A wedding ring will be with you forever, so you want to make sure you get the right one! Choosing the right ring may seem simpler than an having to choose an engagement ring, however there are still important decision to be made.
SHAPE
When it comes to choosing a shape, the main consideration must be how it sits with the engagement ring. If the engagement ring is straight edged, then a traditional straight edged wedding ring will sit snugly next to it. If a you have a gemstone sitting in your engagement ring then a curved edge wedding ring should still fit nicely beside.
MATERIAL
The material will, as with shape, be determined by the material of your engagement ring. If you have a yellow gold engagement ring, then yellow gold will be the material of choice for your wedding ring. The same goes for platinum. Here are a couple of points to consider about your material of choice.
- Platinum – A platinum wedding ring would certainly be an extravagant choice, and a great one if you are looking for a white shiny metal. Unlike white gold it is extremely durable and doesn’t need rhodium plating. Platinum is 30 times rarer than gold and up to twice as expensive. It is used in a much purer form than gold in jewelry and is a great alternative for a wedding ring.
- Yellow, Rose or White Gold – Gold is still the most popular choice for wedding rings, and is a safe (but still beautiful) option to go for. When it comes to choosing a gold wedding ring there are a few things to consider.
- It’s important to choose a ring that is quite hard and durable, as hopefully you’ll be wearing it everyday for the rest of your life! A lower carat will be harder but also less valuable as it will have a lower content of gold. Popular choices range from 9ct to 18ct.
- You also need to make the choice of what color gold you will go for. Yellow gold is the traditional pure gold, however you can also choose white gold (which has a rhodium plating) or rose gold. They all have the same purity of gold, however white gold may require re-plating as the plating can wear over time.
- Palladium – Palladium is relatively new to the market, and is for those who looking for a similar style to platinum, but working on a slightly tighter budget. While being cheaper than both platinum and white gold, palladium polishes to a beautiful shine and is also very durable, not being prone to scratching or tarnishing.
- Silver – Silver is not a great option for a wedding ring. While it is more affordable than both gold and platinum there are some drawbacks that you should consider. Silver is less durable and prone to corrosion more than gold and platinum, and as such is better worn as occasional jewelry, as opposed to everyday wear. This is obviously a drawback for a wedding ring, as while it may be more affordable it may also need replacing further down the line.
Wedding rings, along with engagement rings, will likely be the most important item of jewelry you will buy. While considering all the points above, most importantly you need to love the look and feel of the ring, and make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin – as your wedding ring will be with you for a long time.
Guest blogger: Jonny can be reached at contact@libertons.com or http://www.libertons.com