Choosing Your Wedding Ring Choosing the Perfect Ring

Style:
Follow your instincts with the look and design of your ring, while asking yourself if you will be comfortable wearing it every day for the rest of your life.

The traditional plain gold 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 bit of sparkle, what about a ring of channel-set diamonds? Ultimately, choose a ring that you feel is expressive of your style and personality.

Men’s Rings
While men’s wedding rings are available in a variety of styles, the most popular are still simple bands of gold or platinum. Be sure to choose a style that you are comfortable wearing all the time. If you work with your hands, but still plan to wear your ring to work, look for a style that is heavy enough not to bend if it gets caught on something, is hard enough to withstand the abuse and fits perfectly to insure against accidental loss. Platinum is a perfect metal as it us durable as well as beautiful, but you will pay for these advantages.

Tattoos
The most adventurous couples are opting for tattooed wedding rings - a very permanent and personal decision. Why not read more about this new trend that's been around for centuries?

Gold, Silver or Platinum?
Many couples choose the metal for their bands by matching it to their engagement ring. Don't feel bound to this tradition. 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 ring metal choices include:
Yellow gold -- the most traditional of ring 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 a symbol of enduring love. Because its not mixed with the lesser metals that gold rings are, platinum is safe for those with alloy allergies. Expect to pay significantly more for platinum.

Precious Gems
When considering precious gems for a ring, remember that you’ll wear this ring every day. While softer stones can be beautiful, they aren't always the best choices for an engagement or wedding ring.

On the Mohs scale, which registers a stone's ability to resist abrasion, 10 (diamonds) is the strongest and 1 (talc) is the weakest. Anything less than a 7 rating is not recommended for everyday wear and therefore is not ideal for an engagement or wedding ring. If you work with your hands (consider how long a manicure lasts) then you may wish to limit your selection to rubies, sapphires and 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

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As a general rule of thumb, the darker the stone’s color, the higher quality and more expensive it is.

Next:Shopping for a diamond ring