10 Basic Tips on Choosing a Wedding Ring

J.W. Lord said: A wedding ring is a symbol of commitment; a promise, a pledge, and a vow. The promise is to forsake all others, to stay devoted and true; the pledge is to honor that promise selflessly, to see the whole thing through; and the vow is to keep that pledge unwaveringly, until the days are few. It is a mutual agreement to become one instead of two.

Undoubtedly, the choice of a wedding ring is an essential part of wedding preparation. However, it’s simultaneously one of the hardest parts. Many couples think that it’s easy to find the perfect rings until they face this problem themselves.

Though the choice of wedding bands is pretty large and every couple may find the ones which suit both its budget and style, the process of searching can be pretty long and painful.

That’s why, we are ready to help you to pick up the perfect band and avoid the problems which can emerge while shopping for rings. So, before saying “I Do” to a certain wedding ring, have a look at the following tips.

Tip 1. Decide what ring options are acceptable

You need to narrow your ring choices by setting the options which are acceptable. Would like to have minimalist rings or the ones featuring some intricate décor? Do you want to have diamonds or rhinestones on it? Do you want to have classic, high fashion or vintage wedding rings? Would you like your wedding band to match your engagement ring? Do your and your future spouse’s rings need to be matching? By answering these questions, you will understand what rings you want and thus, the first step to a successful purchase will be made.

Wedding ring with rhinestones

Tip 2. Choose your metal

While gold is a traditional metal of wedding rings for women and men, it’s not the only possible option. Among some good variants of metals are:

Yellow Gold

Yellow gold, which also contains some silver and copper in its alloy, is a classic choice of the couples. If opting for yellow gold, it’s better to go with 14 carat or 18 carat gold as they look great and, simultaneously, are durable. If the gold has more than 75% purity, it can be too soft for daily wear. At the same time, gold lower than 14 carat is very durable but doesn’t look fantastic.

White Gold

White gold is a cheaper alternative to platinum. It contains pure gold combined with white metals like palladium and silver. The brilliant white shine is reached by rhodium plating. It’s hypo-allergenic and serves to protect the gold. It looks very beautiful but requires some polishing from time to time as its rhodium plating may wear off.

Rose Gold

Rose gold, which is also referred as red gold or pink gold, is gaining popularity now. It’s durable thanks to containing some copper in its formula. It maintains its color and doesn’t tarnish.

Mix of Gold

Also, you may have the gold of various colors mixed in your wedding ring. Thus, you can combine white with yellow or rose gold. Also, there are some cute ring designs featuring all three types of gold.

Platinum

Platinum is a more expensive material than gold as it’s 30 times more rare. However, it’s extremely durable and can last you a lifetime. Such rings are resistant to scratches and don’t lose their natural white color. Platinum rings are heavy, strong and hypo-allergenic. However, keep in mind that platinum can wear out other metals. So, be careful if you plan to wear it with your gold or silver engagement ring.

Sterling Silver

Many couples, who have a tight budget, opt for sterling silver rings as this material is one of the most inexpensive precious metals. They are available in many cool designs and can look like white gold. However, this metal requires regular polishing to remain shining and beautiful.

Sterling silver wedding rings

Tip 3. Set your budget

It’s important to know how much money you can spend on your wedding bands. As a rule, expenditures for wedding bands mustn’t exceed 5% of the wedding budget. However, if you plan a casual wedding with only closest people present and aren’t going to throw a luxurious party, percentage ratio may shift. As a result, you will pay more than 5% of the budget.

Wedding bands can cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars if they are made of gold or platinum. That’s the main reason why many couples save money by opting for sterling silver, titanium and even copper rings. Some newlyweds even wear wooden and silicone wedding rings, but these are not durable options at all.

Tip 4. Start the search early

It’s recommended to start the search of wedding rings at least a couple of months before the wedding. You need some time to make the research and discover more about the prices, jewelry stores near you as well as online shops where you can buy the rings cheaper. Not all couples like rings at the first store they visit. So, be ready to spend some time on the search in order not to make a wrong choice buying a ring in hurry.

Moreover, note that rings size alteration and engraving also take up some time. Usually, it’s about 3-6 weeks.

