Band of gold: how to choose your wedding rings

With the engagement rock already placed firmly on your finger, it’s time to make your next jewellery purchase. This decision requires great research and thought; after all, you’ll be wearing it for the rest of your life

When it comes to choosing your wedding bands, you and your partner must follow a gender-specific checklist to ensure the perfect fit. Indecisive women may find the constraints dictated by their engagement ring a blessing; guys on the other hand have free reign when it comes to choosing their design.

The groom

These days, the majority of married men wear a wedding ring. For many, it is their first foray into the world of jewellery and can consequently be deemed a daunting prospect. However, by considering the three pivotal factors of lifestyle, personality and comfort, your groom is sure to find a style that suits.

The first point to consider is lifestyle; whether you work outdoors or at a desk; play a lot of sport or prefer the comfort of the couch. Active men should look for a sizeable band that will withstand wear and tear. Conversely, smaller, thinner bands are easily damaged and therefore better suited to guys unlikely to get their hands dirty.

Secondly, the groom-to-be should contemplate the comfort factor of their potential ring. The shape and width of the band will determine this; sharp, angular edges and great width can be painful while soft-fit rings and curves can ease the pain.
Finally, a wedding ring should be a reflection of your personality. The no-frills groom may lean towards a classic gold band; the fashion-conscious may look for something with extra detail, such as ribbed edges, two-tones or satin finishes, as well as different metals.

Once these three points have been considered, it’s time to select the colour and metal of the band itself. For the latter, the three main options are gold, platinum and titanium.

Yellow gold continues to lead in the popularity stakes for guys, though other colours are also available, from white gold to rose, lime, bronze or even red and peach. Gold is measured in terms of carats, with the higher the rating the greater the presence of pure gold. Nine-, 14- and 18-carat-gold are the most popular choices for rings, as they are deemed strong enough to last a lifetime.

To the naked eye, platinum looks like silver or white gold, but is more dense, durable and heavier than other metals. In jewellery it is used in almost pure form and is almost twice the price of gold.

The latest development in the wedding jewellery world, titanium is the hardest-occurring natural metal, is hypoallergenic and sturdier than the other options. Silver-grey in appearance, the negative aspects of titanium are that it is more lightweight (and therefore may seem cheaper) and cannot be resized.

The bride

Unlike the groom, most of the bride’s wedding band decisions have already been made, thanks to the presence of her engagement ring. The true star of the show, this existing bit of bling will dictate the shape and style of the wedding band.

Of course, these days we like to personalise our fashion choices; to make a statement through style. While the traditional view of women’s wedding rings in Australia is that they should be a foil to the engagement ring — a plain yellow or white gold band with little adornment — Stephen Brown of Dora Australia believes this is no longer a hard and fast rule.

“Today’s woman is now much more likely to choose a diamond-set wedding ring, which will enhance the engagement ring or shine alone,” says Stephen. “The trend is often to wear a second matching ring on the other side of the engagement ring or to ‘stack’ several diamond-set rings together.”

Tags: Wedding Rings, Band of Gold, Engagement Rings, Wedding Jewellery, Wedding Bands