choice of weddings rings to choose from and you may end up regretting a hasty decision.
Buying a Curved Wedding Ring
What do you need to consider when buying a curved wedding ring? Other than finding a design that complements the looks of your engagement ring, you need to consider the size and shape of the curve.
As you would expect a curved wedding ring has a straight band with a curve which would be positioned at the top to align with the gemstone(s) on the engagement ring. The curve should match the size an profile of the gemstone(s). As the shapes, sizes and arrangements of gemstones varies for engagement rings, so do the curves for wedding rings. The curves can be quite exaggerated to cater for larger single stones or can be quite gentle for smaller multi-stone engagement rings.
Obviously you are aiming to find a curved wedding ring that perfectly sits with your engagement ring. The bands of both rings should be able to sit flush up against each other and there shouldn’t be any big gaps between the curve in the wedding ring and and the engagement ring.
What Shape Wedding Ring is Right For Me?
First of all what is meant by this. If you take a look at your engagement ring there are a few things to look at. Obviously the engagement ring size will be similar to your wedding ring. How wide / thick is the ring band and what profile / shape of cross section does the band have (is the out surface of your engagement ring flat or rounded?).
When choosing a wedding ring, once again you should look to choose a design which compliments the design of the your engagement ring both in terms of its shape and thickness. The style of the band does not have to be identical but they will not match or fit well together if they are very different. A flat wide wedding band may look a bit strange sitting along side a high domed / rounded engagement ring.
Below is a list of the available profiles of wedding ring to illustrate this section.
Wedding Ring Profiles
Court Wedding Ring
Court Profile– This profile is also known as courting or the comfort fit and it is one of the most traditional and enduring styles used for wedding rings.
As you can see from the image it has a rounded outer profile and a gently rounded inside. This gives this profile its comfortable fit regardless of the width of ring that you buy (hence why it is also called the ‘comfort’ fit).
Flat Court Wedding Ring
Flat Court Profile – This style has the same rounded-edge to give a comfort fit on the inside of the ring but has a flat outer surface which gives the ring a modern and contemporary look.
Some might consider this style to be the best of both worlds, a sleek look but with a comfort fit.
This shape is also referred to as a reverse D profile.
D Shape Wedding Ring
D Shape Profile – This style has a flat inner surface with a rounded outer surface similar to the court profile.
This style caters for people who prefer the rounded look of the court profile but with the flat inner surface.
To remain comfortable this profile can still have rounded corners on the inner edges but without the rounded profile.
Flat Wedding Ring
Flat Profile – A flat profile is exactly as it sounds, flat on the inside and flat on the outside.
It provides a modern style that would normally sit close to the finger.
To remain comfortable this profile can still have rounded corners on the inner edges but without the rounded profile.
What Width Of Wedding Ring Should You Buy?
The answer to this question is a relatively simple one. It should be the same width as your engagement ring or possibly a little bit wider. Just so that there can be no misunderstanding, we are talking about the width of the band for the wedding ring and engagement rings at the base of the rings (if the rings have any gemstone settings on the top they may be wider at this point, so compare the bands at the opposite side of the band).
The only proviso here is that, the wedding ring must look proportional to the engagement ring and when they are worn together there should be ample space for them to fit on the finger between the base of the finger and the knuckle.
If you stick with these guidelines, you will be on the right path to selecting a wedding ring which keeps with overall objective of your engagement ring and wedding looking like they were made for each other.
What Type of Metal Should You Choose For Your Wedding Ring
Generally speaking you should match the metal of your wedding ring to your engagement ring. For example this means that if you have a yellow gold engagement ring then you should select a yellow gold wedding ring also.
Yellow Gold Wedding Ring
Also you would need to consider what carat gold your engagement ring is and ideally stick with the same, i.e. either 9ct or 18ct. There are a couple reasons for this. Firstly 18ct gold is harder than 9ct and may cause wear when it rubs against 9ct gold ring over time. Secondly, over time the appearance of 18ct and 9ct gold will differ as it ages.
Two Tone Gold Wedding Ring
There are of course exceptions to these rules. If you have an engagement ring that combines white and yellow gold you could either select a wedding ring which is made from either white or yellow gold or both. Though sticking to the same gold carat rating is still a good idea regardless of your choice for the reasons mentioned above.
When it come to other precious metals such as Platinum and Palladium, then the same rules apply, ideally it is best to match a platinum engagement ring by buying a platinum wedding ring. However, as Platinum rings are more expensive than gold, so this could prove to be expensive.
Platinum Wedding Ring
If your budget is restricted then matching you wedding ring with a platinum engagement ring could prove to be too costly (especially when you have many other wedding expenses to pay for).
In this situation you could match your platinum engagement ring with a white gold wedding ring or a palladium wedding ring, as both would prove to be a more cost effective option.
Should You Choose a Diamond Wedding Ring or a Ring With Other Gemstones?
This one is down to preference and budget. There a few guidelines and helpful hints that might help if you take them into consideration before you make your choice.
