Shopping For Wedding Bands

You’re engaged and it’s time to look for wedding bands.  The tradition of wearing a wedding band dates back about 4,800 years to ancient Egypt. Sedges, rushes and reeds were twisted and braided into rings and worn as a symbol of marriage. We’ve certainly come a long way since braiding reeds into bands! We now adorn our fingers with beautiful gemstones set in platinum or gold. Let’s take a look at the latest styles in wedding bands for you and your guy. We think you’ll be saying, “I do!” to these exquisite rings!

Rings for Her

The first thing to think about is whether you want to wear your wedding band with your engagement ring or alone.  This is an important consideration when looking for bands.  We suggest trying on both styles to see what looks best with your engagement ring and what you are most comfortable wearing.   Ask yourself the following questions:

Do you want something classic or modern?

Do you want a band with diamonds or do you prefer a band without diamonds?

Do you want a band with colored diamonds or gemstones?

With all these options, how’s a girl to choose?  Read on, as we break down the best looks in wedding band designs!

Classic Diamond Band – A classic diamond band will never go out of style.  We love this diamond band from our Alson Signature Collection.

Diamond and Colored Gemstone Band – Looking for something that really pops?  Look no further than a stunning emerald and diamond band by JB Star.

Yellow Gold Band – If you love yellow gold, then this ArtCarved 14K yellow gold diamond eternity band is for you!

Plain Band – Sometimes, something plain, simple, and elegant fits the bill.  We suggest this white gold band from the Alson Signature Collection.

Rose Gold Band – Do you love the look of rose gold? We love this stackable 14K rose gold diamond band by ArtCarved!

Vintage Inspired Band – Love the vintage look?  Stop in and try on this ArtCarved 14K white gold round & marquise shape milgrain diamond eternity band.

Fancy Colored Diamond Band – If you want to add a pop of color to your engagement ring, go for something with a pop of sunshine!  Our latest obsession is this JB Star 18K yellow gold & platinum band, featuring three cushion fancy yellow diamonds and four round white diamonds.

Diamond Eternity Band – Make a statement with this Alson Signature Collection platinum shared prong emerald cut diamond eternity band.

Rings For Him

Many men have never worn a ring prior to getting married, and may not even know if they’re going to like the feel of a ring on their hand.  When choosing a band there are a few things to consider:

What is his lifestyle and personality?

Will he be wearing the band every day or just on the weekends or special occasions?

Does he have an office job or is he someone who works with his hands as a tradesman or mechanic?

Does he dress conservatively or is he more fashion forward?

Does he want to make a statement or is comfort his priority?

These questions are important when choosing the type of metal for his band.  Men now have more options in wedding bands than ever before.  Mixed metal bands, titanium and tungsten are all great options and provide an alternative look to the classic gold or platinum band.  When choosing a band, it is important to know about the characteristics of the various metals.

Gold – When looking at gold wedding bands, you will want to make sure you get a band in 14K or 18K. This will provide the best color and hold up the best over time, versus a ring in 10K gold. Gold comes in three colors: yellow, white and rose. A yellow gold wedding band like this one from ArtCarved is a classic look and is perfect for the guy who is more conservative and prefers a classic look.

White Gold – White gold is a great choice if you are looking for something that is classic yet modern. Consider this ArtCarved 14K white gold band, with a satin finished center and high-polished edges.

Rose Gold – Rose gold is a hot trend in bridal and we’re seeing it used in designs for women and men. The warm, subtle rose hue enhances the ring and makes it stand apart from the traditional yellow or white gold band. If you favor rose gold, this ArtCarved rose and white gold men’s band is the perfect choice.

Platinum – Platinum is a white metal that is long wearing and will not scratch as easily as gold. Platinum is more expensive than gold and is also a heavier metal. It is strong and durable with good resistance to scratching, corrosion and chemicals. It makes a great choice for the guy who wants something simple and elegant. Plus, it will never go out of style. We suggest this platinum band from the Alson Signature Collection.

Titanium – Titanium is a new metal that is being used for men’s wedding bands. It is the hardest natural metal yet very light weight and very comfortable. It is three times the strength of steel and is also hypoallergenic. Titanium is a great choice for the guy who would like something that is very light weight. We suggest this titanium David Yurman faceted band in ring in grey titanium.

Tungsten – Tungsten carbide rings are very durable and retain many of the characteristics of pure tungsten metal – including a high melting point and high tensile strength. The rings are extremely resistant to scratching, and range in color from light gray to modern black.  We love this black tungsten band by Triton.

Sterling Silver – Sterling Silver is a softer metal than gold and requires more care than the other metals due to oxidation that can occur over time. Oxidation is easy to care for with the use of a polishing cloth or bringing it to a jeweler for cleaning. This type of metal comes in great styles and is perfect for the guy who is looking for something more casual for his band. We love this sterling silver ring by David Yurman.

Diamonds – Diamonds are not only a girl’s best friend, guys like them too! If your guy likes a little bling, he’ll love this 18K white gold and diamond band by Bez Ambar.

See something you like?  Be sure to join us for our Wedding Band Weekend,  April 14th and 15th.  We’ll have 1,000’s of bands from our exclusive bridal designers.  For more looks in wedding bands, check out our website. We’re very social, so be sure to join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter Pinterest and Instagram.

~Photo at top of page courtesy of Precision Set.