How To Choose A Wedding Ring

For centuries, it’s been traditional for husbands to give their wives a wedding ring, the unbroken band of metal symbolising the eternal nature of their love. Since classical times, it’s the fourth finger of the left hand that has supposedly contained the ‘vena amoris’, or ‘vein of love’, although in some cultures the wedding ring is worn on the right hand.

In recent decades, it has become increasingly common for wives to reciprocate by giving their husband a wedding ring, and an exchange of rings is now a feature of most western marriages.

Though wedding rings are often uncomplicated pieces of jewellery, it is worth taking a bit of time when choosing. Of all the decisions a couple has to take, the choice of ring is probably the most permanent – the dress will be worn once, the cake will be eaten once, and so on. But the rings will last for decades. So what considerations should you focus on when making the choice?

First of all, you should give some thought to what metal you want. If you like traditional yellow gold, you can opt for various different purities, or ‘carats’ – most fine jewellery is made in 18 carat (eighteen parts pure gold out of twenty-four) but rings can also come in 14 or 9 carat. If you prefer something less traditional, you could opt for rose gold, which is pink, or various white metals. These include white gold, platinum, palladium, or titanium.

For the bride, a key decision is whether to choose a classic wedding band, or one that is designed to fit around her engagement ring. Often, with larger stoned engagement rings, the diamond protrudes outwards to such an extent that it is impossible to sit a classic band flush against the shank of the engagement ring. For this reason, wedding and engagement ‘sets’ are increasingly popular – two rings designed to fit perfectly together. These can work very well when both rings are worn at the same time, but some can look slightly unusual if the wedding band is worn by itself.

A key decision for both bride and groom concerns the width of their rings. For ladies, 3mm is the most popular choice, though 2mm and 4mm are not uncommon. Rings for men typically range from 4mm to 6mm, though they can go wider than this. When being fitted for a ring, men should remember to up-size if they are going to choose a particularly thick band – for example, a 8mm ring will feel tighter than a 4mm ring of the same size.

Traditionally, wedding rings have been court shaped, meaning that they are gently curved on both inside and outside. More modern designs are often flat on both inside and outside, whilst in between are D-shaped and flat-court rings (flat inside/curved outside, and the reverse). It is worth trying on various options to see which feels the most comfortable.

For anyone wanting to make the classic wedding band more personal, there are various solutions. Engraving is a popular choice, normally on the inside of the ring. Typically, the engraving will show the date of the wedding, and the bride and groom’s names or initials. Engraving should cost about a couple of pounds per letter. It’s also possible to sandblast patterns onto the outside of the ring, creating a texture that alternates between rough and smooth.

Finally, a lot of brides now opt to have their wedding bands diamond set. This can work very well when tastefully done, particularly when the two rings are designed as a set. But it is important that the wedding band should not be allowed to over-shadow the engagement ring.