Wedding Ring Guide
A wedding ring is often one of the most important jewelry pieces you’ll buy in your lifetime. To commemorate a special occasion like your wedding, it's important to find the perfect ring. At Treasure Fine Jewelers, we’re determined to help you treasure the moment. And that means taking the stress away from finding your perfect wedding ring. With a variety of unique, high quality wedding rings, the options are endless. Our team of jewelry experts excitedly awaits to answer your questions and help you on your journey to finding your perfect wedding ring.
Read on for a comprehensive wedding ring guide to get you started on your journey. Be sure to contact our team with any questions or concerns!
What Does a Wedding Ring Symbolize
Wedding rings symbolize love and togetherness. A special tradition across many cultures and time periods, wedding rings are a meaningful sentiment. The beauty of love and the power of togetherness are worthy of a shining diamond ring to help you treasure the moment and commemorate your commitment to your special someone for years to come.
Between two married people, a wedding ring symbolizes an unbreakable bond and commitment to one another. In addition to being an expression of eternal love, wedding rings can also serve to display your romantic status to the world. This ring on your left ring finger is your way of telling everyone “I’m married and in love!”.
The circular shape of a wedding ring also speaks to its meaning. Circles are representative of an eternal, never-ending nature. Wearing this circle permanently around your finger symbolizes the similar eternal and never ending nature of the loving bond that you share with your spouse.
What finger does the wedding ring go on?
Across different cultures, wedding rings have been worn on various fingers on both the right and left hand. Today, we commonly know wedding rings to be worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, though in many countries, it is also worn on the right hand.
Wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand, for both men and women, is a tradition that originated from the belief that this finger has a vein leading directly to the heart. We associate the heart with feelings of love and thus the tradition only made sense. And that's why we stuck with it. That’s also why this finger is called the ring finger.
However, there’s nothing to say that a wedding ring can’t still be worn on a different finger. After all, wearing it on the ring finger is only a tradition. So whether you choose to follow an established tradition or to create your own tradition, you can rock your wedding ring however you like!
How to Choose a Wedding Ring
Choosing the right wedding ring is an exciting, and potentially daunting journey to embark on. Lucky for you, we’ve got plenty of resources to ease the process.
Start by doing your homework. Read up on the wedding ring buying process and think about what you may want to look for when it comes to your wedding ring.
You’ll want to think about things like the ring style, metal type, stone type, color, band width, and more.
Next, decide your price range and find a reputable jeweler. From here, the process should be straightforward! For more information, read our blog posts about shopping for wedding bands or contact us with any questions or concerns.
Before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to picking out the perfect wedding ring to treasure your moment.
For more information, read our ultimate wedding band guide!
Tips for Choosing a Wedding Ring
To make your journey of finding your wedding ring a little smoother, follow these tips for shopping for a wedding ring.
The first tip is to plan well in advance. Because of how stressful the wedding planning process may be, the sooner you plan out your wedding ring shopping, the better. Schedule time to find and purchase your wedding ring with plenty of time to spare at the end in case your ring needs to be polished, resized or changed.
Secondly, look into your partner's style and preferences thoroughly before buying their ring. If you don't already know which ring your partner is looking for, familiarize yourself with their taste in jewelry before you choose a ring for them. Asking their friends and family as well as looking at their Pinterest boards are great strategies for this!
Lastly, talk to your jeweler! You’d be surprised at how many people shop for wedding rings without having a conversation with an expert. Reaching out to your jeweler with all your questions and concerns during the wedding ring buying process is an obvious but often overlooked tip!
How Much Should You Spend on a Wedding Ring?
Deciding on a budget for your wedding ring is an important step in the ring buying process. Determining a price range will allow you to find appropriate jewelry retailers who can meet your budgeting requirements. It will also enable you to filter out all the options that are out of your price range, so you can narrow your search.
As for how much money you should spend on a wedding ring, the simple answer is: however much you want!
Though some traditions may call for a particular portion of one's salary to be spent on a wedding ring, many of them are outdated.
How much you spend on your wedding ring depends on you, your partner, and the kind of ring you’d like to buy. Wedding ring prices can vary greatly across the spectrum, from more affordable rings to extravagant, high-end ones.
How To Measure Ring Size
Having the correct ring size is an obvious part of the wedding ring buying process. However, you’d be surprised at how often it is overlooked and ring resizing is required.
Well ahead of time, you’ll want to ensure that you’ve precisely determined the correct ring size to look for.
To determine your ring size, you can get your finger measured at a jewelry retailer, use a ring you already own, or measure the circumference of your finger and refer to a ring sizing chart online.
Popular Metals Used In Wedding Rings
As mentioned, one of the things you’ll want to decide on for your wedding ring is the metal type. Wedding rings may be found made with various metals, each with their own benefits.
Read on to learn more about various metal types so you can decide the best metal type for your wedding ring.
-
Platinum
Platinum is one of the most popular metal types for wedding bands. Platinum stands out for its high quality and durability. For a ring that will not lose its shine or fade over time, a platinum wedding band is the way to go. With a white, shiny exterior, platinum is also the perfect metal to accentuate a diamond for a beautiful, sparkling wedding band.
-
Gold
Gold is a classic option when it comes to jewelry. A gold wedding band offers the traditional yellow tone of gold. Choosing gold will also ensure a ring that won’t tarnish or rust. Moreover, you may also opt for rose gold or white gold if you’re looking for a more modern or unique ring with the properties of gold.
-
Silver
At Treasure Fine Jewelers, you can discover silver jewelry crafted with fine sterling silver. A sterling silver wedding band can serve as a great dupe for platinum or white gold. With a similar white color and shine, sterling silver offers a more affordable wedding band option.
