What wedding ring styles can I choose from?

When purchasing any ring, one of the first things you need to decide on is which style you would like to go for. With wedding rings, this pretty much boils down to whether you would prefer it plain or with a precious stone, normally a diamond, included.

If you are a woman, a plain wedding ring does not detract from your beautiful engagement ring. It is also more practical to wear, especially if you have a job that is rough on your hands and requires less maintenance and cleaning needed.

Going for a diamond wedding ring, on the other hand, means that you will have more choice and options. It also adds a bit more sparkle to your finger.

Whichever style you choose, make sure you get your ring from a reputable Maison.

Annamaria Cammilli wedding rings celebrate forever love with refined 18-carat gold wedding rings available in different colours of gold.

Damiani has been making wedding rings, the symbol of the promise of eternal love, for almost a century. It takes this premise and transforms it into a masterpiece of contemporary jewellery. Check out their Persempre, NOI2, Veramore and D.Side collections.

Chaumet wedding rings are a declaration of love. Browse their Bee My Love, Triomphe de Chaumet, Joséphine Aube Printanière, Joséphine Amour D'Aigrette, Torsade, Les Eternelles De Chaumet and Liens Evidence collections.

Piaget wedding rings are created to celebrate an eternal moment. check out their Piaget Passion and Possession collections.

Mimi wedding rings boasts a wonderful contemporary design, handcrafted by her team of artisan jewellers.

There are a number of precious metals that you can choose from for your wedding ring, and a lot of it boils down to personal preference.

With its glossy silver-coloured tone, it's no wonder Platinum is one of the most popular metals for wedding rings. One big advantage is that it is one of the most durable metals, so it will last for ages.

Rose Gold is another variation of wedding rings available. A gold and copper alloy, Rose Gold is also very durable… and very fashionable right now.

White gold is one of the most popular metal choices for wedding rings; in fact, is the probably the most popular metal for wedding and engagement rings. It is less expensive that Platinum, but not as durable, as it is a softer metal.

Yellow gold also a very popular choice for wedding rings, as it appeals to those who desire its rich appearance.

Finally – are you still finding it difficult to choose? A Two-Tone Gold ring is the answer. You really can have it all.

Taking care of your wedding ring

Once you have your wedding ring on your finger, you may feel like you never want to take it off again. However, there are some instances when removing your ring is the right things to do… so as not to damage it.

Try to remove your ring and leave it in a safe place during ‘hand-heavy’ activities such as gardening, cleaning dishes, using tools playing sports such as tennis or golf, moving furniture and so on. It is also a good idea to take it off while you are swimming, in both salt water and pools containing chlorine.

If you are washing your hands in a public bathroom, do not remove your ring while you're lathering up. Firstly, you may forget it there, and secondly, you drop it down the drain!

If your ring contains a precious stone (or more), try to avoid the temptation of touching it/them too much as diamonds and other gems are magnets for dust, dirt, and body oil.

A final word about cleaning/maintaining your ring regularly. The best way is to clean your wedding ring is to take to a jeweller to get it cleaned professionally. However, if you would like to clean it yourself, you can make do so with a solution with warm water and dishwashing liquid soap (see the Q&A at the end of the blog for more details).

Never use bleach, chlorine, baking soda or acetone, as the chemicals will end up damaging the metal and stones. You can also buy cleaning solutions or kits specifically created for the cleaning of wedding bands.

Q & A

How much money should you spend on a wedding ring?

The price tag of a wedding ring mainly depends on the material chosen; however, the style may also affect the cost. Making a decision on what kind of ring you want will help you set a ballpark figure. As with every other big expense, try to set a budget and stick to it, with perhaps a little leeway. Make sure that you spend whatever you're comfortable with. Just as an example, in the US in 2019, the average wedding ring cost for males was $510 (€430) and the average cost of a female wedding band was $1,100 (€927), and wedding rings on average made up three percent of a couple’s wedding budget.

What is the difference between a wedding ring and a wedding band?

The two terms have become practically interchangeable; however, one may argue that a wedding band is usually fairly plain and does not include any gemstones, while a wedding ring can also contain gemstones and/or be a bit more ‘fancy’.

How should you wear an engagement ring and wedding band?

Tradition dictates that you wear your engagement ring and wedding ring together on the fourth finger of your left hand, putting on the wedding ring first, so that it is closer to your heart. In fact, many brides-to-be will switch their engagement ring to their right hand before walking down the aisle, so the wedding band can be slipped on to the left hand first, and then move their engagement ring on top of the wedding band during or after the ceremony.

How do you clean a wedding ring?

If you would like to clean your wedding ring yourself at home, you can make a solution with warm water and dishwashing liquid soap. Soak it for 20 to 40 minutes. If your ring has a diamond or other precious stone incorporated in it, you can gently brush with a very soft toothbrush. Finally, rinse it under warm running water. If you do this over a sink, make sure you close the drain.