Image for illustration purposes only
If your big day is not too far away, then you might be searching for the perfect wedding ring that you’ll love to wear every day. In this article, Jack Jahan from Ramsdens Jewellery shares five top tips for choosing a band that suits you and matches your personal style.
Over the years, most of the attention when it comes to wedding jewellery has been directed toward the bride. After all, everyone wants to see the engagement ring first, then the focus is well and truly on what beautiful pieces the bridal party are all wearing for the occasion. The groom’s wedding band has typically been something chosen to match or to be as plain as possible.
In more recent times, the groom’s wedding ring has gained more importance as couples have started to pick out ones that don’t match each other. This has opened up the possibilities for men, who now have more freedom to research and shop for a unique design that suits them and that they’ll love wearing for the decades to come.
However, if you’re a groom-to-be looking to find that perfect wedding ring, you may be a little overwhelmed by the range of choices available, especially if you’re not a regular jewellery buyer. To help you out, I’ve put together my top tips for narrowing down the search.
Consider what you want in a ring
As a wedding ring is such a significant item of jewellery, it’s worth stopping and having a think about what you actually want and what will suit your needs. Doing so will make sure that you have a much clearer picture of what you’re looking for before you start shopping around.
For instance, you need to think about what your tastes are, as you want a wedding band that truly reflects your personal style and doesn’t begin to grate on you one or even ten years down the line. If you wear jewellery regularly, then it’s often a good idea to pick something that won’t look totally out of place among the rest of your collection. Or, if you aren’t a big jewellery wearer, then a design that is more timeless and understated may be a better choice.
You should also consider what impact your lifestyle will have on your choice of ring. Someone who is very active or works with their hands might prefer a ring in a more hardwearing metal, like tungsten or titanium, as this will withstand any wear and tear. A sleeker design without any decoration might also be a better choice, as it will reduce the chances of the band catching on something.
Shopping for your ring will be a lot easier if you know what size you’ll be looking for, particularly if you are looking at pre-owned, vintage, or one-off pieces that may be limited in sizing options. It’s a good idea to get measured by a jeweller, or, if you’re shopping online, using a printable size guide.
Get familiar with the styles of wedding ring
Due to the limited nature of men’s wedding rings in the past, many grooms are surprised to find the range of options available to them when they actually come to choose a ring.
With this in mind, you should familiarise yourself with some of the most popular styles:
- Classic rings: The classic wedding ring is the traditional choice you’re probably fairly used to seeing. It’s very understated style with a plain yet sleek and timeless look. They still remain a very popular choice among grooms.
- Carved rings: A carved ring is very much like a classic ring in its understated design, but has a bevelled edge that changes the look of the piece to something a lot broader.
- Diamond rings: Commonly associated with engagements and anniversaries, diamonds can also be found on many wedding rings. You can choose a just one stone for simple luxury or several for something more ostentatious. However, bear in mind that adding diamonds will increase the price tag significantly.
- Alternative rings: If you’re looking to stand out from the crowd, an alternative style ring is the choice for you. These bands don’t have any traditional hallmarks and make use of other metals, shapes, and design features for a unique look.
Alongside the various styles available, you will also find rings with different profiles. Domed bands are formed like a letter “D”, with a rounded outer, while flat rings have almost no curvature to their shape. There is a whole scale of variance between these two extremes, so you should be able to find a profile that suits your tastes. As a general rule, domed rings are considered more traditional and tend to suit thicker fingers, while flat rings are more contemporary and sit better on thin fingers.
You can also vary the width of your wedding band, with wide to thin, and various measurements in between, available. Some grooms prefer to choose a wider band as they think it looks masculine, but I’d advise you not to prioritise this over how the ring feels on your finger. You’ll need to try potential rings on, and you should always try to balance looks and comfort to get the ideal ring.
Lastly, you may find that a ring you have your eye on is available in both a traditional and comfort fit. A traditional fit has a flat inner band that doesn’t conform to your finger, while you’ll find a curve on a comfort band that ensures it sits easier. Again, you’ll need to try each version on before you pick.
Decide on a metal for your ring
You’ll also need to decide what type of metal you would prefer for your wedding ring. Some factors to consider when making this decision may include what colour you’d like your ring to be, what your budget is, and whether you need your ring to be extra durable.
Some of the most popular metals for wedding rings are:
- Yellow gold: Yellow gold is created when gold is mixed with another metal. It comes in two varieties: 9-carat and 18-carat, with 9-carat being the cheaper but more hardwearing of the two as it has a greater amount of blended metals. Yellow gold is the traditional metal choice for wedding bands, and it is a timeless choice.
- White gold: White gold is made by mixing yellow gold with a white metal to create a silvery shine that isn’t dissimilar from platinum. It can be plated with rhodium to ensure it keeps its lustre, but must be replated every few years if so.
- Rose gold: Gold is mixed with copper alloys and silver to create rose gold, a metal with a pink hue. It’s a very on-trend metal that is popular in contemporary ring designs.
- Platinum: Platinum is the strongest, rarest, and most expensive precious metal. It delivers a lustrous white shine that is highly sought after — most rings are a 95% mix with another metal due to its scarcity.
- Palladium: Palladium is an increasingly popular metal with grooms that has a dark grey shine to it. It is from the platinum family, sharing its durability and consistent shine, but is more common and therefore much more affordable.
- Silver: Silver is the most common and affordable of the precious metals but still has a lovely shine and timeless look to it.
Follow my advice and you will be able to choose the ideal wedding ring in a style that suits you. With a band that has the right design, shape, colour, and feel, you’ll love wearing it every day.