Choosing a wedding ring or wedding band might seem a more straightforward task than selecting an engagement ring, but it still involves many important and exciting decisions! You will be wearing your wedding ring for the rest of your life so it’s important to choose a design you’ll be comfortable with.
Diamond
A diamond's quality and price are determined by a set of four conditions known as the four C's: cut, clarity, color, and carat. When selecting a diamond, look for one that balances these four qualities without straining your budget. Perfect quality diamonds are rare and extremely expensive, but you can select a slightly less perfect diamond that still appears brilliant to the naked eye.
A diamond's quality and price are determined by a set of four conditions known as the four C's: cut, clarity, color, and carat. When selecting a diamond, look for one that balances these four qualities without straining your budget. Perfect quality diamonds are rare and extremely expensive, but you can select a slightly less perfect diamond that still appears brilliant to the naked eye.
Before you go shopping for a diamond, there are a few other pointers you should keep in mind.
- Set a budget before you start shopping. Doing so will help you choose the highest quality diamond you can find for your money.
- Do your research. Learn as much as you can about diamond quality and price to prevent yourself from getting cheated.
- Shop around. Visit several different jewelers for a wider selection.Only visit reputable jewelers. Avoid shopping for diamonds over the Internet, especially if purchasing an important piece such as an engagement ring. Always look for a diamond in person so you can examine the quality firsthand
- Ask to see official grading reports, such as a GIA report, before purchasing a diamond.
Metal
The choice of metal for the bride’s wedding band is usually dictated by her engagement ring. The groom’s ring will often follow suit too. However, if the bride and groom have different preferences there is nothing to stop the groom opting for gold while the bride goes for platinum. In any case, here are the most popular options:
A yellow gold wedding ring is the traditional choice. 24k is the purest but also the softest variety, so is not generally recommended for wedding bands. 14k and 18k gold are less pure but harder and therefore more likely to make a durable wedding ring.
A white gold wedding ring will complement any silver or platinum jewellery you may have already. However, a white gold wedding ring is often plated with rhodium to enhance its appearance, and this plating is likely to wear off with time.
A platinum wedding ring is another popular choice. This silvery metal is highly resistant to damage. It’s much rarer than gold and is therefore more expensive, but a platinum wedding ring will last a lifetime.
A titanium wedding ring is a more modern choice since it is only relatively recently that this striking greyish metal has been used for jewellery. It is extremely durable and can be carved without losing its strength. A titanium wedding ring is a real talking point.
Other considerations
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 jeweller what font or style (eg 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 jeweller, 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.
A white gold wedding ring will complement any silver or platinum jewellery you may have already. However, a white gold wedding ring is often plated with rhodium to enhance its appearance, and this plating is likely to wear off with time.
A platinum wedding ring is another popular choice. This silvery metal is highly resistant to damage. It’s much rarer than gold and is therefore more expensive, but a platinum wedding ring will last a lifetime.
A titanium wedding ring is a more modern choice since it is only relatively recently that this striking greyish metal has been used for jewellery. It is extremely durable and can be carved without losing its strength. A titanium wedding ring is a real talking point.
Other considerations
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 jeweller what font or style (eg 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 jeweller, 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.
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