-
Tungsten Carbide
Tungsten carbide makes for a wedding band that will last you for years to come. Tungsten carbide refers to an alloy made from 80% tungsten and 20% other metals. This creates a unique, sturdy wedding band.
-
Cobalt
Cobalt wedding bands are made from another alloy which is highly durable. Cobalt offers a firm, hard ring which is resistant to damage. Cobalt wedding bands can also make for light-weight wedding band options that are hypoallergenic, perfect for those with sensitive skin.
-
Tantalum
LAstly, tantalum is another hypoallergenic and scratch-resistant metal choice. Tantalum naturally has a blue-grey color and makes for a unique wedding band.
Different Types of Wedding Rings
Depending on your preferences and lifestyle, you’ll want to choose a wedding band style that will best suit your needs.
The following are common wedding band styles you may want to consider:
-
Comfort Fit Wedding Ring
Comfort fit wedding bands are a popular option when it comes to classic wedding rings. This wedding band receives its name from having a rounded interior that leaves less metal touching the finger, thus making the ring comfortable to wear.
-
Flat Wedding Band
A flat wedding band is pretty much what the name suggests. It is flat on top and does not have any shape to it. Some flat wedding band styles are referred to as pipe rings. This style offers a modern and contemporary look.
-
Half-Round Wedding Ring
For a classic and traditional option, the half-round wedding ring is the way to go. A half round wedding band offers a rounded top as well as a flat or comfort fit interior.
-
Diamond Wedding Rings
Both mens and womens diamond wedding bands are another classic option. Associated with marriage, diamonds offer a bright, elegant look. Though more expensive, a diamond ring is the perfect option for a wedding band that makes a statement.
-
Fancy Wedding Rings
Fancy wedding rings refer to any wedding bands with unique features. This can include intricate details, engravings, and symbols. Fancy wedding rings can also offer accent details and unique embellishments. For a ring with a personal touch that speaks to your personality, a fancy wedding ring is the way to go.
-
Gemstone Wedding Rings
Gemstone wedding rings can be made with a large variety of beautifully colored gemstones. This creates a unique wedding band as opposed to a simple classic ring or diamond ring.
Different Styles of Wedding Rings
Apart from simply wedding bands and engagement rings, there are various rings you may find in the wedding collection.
Different occasions call for different styles of rings. For example, you may want to go about an anniversary gift differently than a wedding gift. That’s why we offer various collections so you can find the right ring, no matter what the occasion.
Read on to learn about some different wedding ring styles you may want to be aware of.
A classic wedding band is your average wedding band. With a classic, timeless feel, classic weddings are a go-to option. Though mostly popular among men, classic wedding bands are often worn by women too for a modern, contemporary look.
Eternity bands feature identical diamonds going all around the ring. The name “eternity” refers to the circle of diamond and the eternity of one’s love that the ring is designed to represent.
Eternity bands make for popular gifts among couples and are a beautiful way of telling your special someone “I love you”.
As the name suggests, anniversary bands are made to be given as gifts on one’s anniversary. An anniversary band features identical diamonds, similar to an eternity band. However, the diamonds in this case only around the top half of the ring and not the entirety of it like in an eternity band.
Whether it's your first anniversary or your tenth, you can’t go wrong with an anniversary band as a beautiful reminder of your love.
As the name suggests, ring guards are designed to guard your ring. When worn with a solitaire ring, a ring guard surrounds either side of the ring. This serves to protect your ring from various forms of damage. Ring guards can be bought to match or compliment your ring so that you can have a ring guard that's both functional and stylish.
Similar to ring guards, contour bands are also meant to be worn alongside solitaire rings. As the name suggests, contour bands contour around the shape of your ring. The bend in the contour band creates a space for the stone of your ring to fit. This allows both the rings to fit together.
Wedding Ring Considerations for Women
When shopping for a women’s wedding ring, here’s what you’ll want to consider. Picking the same metal for your wedding band as your engagement ring is recommended. This will ensure that the rings complement one another. In addition, wearing two different metals may damage the ring of the softer metal. Two rings of the same metal will prevent this potential damage.
To create a matching set, we also recommend choosing a similar band width as your engagement ring. Though not necessary, having both rings of equal width may create coherence among the set.
Lastly, regardless of how similar or different your wedding band is to your engagement ring in other regards, it is important to pick a similar profile. This is the best way to tie the two together.
Ultimately, it is important to take into consideration your engagement band when shopping for a wedding band. As the two bands will be worn together on a daily basis, two compatible bands will both complement one another and offer the most practicality.
Wedding Ring Considerations for Men
As opposed to women, men don’t have to consider coordinating their wedding band to an engagement ring. As for the design of the wedding band, the profile and width are good places to start.
Commonly, mens wedding bands are wider than women, as to compliment their larger hand sizes and offer a more masculine look.
Despite the popularity of basic, classic wedding bands among men, there are still many design options when it comes to men's wedding bands. Wider bands offer more space for designs, engravings, and intricate details.
Mens wedding bands can also feature diamonds or gemstones. This includes both rings with singular stones as well as those with multiple smaller stones.
Another important consideration when shopping for a men's wedding band is the men's everyday lifestyle. This includes their work life and hobbies. This consideration is helpful when deciding factors like the width and metal type of the wedding band.
For example, for a man who works with his hands on a daily basis, a platinum wedding band may be the best option as it is durable, long-lasting, and scratch resistant.
Lastly, consider whether your ring will match your partners. Though some couples opt for matching wedding rings, others choose slightly different rings that complement each other and some even choose entirely different rings that don’t match.
Depending on what you and your partner decide, you may want to base your wedding ring design on your partner's ring.