Two Tone Diamond Wedding Ring
Firstly it is traditional for diamonds, rubies and sapphires to be used in wedding rings because they are particularly hard and durable, a quality that is essential for a wedding ring which you are expecting to wear for the rest of your life. So selecting a wedding ring that uses any other type of gemstone is probably not advisable.
The good thing about incorporating diamonds and other gemstones in to the design of your wedding ring is that they will bring an extra sparkle to the design of you wedding ring. After a few years of wear and tear when your wedding ring might be in need of a professional clean and polish, the diamonds will still sparkle and make any scratches and blemishes less noticeable.
Diamond Wedding Ring
The most common arrangement for diamond (or other gemstones) wedding rings is the channel set ring. This is when the diamonds are in a row and touch each other. The best results can be achieved by matching the wedding ring and engagement ring to compliment each other. E.g. if the engagement ring includes diamonds or sapphires then select the same gems for the wedding ring.
Yellow Gold Diamond Wedding Ring
Also the engagement ring may include gemstones in any number of arrangements or settings. They could be in a prong, bar, cluster, or channel arrangements that span different distances across the circumference of the ring. The engagement ring gemstones can also sit either side of a singular or cluster of stones. The best results can be achieved by matching the settings of the wedding ring and engagement rings so that then both span across the same distance, so as to perfectly compliment each other.
What About Matching Wedding Rings and Unisex Wedding Rings?
Having matching wedding rings is becoming less popular now-a-days. Taking all of the above into consideration, the design that the bride chooses to compliment her engagement ring might not to the tastes of the groom if he were to choose a matching wedding ring.
However, it is possible to choose matching or Unisex wedding rings that are of a similar or a themed design. The designs don’t have to be identical to compliment each other. This could be done by matching the metals or inclusion of the same gemstones or engravings for both the mens and ladies wedding rings. Also ring engraving is another popular way of adding a personlised touch to your rings by having a special message engraved on both rings.
Mens Wedding Rings
Typically speaking, for the groom-to-be the process of buying a men’s wedding ring is a bit of a daunting task. Men tend to be less interested in jewellery and so are less familiar with the terminology that is used to describe certain aspects of wedding jewellery This is before you even mention the endless choice of men’s wedding rings that are available that make it a nightmare for your average man to decide on a wedding ring design.
Choosing a wedding ring obviously will include finding a design that you find attractive. But for men, their choice should also pay greater attention to the more practical aspects of design than a women might. As men tend to have more physical jobs and participate in more physical sports they need to consider aspects which relate to durability and wear-ability more.
If you are a man who is looking to buy a wedding ring then you really should put a little bit of effort into making what should be a once in a life time purchase. If you don’t you could end wasting a lot of money on something that isn’t especially suitable or practical for you.
By reading the rest of this guide you should be better informed and have a better idea of what wedding ring you want. Consequently the whole experience should be a lot more enjoyable and the purchase you make will be better informed.
Taking Lifestyle in to Consideration When Choosing Your Mens Wedding Ring
The practical aspects of choosing a men’s wedding ring probably come higher on the list than it does for a women. Whilst the same factors play a part for women the following factors are more likely to to figure in choosing a practical design of wedding ring for a man
Do you have a manual job that involves physical work with your hands? If so, are you required to remove your wedding ring for safety reasons whilst at work or would you you still wear your ring whilst doing your job?
Certain types of men’s wedding rings are more susceptible to scratches and discolouring than others, so jobs that involve using your hands in environments that are tough on your hands is likely to take its toll on your wedding ring over time.
In a similar manner, men who participate in certain recreational activities or sports or men that have hobbies that may involve using their hands in tough environments should also take this in to consideration when choosing an appropriate design of men’s wedding ring.
What Sort Men’s Wedding Ring Fits Your Personality?
Whilst all wedding rings are a symbol of marriage, for most women as well as for some men, their ring is also a fashion statement. If you are not yet familiar with the available designs of mens wedding rings, once you start to shop around for your wedding ring you will soon see that there are an endless range of styles and designs that you can choose from. Finding one which fits your personality as well as your lifestyle can soon become a complicated affair if you haven’t given it a little bit of thought in advance.
For the traditionalist there are of course the more classic designs of gold wedding bands. These traditional designs should appeal to the no frills kind of guy who has little interest for making any sort of fashion statement when displaying their wedding ring.
If you consider mens gold wedding rings a bit too plain looking, you can opt for a slightly more complex design by combining yellow with white gold for a two tone gold wedding ring, or by choosing a design which applies different patterns, profiles or textured finishes.
Another popular style of wedding ring, especially for people with a bit of Irish or Scottish blood flowing through their veins, is the Celtic wedding ring design. Although they are rather more complex than plain conventional wedding designs, they are actually a good way of combining attractive designs with old traditions.