Wedding ring

Tip 5. Buy wedding rings with your significant other

While an engagement ring may be a total surprise for you, the choice of a wedding band mustn’t be surprising for your partner. That’s why, it’s better to shop for your marriage symbols together. Also, think about how your rings look together.

You can buy absolutely identical rings or opt for wedding ring sets featuring rings which are different but matching. Some couples also opt for different wedding bands due to different tastes. But our opinion is that it’s better if your rings have something in common, at least a metal type.

Tip 6. Decide where to buy rings

Actually, there are two types of places where you can buy a wedding ring. You can do that either at your local store or online. Both methods have pros and cons and we are going to tell about them below.

Physical vs Online Shops

Fitting. The main plus of a physical shop is that you can try a wedding ring on before buying it as well as examine it carefully for flaws and defects. Moreover, you can check the quality marks. Online shops don’t offer such an opportunity and so, you need to read the description carefully and look through all the photos of the item.

Price. Online shops are the winners in this category. Actually, if you seek for cheap wedding rings, online shops are the best way to save some money from your wedding budget. The prices at them are about 10-25% lower than at their brick-and-mortar competitors.

Selection. Usually online shops have a wider selection of products, but it doesn’t mean that the selection at physical shops is poor. However, online shops are the winners as there are many retailers as well as shops who deal with drop shipping. Moreover, you may find some really unique rings online.

Convenience. Many people love online shopping for its convenience as you have a chance to buy everything you need without leaving your home. Online shopping requires less time and energy while the result can be astonishing. Moreover, no one makes pressure on you and you are free to contemplate on the purchase as long as you need. Of course, there are some people who think that shopping at an ordinary store is more convenient.

Security. Many people consider online shopping less secure than the one at a physical shop. Clearly, you may face some scammers on the net who take your money and send nothing in return. That’s why, don’t make purchases on suspicious sites. If you have some doubts, check the information about the company and make sure that it really exists. Real companies usually have some reviews as well as many of them are now active on social media or run their own blogs. Moreover, read the description of the item very carefully and look through all the photos. If you need a consultancy, turn to the company’s customer support.

Wedding ring

Tip 7. Keep your lifestyle in mind

If you are a proponent of active lifestyle, a ring with a huge diamond or intricate details won’t be practical. Or, if you work with your hands, carvings may catch dirt while any embellishments can be spoilt. That’s why, it’s better to opt for something simpler, a ring which doesn’t prevent you from doing your daily routines.

Tip 8. Don’t stick to fashion

Fashion trends change pretty often. A wedding dress is worn only once and that’s why it can be ultra trendy. However, the things are different with a wedding ring. While choosing the one, keep in mind that you will wear it for decades and so, it must look great no matter how fashion changes or how old you get.

Tip 9. Choose the proper size

The choice of the size is very important for both women’s and men’s wedding rings. As rings are usually worn daily, you must feel comfortable no matter how cold or hot weather is and what you do. It’s a fact that fingers may swell and contract from heat, cold and water retention. That’s why the best time to fit your potential wedding ring is when your body temperature is normal. So, it’s better not to shop for rings when the weather is too hot or too cold. Also, keep in mind that in the morning, you retain water from the night before and after exercising, your fingers swell.

Wedding ring

Tip 10. Check the quality marks

If you buy a gold, platinum or silver ring, it must contain a manufacturer’s mark as well as the quality mark, which proves that your ring is really made of a precious metal. Gold rings may feature such hallmarks: 375 (9 carat), 585 (14 carat), 750 (18 carat), 916 (22 carat), 990 (24 carat) and 999 (fine gold). Silver hallmarks are 800, 925(sterling silver), 958 and 999. The platinum rings need to contain one of these quality marks: 850, 900, 950 or 999.

Now, you know almost everything about wedding rings and can start the choice of the best bands for you and your future spouse. In addition to the all stated above rules, we would like to add that it’s also very important that you like your rings. Even if the ring meets all your requirements, don’t buy it if you don’t like it or feel uncomfortable wearing it. Remember that your ring will definitely wait for you to come and pick it up.