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How to choose the ideal wedding ring
Throughout history, wedding rings have symbolised loyalty, love, and faithfulness. This tradition springs from ancient times and is widely found in almost every culture.
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There’s so much talk about engagement rings that sometimes, wedding rings don’t seem to get the attention that they deserve. After all, a wedding ring will be worn every single day for the rest of your life. It signifies the greatest commitment that you have made and is an enduring visible symbol of your marriage.
Throughout history, wedding rings have symbolised loyalty, love, and faithfulness. This tradition springs from ancient times and is widely found in almost every culture. When buying a wedding ring, the approach is quite different to an
Choose your budget
Choosing your budget at the start can help you decide on your rings and not get side-tracked when shopping.
To fit the rings into your budget, you can play around with the ring metal and styles. For example, choose a half eternity rather than a full eternity band as it will cost less yet won’t make a big difference to the appearance of your ring. Another example would be to choose white gold over platinum, as they both look very similar but white gold is more affordable.
Big brand names and designer rings also can add a substantial mark-up to the general price of the ring. Remember that a wedding ring is a classic piece of jewellery and whether you purchase it at a big brand store or at your favourite custom jeweller, there won’t be a huge difference in the look but there definitely will be a difference in the price!
Consider your lifestyle
While this may seem like an obvious point, many people forget to remember that the wedding ring they choose should suit their lifestyle. Considering that this is a piece of jewellery that you will wear every day for a lifetime, it is very important that it fits your lifestyle to ensure that it lasts a lifetime.
The ring you purchase should be stylish but also practical. For example, if you have a very active, outdoorsy lifestyle or are exposed to lots of chemicals, your ring should be tough enough to withstand that sort of exposure. Take this into consideration when deciding on your metal and style and make sure you check this with your jeweller before you buy.
Choose your metal
Traditionally gold was used for wedding rings, although we are now spoilt for choice when it comes to metals. For a matched look, it is a good idea for the bride and groom to choose the same metal. While the styles can be different, having the same metal gives the two rings a subtle yet beautiful connection.
Having said that, some brides and grooms prefer different metals to suit their tastes. For example, rose gold is a feminine soft colour and is perfect for a bride, whereas the groom might wish for something sturdier and more masculine.
Most brides like better to choose a matching metal to their engagement ring.
Here are the most popular metals for wedding rings:
Yellow Gold
This is the traditional classic choice for a wedding ring. When choosing yellow gold, you have a choice of 9 karat, 14 karat or 18 karat gold.
Yellow gold with over 75% purity is going to be too soft for daily wear and will easily scratch and loose shape.
Silver
Silver has become a popular choice with young couples because of its affordability and with more “arty” brides for its malleable properties.
Platinum
Platinum is more expensive than gold because it is harder to craft and is extremely durable. Because it is naturally white, platinum will not fade or tarnish. It is also very resistant to scratches.
White gold
If platinum is beyond your budget, white gold makes for a great alternative. It is a very popular modern metal variety and a great option for wedding rings. However, over time the rhodium plating on the white gold will wear off, requiring you to have the ring re-polished and plated.