For men who are a bit more fashion aware or experimental there are many very different wedding rings designs that use certain materials that you maybe wouldn’t normally associate with wedding rings such as titanium and tungsten carbide. When combined with other materials as well employing new manufacture techniques, some quite radical designs of men’s wedding rings can be produced. If you’re thinking about buying a ring from this category of men’s wedding rings you should keep in mind that you will be wearing the wedding rings for a long time to come. If you end up picking a design which is just a passing trend then you may end up regretting your choice.
Choosing a Comfortable Fitting Men’s Wedding Ring
Choosing a comfortable wedding ring is essential. As well as obviously selecting the correct wedding ring size, there are two other important factors that will influence how comfortable the rings is – the width and the shape or profile of the wedding band.
Typically choosing a wider ring will increase the likelihood of the ring becoming uncomfortable for the wearer, especially if they have smaller fingers and/or they aren’t used to wearing a ring. The most common ring width is between 5-7 mm. Going beyond this width might mean having to increase the ring finger size by about half a size to compensate for the extra width of the ring.
The shape or the profile of the ring will also play a big part in how comfortable the ring will be. A ring with a rounded profile such as a court profile or flat court will help prevent a wider ring from being uncomfortable.
What Type Of Metal Should You Choose for Your Men’s Wedding Ring?
There are quite a few different metals used for wedding rings. There are the traditional metals of gold, silver and platinum but now other metals such as titanium and tungsten are used in more modern designs of wedding rings. Also these metals can also come in different varieties, colours, and combinations making endless possibilities in designs. All have their own unique qualities which should be considered when choosing your design of wedding ring. Below is an outline of these qualities to help you with the decision process.
Gold Wedding Rings
Gold is traditionally the most popular choice for men’s wedding rings and it comes in many different varieties.
First thing to consider is the gold carat rating, 9ct and 18ct are the most commonly used variations. Gold is actually mixed with other metals when used in jewellery, it is this carat rating which refers to how much gold is contained within the mix. 9ct gold contains 37.5% gold and 18ct contains 75% gold.
The significance of this is that because 18ct gold contains more gold, then 18ct gold mens wedding rings will be more expensive. Also an 18ct gold ring will be slightly harder than a 9ct ring and so will be more resistant to wear and tear and will also age better over time. For these reasons choosing an 18ct gold wedding ring is preferable to an 8ct ring if it fits within the budget you have available.
Another factor to consider is that gold can come in different colours. This is done by either mixing and / or coating the gold with another metal to change its appearance.
First of all, yellow gold can have a varying degree of yellowness to it depending on what carat it is and what other metals are mixed with it. 18ct gold tends to be a darker shade of yellow than 9ct.
White gold is usually achieved by mixing gold with silver or palladium. It used to be the case that gold was mixed with nickel to produce white gold, but because the nickel causes an allergic reaction in a small percentage of wearers it is not used much any more. For this reason it is worth staying clear form buying a nickel based white gold ring to avoid the risk of such problems.
Another point relating to white gold to be aware of is that it is frequently coated in another alloy such as Rhodium. Rhodium has similar qualities to platinum, it has a brilliant white appearance and is very hard. However the coating will wear off over time and a rhodium coated white gold wedding ring will probably need re-coating at some point depending how much wear and tear it receives.
Another variation in colour is ‘rose gold’. The reddish tint to rose gold is achieved by mixing copper with gold.
Typically a 9ct rose gold wedding ring which contains less yellow gold but more copper tends to have a redder colour than an 18ct rose gold wedding ring.
Platinum Wedding Rings
Platinum is another precious metal used in wedding ring designs. It is not as common as gold because it is about twice a expensive. However it does have some very desirable qualities.
Firstly it is a very hard metal and so it is very durable and will maintain a better appearance for much longer. Platinum is is used in an almost pure form, it doesn’t need to be combined with any other metals. And because it has a natural brilliant white appearance, it doesn’t need to be coated with any other metals to give it a white finish as does gold.
Palladium Wedding Rings
Palladium is a metal that comes from the same family of metals as Platinum. It has very similar qualities to platinum in terms of its hardness and appearance. However is is more affordable than platinum, and falls between the price of 9ct and 18ct gold. Its a great choice as a compromise between price, looks and durability.
Titanium Wedding Rings
Titanium is a silver / white metal, and is the hardest natural metal there is. It is far stronger than gold, silver and platinum despite being a very light metal. It is very resistant to general wear and tear, it does not scratch or dent easily and so keeps its attractive appearance. Also it also comes in a wide variety of colours.
It is all of these qualities which make it a good candidate for use in the construction of wedding rings. On the negative side is that titanium cannot be re-sized because it cannot be soldered.
Tungsten Wedding Rings
The use of Tungsten Carbide in wedding rings is a relatively new trend. It may not have the prestige associated with gold and platinum but is does have some desirable qualities.
These are that it has a lighter appearance which is similar to white gold. It is also a very hard metal and is very resistant to scratches (better than gold, platinum and titanium), this helps to give it a permanent polish to its appearance, consequently it rarely ever needs re-polishing.
Finally it is cheaper than both platinum and gold.
