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Wedding Bands and
Engagement Rings
The
wedding bands and engagement ring
you choose will be among of the most enduring pieces of your wedding day. Not
only are they an important element of becoming married, but they are also
a longlasting symbol of your love and commitment.
Therefore, you'll want to choose high quality jewelry that is timeless.
Ultimately, you'll also want to be an educated consumer who knows what you're
getting for your dollar.
Style of Engagement Rings:
There are several ways to pick an engagement ring. Since she'll be wearing it
for the rest of her life, you'll want to make sure you get it right. One option
is to propose without an engagement ring, and then go to pick it out together.
While this is a sure way to know that she'll like the ring, some people feel
this robs the engagement ring of some of its romance. They may prefer to bring
her best friend or mother shopping with them, or have a romantic date of preview
shopping for the ring. Another option is to study what kind of jewelry she wears
- from what kind of metal, to whether it's contemporary or classic, even perhaps
"borrowing" a ring to take with you to the jewelry store, which will also help
you shed some light on her ring size.
Style of Wedding Bands:
Follow your instincts with the look and design of your ring, while asking
yourself if it will be a design you'll be excited
about
and comfortable wearing every day for the rest of your life. The traditional
plain gold wedding band will be in style for years to come. If that's too plain
for you, consider a beaded edge or an engraved style. For a slighty flashier
look, what about channel-set diamonds? Ultimately, choose a wedding band that
you feel is expressive of your style and personality. I've heard of a couple
that chose to have wedding bands custom-made that resembled bicycle gears,
reflecting their mutual love of bike-riding. There's really no wrong answer as
to what style you should choose.
Gold, Silver or Platinum?
Many couples choose the metal for their bands by matching it to their engagement
ring. However, don't feel bound to this. A bride can choose to wear her
engagement ring on her right hand, and wedding ring on the left. Also, each of
you can wear a similar style in different metals. Consider which metals each of
you wear regularly - is most of her jewelry silver? Is his watch gold?
Primary engagement ring and wedding band metal choices include:
Yellow
gold:
the most traditional of metals; for many gold is a symbol of the warmth and love
of a marriage. Look at the mark inside the band to see what quality the gold is
- usually 14k, 18k, or 24k. While 24k is the most pure, it is also the softest.
If you work with your hands, you may want to choose 14k or 18k to prevent
scratches.
White Gold:
A hot trend because it coordinates with both silver and platinum jewelry, yet is
cheaper than platinum.
Platinum:
This very stylish metal is also the hardest metal, making it for many a symbol
of enduring love. Also, because its not mixed with the lesser metals that gold
is, platinum is safe for those with allergies. However, you'll pay more for
platinum than for gold.
Precious Gems
When considering precious gems, remember that you will likely wear this ring
every day for the rest of your life. Therefore, while softer stones can be
beautiful, they aren't the best choices for a wedding band or engagement ring.
The Mohs scale registers a stone's ability to resist abrasion; 10 (diamonds) is
the strongest and 1 (talc) is the weakest. Anything less than a Mohs scale 7 is
not recommended for an engagement ring. If you are a person who does a lot of
activity with their hands (how long does a manicure last on you?) then I would
advise limiting your selection to rubies, sapphires, and of course diamonds.
To help you out, here's a list of common stones, and their hardness level:
Diamonds 10
Rubies 9
Sapphire 9
Emerald 8
Topaz 8
Aquamarine 7.5 to 8
Amethyst 7
Garnet 6.5 to 7.5
Opal 6
Call Robert at
Incendia Diamonds for further advice on engagement rings and wedding bands or to
set an appointment for a jewelry fitting - 858.692.3939
