Planning a wedding comes with lot of decisions. You’ll have to choose a location, food, photographer, florist, etc. But one of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make (and one that will last the longest) is which wedding ring is the right one for you. Like shopping for an engagement ring, there are certain things you should consider when looking to purchase a wedding ring. These include…

• Lifestyle: If you’re someone who works with your hands a lot and don’t plan on ever taking your ring off, we recommend selecting a simple wedding band, one without any gemstones, and one made with a durable metal like platinum.
• Budget: Your budget may affect which metal you can afford, the quality and quantity of gemstones set in the ring, and the overall design complexity of the ring. Platinum is the most expensive metal, but will offer the best protection for your gemstones. Gold will cost less than platinum and will still protect your gemstones, although to a lesser degree than platinum. The larger and better quality gemstones will command the highest price. And the more complex the ring design, the costlier it will be.
• Future Maintenance: Some rings will require more maintenance than others. For instance, white gold jewelry is often plated with rhodium, giving it a bright white color. Over time, the rhodium plating wears down and the ring can take on a yellowish color. When that happens, you’ll likely want to get the ring re-plated. Typically, white gold rings will need to be re-plated at least once every few years. Platinum, yellow gold, and rose gold rings will not require re-plating, but like white gold, may need to be polished every once in awhile.
• Compatibility: For women, you’ll want a wedding ring that will compliment your engagement ring. Since most women wear their engagement ring and wedding band together, we recommend trying on different wedding rings with your engagement ring to get a better sense of what looks best. A lot of engagement rings have matching wedding bands, but that doesn’t mean you have to select that particular ring. Some brides-to-be prefer a non-matching wedding ring that can still nicely compliment her engagement ring. For men, you may want to consider selecting a wedding ring that goes with any existing accessories you own, such as watches.
• Practicality: Wedding rings are typically worn every day, so you’re going to want to select a wedding band that will stand up to everyday wear. That beautiful pave-set emerald band may look gorgeous, but is it a good everyday ring? Probably not. For wedding ring gemstones, we recommend diamonds, sapphires, or rubies, as these are all durable gems suitable for everyday jewelry. You’re also going to want to make sure you select a ring with a secure setting, and not one where the gemstones will likely fall out after a short amount of time.
• Time Frame: The rings play an important role in the wedding. The exchanging of the wedding rings solidifies your love and commitment to your partner, so you’re going to want to make sure you actually have the rings in your possession when the time comes for you to say “I do.” We recommend starting your wedding ring search at least two months before the wedding. This will give you enough time to consider all your options without feeling rushed, and plenty of time for the jeweler to create your ring and engrave it if needed.
• Finger Size: When the time comes for you to slip the ring on your partner’s finger, you’re going to want to make sure it fits properly. A jeweler will be able to accurately measure your finger, take into account any necessary size adjustments based on the width of the band, and create the wedding ring in the appropriate size so ensure it’s a comfortable fit.
• Ring Quality: Chances are you’re going to be wearing your wedding ring for a long time. Would you rather have a ring that was well-made or one that was poorly crafted? When searching for wedding bands, it’s important to consider the quality of the ring. Does it show signs of a poor casting? Porosity can make your ring brittle and prone to breaking. Are the gemstones properly secured in their setting or will they likely fall out within a few months? Making sure you select a well-made wedding ring will save you headaches and money later on down the road and will ensure that you’ll be able to enjoy your ring for many years to come.

Shop our selection of diamond bands and men’s wedding bands or visit us in-store to see even more options!