Choosing An Wedding Ring

Budget

When budgeting for your wedding rings there are many factors to consider. One factor is that the metal used for a ladies wedding ring will usually match her engagement rings. For women platinum is popular at the moment with white gold a close second. A typical ladies 3mm court will cost around £220 in 18ct white gold and £440 in platinum.

Men normally choose a wider band such as a 6mm court, often in the same metal as their partners so that they match. However due to increased commodity prices for gold and platinum the cost of such a ring can be outside of a couple's budget. A typical 6mm court will cost around £540 in 18ct white gold and £1100 in platinum. A popular choice at the moment for men is palladium which in the same 6mm court would be around £260.

The other option for men is to choose a non precious metal such as titanium, which is still finished to a very high standard. The typical cost for a plain 6mm titanium ring is around £100.

Wedding Ring Quality

Your wedding rings will need to last a lifetime, so it is important to buy a high quality ring made from solid metal. Over time the size of your hands and fingers will change slightly, and it is likely that your ring will need to be adjusted. If you choose a cheap hollow ring this cannot easily be resized, as any attempts will result in a kinked ring.

The amount of metal used in a wedding ring is determined by ring size, the profile/shape/thickness of strip used to make ring and whether or not it's solid or hollow metal. The amount of metal used ultimately plays a large part in the final price, other factors that affect the price are the production method and how well a ring is finished.

Hand finishing a ring ensures a bright and lustrous finish however it can sacrifice a little extra metal and require more labour in order to achieve the perfect finish. This is why weight should not be used solely when calculating a wedding rings value.

Diamond Quality

Diamond quality is ultimately how well the diamond appears. It is important to choose a quality diamond as no one wants to wear a ring with dull stones for the rest of their life. You want to be inspired and mesmerised every time you look at your ring.

Diamonds of colour H to D are white to colourless and are the ones to pick, diamonds become more yellow to brown between I, J, K and beyond.

Also choose diamonds that have a minimum clarity of Si1/2, as this quality does not have inclusions/faults which are noticeable to the naked eye.

Wedding Ring Designs

There are lots of different wedding ring designs available and there are a few key questions you should ask yourself to help find your perfect ring.

What do I like? Ultimately it is your ring, something you are going to be wearing everyday so you should choose something that you like.

What metal should I choose? If the wedding ring is to be worn alongside an engagement ring then ideally the two metals should match. It is also popular for men to choose the same matching metal as their partners, but in a more masculine design. For people who have very active lifestyles a hardwearing ring such as titanium should not be ruled out.

Do I need a shaped wedding ring? If your engagement ring has a pronounced setting, or of a wide design such as a crossover then a shaped wedding ring will definitely compliment the engagement ring well.

What type of hands do I have? Shorter hands are normally better suited to slimmer rings, whereas longer hands are better complemented by a wider band. If you have medium shaped hands you could consider a concave shaped ring or maybe a two tone ring which provide the best of both.