Nowadays there are so many choices when it comes to wedding rings, that it’s hard to know where to start and it can become a daunting task. To take some of the stress out of it, I have answered six of the most commonly asked questions to help you in your quest to find the perfect wedding ring…
1. How long will it take to make my wedding rings?
This depends on what you want. Plain bands will be quicker than diamond set bands with intricate engraving inside, but we usually advise 6 weeks as a guide. Having said that I would never suggest that you leave it until 6 weeks before the wedding to start thinking about, as it can cause a lot of stress. It is always best to start looking a few months before the wedding to give you more time to play around with design options.
2. What is the best metal to choose?
It depends if you are wearing your wedding ring with another ring (i.e. your engagement ring). If so, you should match the metals so that they wear evenly.
If you are wearing your wedding ring alone, you have more choice. Consider, what colour of metal suits your skin tone. White metals can be quite stark on some skin tones, whereas yellow or rose golds can warm others. Try not to choose a metal based on how trendy it is. Things come and go in the fashion world, what is ‘in’ today may be ‘out’ tomorrow, so choose a metal that you like, rather than the one that’s flavour of the month.
If you can’t choose between two colours, why not look at designs which incorporate both? A simple white band with a detail of rose or yellow can look really effective and will make your plain band more unique, plus it will instantly go with more!
You should also consider your lifestyle; if you have a hands-on job or hobby, you may want to stick with a harder metal like platinum.
Price is obviously a big consideration too, which brings me nicely to…
3. How much will it cost?
This is a tricky one to answer, but my advice would be to set a budget and let your jeweller know what it is! It will avoid you wasting time looking at designs that won’t fit within your budget, and they will be able to advise you on different options.
Weddings are expensive so I understand that you want to keep the price to a minimum, but consider that the rings are the one part that will be seen after the wedding, long after the flowers have died and the dress has been packed away. Be realistic with your budget, especially if you want diamonds everywhere.
To give you a (very rough) idea of the price differences between metals, I have listed some costs of plain wedding bands, in the most popular widths and finger sizes. (Prices are correct as of January 2020, but bear in mind that bullion fluctuates a LOT, this is just to give you an indication of the difference in price between the metal types, and hopefully help you to budget.)
*18 carat white gold is especially high at the moment (2019/2020) making it more expensive than platinum at the time of writing this! Thank you, Brexit!
4. What order should I wear my rings?
Traditionally it was the order you receive them; engagement, wedding, eternity (yes, there are three!), but nowadays the wedding ring tends to go first, followed by the engagement ring. Your engagement ring is the one that comes off more often; for work, holidays, playing with the kids etc, but also when you put your wedding ring on second it can be a little hidden by your engagement ring. Ultimately it is your choice, have a play around and see which order you prefer.
5. How wide should my ring be?
Traditionally, if a wedding ring is sitting with an engagement ring, it should be the same width to make them look balanced. However, nowadays the ‘rules’ are less strict. There will obviously be a maximum and minimum width that works for you, but just remember that you want both your rings to compliment each other, without one out-shining the other (pun intended).
Another tip I always suggest is to try your wedding ring options on their own. What can look great when worn with your engagement ring, can look odd worn solo. It is something to consider when making your final decision because you may not always want/be able to wear your engagement ring.
The fashion at the moment is for super fine diamond bands, and although they look lovely; think about how this will wear over time. You want your wedding ring to last for years so make sure you consider this before setting your heart on a really thin band.
Something else to take in to account is the size of your finger. Smaller hands can look swamped by a wide ring, whereas a larger hand can look strangled by a thin ring. The most common width for a lady’s ring at the moment is 2 - 2.5mm, whereas a gent’s is 5 - 6mm. Needless to say I recommend trying some on, and when you do, be sure to look at your hand in a mirror, you will get a much better idea of how it looks.
6. Shouldn’t the two weddings ring match?
It’s a lovely thought but what suits you will not necessarily suit your betrothed. Instead consider choosing what suits you individually and adding a detail to tie them together. Perhaps a split engraving, which only makes sense when both bands are together, a detail from your partner’s ring in yours, or even a tiny stone set on the inside, completely hidden from anyone but the two of you.
Finally, getting married is meant to be an exciting experience and the rings should be a part of that. Have fun trying them on and remember that there is no wrong answer, as long as you love them!
If you would like to speak to us about having your wedding rings made, then email us to see how we can help, or book an appointment for a free 1 hour design consultation by clicking the button below.
Looking forward to seeing you in West Malling soon!
Clare X