Wedding Rings Buying Guide

Though weddings are very romantic, choosing the ring should be a detailed, in-depth, careful decision. You need to take into account your own personal taste and lifestyle as well as your significant other, and then make several decisions about metals, stones, cuts, and more before you find a ring that will last you and your significant other a lifetime. 

Decisions, Decisions

A few choices you'll need to make:

• Metal
• Band size
• Stones
• Coordination
• Special looks

• For a woman: The most important ring has already been purchased: the engagement ring. So a wedding band should be chosen to match or at least complement this. Many women choose a solitaire band  for their wedding ring so as not to detract from the stone in the engagement ring. 

• For a man: Lifestyle is the number one factor. Depending on the type of work he does, he'll either need to choose a conservative ring that will match a suit, a durable ring that can take a little stress, or any ring he wants to wear just on special occasions. 

But first, the fun part. Here's a visual guide to help you find a look you're going for.

Rings for Her

Traditional Match the gold  or platinum  of your engagement ring for fuss-free coordination.	Elegant Traditional but with a little sparkle, Diamond wedding bands  can either complement a plain engagement band or offset the diamond in one.	Ring Sets And you thought the traditional wedding band was a no brainer! Sets will do all the leg work for you.	Contoured Bands They're meant to line up with the engagement ring and show it off.	Gemstones A fun way to bring a little colour to your hands, and they'll look great with diamonds. Sapphires ,rubies , and emeralds are classic picks.

Choosing a Metal

• First and foremost, the metal should either match or complement that of the engagement ring. 
• Next, consider the look; yellow gold  is most popular, white gold  is elegant, and platinum  is especially expensive looking.
• Weight and strength should also be considered; titanium  and platinum are very strong, but only the former is lightweight. Gold  is soft, but not easily scratched. Silver bends, scratches, and tarnishes, so it's not recommended for wedding bands at all.

Choosing a Band

• Try several on to find the width that best suits your fingers and hand.
• Experiment with different metals to find a weight with which you feel comfortable.
• Consider options like a rounded inner edge if you find rings unnatural feeling. 
• Try bands with intricate designs on them with your engagement ring to be sure they coordinate.

Choosing Colour

• Tinted gold comes in shades of yellow , white, rose , lime, peach, red, and bronze. White gold is a more durable alternative to silver with a similar look.
• Gemstones are a subtle way to put a little colour into your ring. Choose your birthstone, coordinate gems  with your fiancé's, or just pick a colour you like or looks nice against your skin.

Rings for Him

Traditional A simple gold band  (or platinum , for something more heavy duty) is a classic, you-can't-go-wrong route. Choose a polished finish for a refined look, and satin for a more rugged one.	Classic Traditional with a twist, like two different metals, or an interesting edge. It's a great way to show your personal style without going overboard.	Modern Techie guys will love this look, especially in a tough material like platinum or titanium . Simple, but definitely makes a statement.	Quirky If you have the desire, you can do lots of things to shake up the look of your ring with weaving, inlays, engraving, and even different coloured metals. Take a look at puzzle  and jigsaw puzzle rings for an example of creative designs.

Ethnic If you love your heritage, check out traditional rings from your country's culture. For example, someone Irish might like a claddagh  or Celtic ring.	Special Designs Similarly to ethnic rings, specially designed rings can reflect your hobbies, interests, or overall lifestyle. For instance, nautical leanings can be reflected in a wave ring.	Stones Diamonds can be a man's best friend too. Don't forget, they are one of the hardest substances in the world. And in the right setting, diamonds  can look as tough and masculine as they feel.	Coloured Stones Sapphires  and emeralds  are both cool, masculine colours for a wedding band, and are especially nice as a complement to your spouse-to-be's ring with gemstones.

Related Guides

Gemstones	Diamonds	Engagement Rings	How to Buy Jewellery Online	Wedding Planning