What Every Bride Should Know
There are countless factors that come into play when choosing your wedding ring. Whether you want to explore custom designed rings or not, what type of metal, and of course, what stone fits your unique personality and style are all questions you’ll need to answer on your journey toward your perfect ring.
First, decide what type of ring you want. Narrowing it down to either vintage, modern, or classic will make your search a whole lot easier once you find yourself online or in stores trying different styles on. Classic diamond wedding rings come in various styles, but tend to be conservative and timeless. Modern rings tend to have bold mountings, open shanks, and unique diamond settings. Vintage style wedding rings typically include micropave diamonds, milgrain details, and halo settings.
The next step—and the most fun—is choosing the diamond shape you want. The most common choices include the following shapes: round, princess, emerald, pear, radiant, oval, heart, or marquise.
What type of metal do you want? You have your pick of platinum, silver, or gold wedding rings. There are other metals to choose from, but the aforementioned three are the most common. 14-karat white or yellow gold is the most coveted metal for wedding rings, due to the fact that it is rich in color and durability. 18 karat gold scratches more easily and is a bit softer than 14-karat gold, however it has a color that’s too rich to resist. Anything below 14 lacks luster and appears dull.
Silver wedding rings are a great option for those of you on a budget. Although silver is soft, it easily tarnishes. Another option is platinum, which is a gorgeous white metal and a common choice for wedding rings.
Other metals to consider include titanium, copper, and steel. The main concern with these metals, is that they can cause discoloration and irritate skin, depending on body chemistry.
The next step in deciding on a ring is choosing the type of wedding band you want. The good news is that bands are designed in countless styles; the bad news is that you might have a hard time deciding! Bands typically come in round, comfort fit, and flat styles. The half-round is the most traditional of all wedding bands. The comfort fit wedding band is the heaviest of all bands, and also the most expensive. The edges are comfortable and round, hence the name. Last but not least, flat wedding bands are the most linear and understated of all bands.
Don’t forget about size! It’s imperative you choose the perfect fit because you don’t want your precious ring slipping off. Your local jeweler has finger sizers that will give an accurate reading on your ring size. Since your fingers vary is size during the week, due to the time of day, water retention, etc. it’s best to have your ring finger re-sized at least three times throughout the duration of one week before landing on a final size.
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