circles of love

The wedding rings symbolise your everlasting love (altogether now, ahh!) and – considering how long you’ll be wearing them – it’s very important to make the right choice when you go shopping!

Gold

Despite the recent rise in popularity of platinum, gold remains the number one choice for couples getting married. Don’t forget that goldcomes in many shades; white, yellow and pink are all subtly but markedly different. White gold looks fantastic with silver jewellery but also needs to be plated with rhodium approximately once a year. You can combine shades of gold or intertwine different metals if you wish, or even add texture with brushed metal.

Platinum

Platinum is renowned for its strength, hardwearing nature and attractive whitish-silver colour, but these qualities are reflected in the price tag. The other downside to platinum is that it’s not as easy to clean as its more affordable alternative, white gold.

Palladium

Lighter in both weight and colour than platinum, palladium is hypoallergenic and just as strong. Also, it doesn’t need plating with rhodium and, because it is not as so sought after, it’s less expensive. It’s a great alternative if you want the look of platinum but haven’t budgeted for it.

Titanium

A lot of men favour titanium simply because it feels light and they don’t really notice that they are wearing it. Its grey colour is industrial looking, giving it an edge that suits masculine types but on the downside its hardwearing qualities make it almost impossible to resize.

A Matching Set?

Undoubtedly your rings will be very special to you, and they usually represent a big investment – so it is important to choose a well-established and reputable company to make or buy from. By all means look on the web to provide an overview of styles available, but buying online isn’t recommended. Make sure you visit a good jewellers in person to gain a sense of how the business is run and to try on various designs. Remember it’s best to choose a wedding ring made from the same metal as your engagement ring, as different metals can easily tarnish or damage each other – or at least make sure the two metals don’t rub each other up the wrong way. There is no reason your ring has to exactly match that of the groom’s. For an extra special loving touch you may want to design your own or consider engraving the inside with a message, perhaps each other’s names or your wedding date.

Style & Stones

Many modern brides and grooms are choosing to have a gem set within their bands. A sparkly band is a lovely idea but take care not to go over the top as any stones will detract from your engagement ring. There is no substitution for trying on a ring to see how it feels or if it suits you, which is one reason to avoid buying over the internet. It is also important to determine what shape you like best because there are so many. Thinner rings have become popular, with the groom choosing one slighter wider than the lady’s. And even if you are a trendy type, when it comes to wedding rings try to go for something that’s timeless in style rather than fashionable, so that it will still look good for years to come. If you can’t see anything on the high street consider a consultation with a jewellery designer, they may not be as expensive as you think and will be able to create something unique for you.