Choosing Your Wedding Ring

Your wedding ring will be with you for the rest of your life (hopefully!), so choosing something that you will love & cherish is an important decision, but with so many styles & materials available what will suit you best? Check out our guide to wedding rings to help you find something that is as individual & precious as you are.

Where to start?

Walk into any jewelers store & you will find an array of wedding rings in different styles, designs & metals, & more importantly prices. When making your choice you should ultimately keep in mind your budget & lifestyle. The best advice is to choose the best quality you can afford, as this will stand the test of time better than a cheaper, lower quality option.

Choosing a metal

Wedding rings are made from many different types of metal, this includes gold, white gold & platinum. Your choice of metal is important as it will not only affect cost & style but also the durability of your ring over the course of a lifetime.

Platinum is the most expensive metal, but it is the most durable, if you can’t afford platinum choose white gold instead. Traditionally, wedding rings are made from yellow gold. Yellow gold fell out of fashion in favour of platinum or white gold but in recent years it has made a comeback & is a hot option for couples at the moment.

Gold comes in different purities measured in carats. The higher the number of carats the higher the quantity of gold, however this also increases the price & the softness of the metal. Rings will start at 9cts - the hardest, upto 24cts - the purest, however 22ct & 24ct will wear quicker than lower carat counts.

Choosing a design

When choosing a wedding ring remember to consider the style of your engagement aswell. You may choose his & hers matching rings or choose different designs according to your own individual tastes. The range of designs available has increased in recent times & couples are no longer resigned to the plain court rings of old.

Choosing diamonds

The rules regarding the purchase of your engagement ring will also apply to wedding rings if you are choosing one with diamonds. The most important thing to remember with diamonds is the four C’s - cut, clarity, color & carat. Consider all of these when choosing the best available for your budget. Your other consideration when buying diamonds is the shape of the stone - emerald, round, square, oval, pear & marquise are the most common shapes.

If you can’t afford either a wedding ring or engagement ring, or simply don’t want one, choose an eternity ring. This is becoming an increasingly popular choice & these diamond set bands are an attractive alternative.

DOS AND DON’TS OF BUYING A WEDDING RING

DO fix a budget & stick to it

DON’T wait until the last minute -give yourselves plenty of time to find something you really love

DO your research - visit several reputable jewellers to see the different styles & prices on offer

DON’T pick anything too fashionable as it will date easily - stick with something timeless

DO think about designing your own rings.

DO consider your lifestyle - rock climbers shouldn’t buy a ring they can’t take off easily!

DON’T get bullied into buying anything you don’t absolutely love, it has to be a beautiful reminder of your special day.

DO get wedding rings insured. One on four people lose their ring within five years of marriage