Top 5 Tips To Choosing A Wedding Ring

A wedding ring needs to last you a lifetime, so here are my top tips on how to choose a wedding ring.

Metal

wedding ring

The choice of metal is important when choosing a wedding ring whether you are looking for a woman's wedding band or a men's wedding band
. Traditionally yellow gold has been the most popular choice but today white metals including white gold, platinum and palladium have become more popular. You can even get wedding rings in rose gold, silver and stainless steel if you want to be different. One consideration if you pick a white gold wedding ring, is that most white gold rings are rhodium plated to keep their bright white look. This coating will wear over time so you would need to budget for rhodium plating every 2-3 years.

Your lifestyle can play an important part in the choice of metal for your wedding ring. If you work in a manual job, or even if you do a lot of gardening you may want to consider some of the stronger metals that won't get scratched as easily such as 9ct gold, palladium and platinum.

At the end of the day, many ladies pick the same metal for their wedding ring as they would for their engagement ring, as it is said different metals wear at different rates, so this could be a major consideration when choosing the metal for your rings.

Cost

Silver and stainless steel are cheap alternatives to gold. After that 9ct gold is the cheapest precious metal which is traditionally used to make wedding rings in the UK.


Palladium, which is a member of the platinum family but is much cheaper, comes second.  Many men in particular are choosing palladium for their wedding rings as it is a strong metal, they like the slightly darker look than white gold and it is also cheaper than 18ct gold. 

18ct gold is a great traditional choice for your wedding ring and is more expensive than 9ct gold and palladium.

The finest metal for a wedding ring is platinum, which is often described as 'Pure, Rare and Eternal'. They say there is only enough platinum in the world to fill an Olympic size swimming pool up to your ankles.

22ct gold wedding rings are rare these days but were popular in times gone by, and are also popular with the Indian community. The reason why you don't see 22ct gold wedding rings much these days is the cost and the fact that these rings are soft and can mark more easily.

Another thing to consider with the cost is that if you have a bespoke wedding ring made for you it could cost more than a ring 'off the shelf'. 

Rings with intricate designs and diamond inlaid can also cost more than a simple plain wedding ring.

Matching 

wedding ring


In today's day and age, there are really no hard and fast rules about whether you go for matching, complimentary or totally different rings. 

Many people like to choose wedding rings similar to their partners as they feel it makes a closer bond, but it is totally up to you. It's your day and your choice.

Width 

Choosing a wedding ring that is a similar width to the engagement ring is often the most popular choice. Many ladies have thin bands whilst men often go for a wider band. Again it is up to you and your partner what you pick. 

Design

bride and groom hands

How the wedding band sits with the engagement ring is an important consideration. 

If you have a classic solitaire diamond engagement ring you can buy wedding rings that have a cut-out section to fit flush against your engagement ring. If you can't find one to fit exactly, some companies will make a ring for you.

A plain simple wedding band is the most popular choice in the UK, but if you want to you can choose a patterned design such as Celtic swirls, a floral design, and even animal prints.  The choice today is so vast you are really spoilt for choice.

To make things even more personal consider an inscription inside the wedding band such as your wedding date or a love note. Some companies will also give you a sample ring to try before you order, which is a great idea to see how it would look before you part with your cash.

These are some of the considerations when choosing a wedding ring. I hope it has helped you plan your buying choice.

*PR Collaboration

22 comments

  1. Great tips buying a wedding ring is an important part of ur special day.

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    1. I think it can often get overlooked but feel it is a very important part as you keep it forever.

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  2. Good post, choosing a wedding ring is harder than you'd imagine isn't it! This has made me realise that I should probably get my white gold wedding ring cleaned up as I've been married for almost 9 years!

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    1. Rhodium plating isn't an expensive process, probably between £30 and £50 and it makes a huge difference to the look of a white gold ring so I would highly recommend it.

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  3. Great tips - especially about considering not just how it looks, but considering how the metal you choose wears...which is something I hadn't really considered before! Thanks for the heads up. I think I wil probably end up sourcing vintage pieces in order to get something truly unique.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Leigh at Fashion Du Jour LDN HQ x
    www.fashiondujour.co.uk

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    1. Another option would be to get a jeweller to melt down old jewellery and create something new.

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  4. I didn't realise there was so much to think about! My mum's wedding ring has engraves floral designs, it's beautiful :) I'm not sure what type of thing I'd go for when the time comes, though...

    Jess xo | The Indigo Hours

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    1. A patterned design can date, and that is something to think about too.

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  5. I love your tips. There's so much to consider as lets face it you'll hopefully wearing it your whole life!

    Roxie | The Beautiful Bluebird

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  6. Great tips! Choosing a wedding ring can be so hard because there is so much choice.

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    1. There is a lot of choice today, but if in doubt I would say go for the most expensive metal you can afford and go for a classic plain band.

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  7. Choosing a wedding ring is so much fun, but lots to take into consideration. Great tips x

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  8. Aw, I loved wedding ring shopping. I would also add that your wedding ring is the one thing, along with the photos, that will last well after the wedding day itself, so it is worth investing in (as much as you can afford). x

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  9. A lot to think about. When I got married it was platinum or gold. 9ct gold was popular as it is harder wearing than 18ct and cheaper too!

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    1. Yes 9ct gold is a great choice if you are on a budget as it's relatively inexpensive, and hard wearing as you say.

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  10. My ring is gold, with black and white diamonds, which is pretty unusual.

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  11. Really good tips. I decided to buy our wedding rings from the same jeweller my engagement ring was from. It took me ages to choose xx

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