Congratulations on getting engaged! As you plan your wedding, there are many things to consider, including the rings you’ll exchange with your partner. When you shop for wedding bands, you’ll have various styles to look through, each with a different price point. Ease the shopping process with this ultimate guide to popular wedding band styles.
Four Amazing Wedding Band Styles
When you go ring shopping, it can feel a bit overwhelming as you evaluate the many wedding band options. Familiarize yourself with the popular styles before planning a trip to the jeweler so you know which types to evaluate first. Some of the most common styles include:
- Pavé
- Eternity
- Channel
- Plain Metal
All these ring styles look stunning but also have a range of differences that impact the overall look and feel. Buying the style you like most is key to finding your dream ring.
Pavé Wedding Ring
Pavé wedding bands have small diamonds encrusted along the piece, adding a brilliant shine to any engagement ring. These bands typically go well with halo engagement rings, solitaire, and cluster engagement bands. The gemstone’s cut can vary from round to pear or heart—any shape looks terrific with this sparkly wedding ring.
Eternity Wedding Ring
An eternity wedding ring symbolizes unending love; on this ring, the diamonds surrounding the ring represent forever. Usually, eternity rings have larger diamonds than those encrusted in a pavé wedding band, and there’s a bit of space between each. One drawback of this style is that some individuals find it uncomfortable since they feel the diamonds pressing against their fingers when closing their hands.
Channel Wedding Ring
Like an eternity ring, channel wedding bands have larger diamonds around the entire piece. However, unlike eternity bands, the stones aren’t high set. Its name comes from the metal channel surrounding the row of diamonds; this also helps protect the precious stones and creates a clean, modern look. Channel rings come in both classic gold and platinum metals, as well as newer materials like titanium.
Plain Metal Wedding Ring
The final option in our ultimate guide to popular wedding band styles is the simple yet classic look of plain metal. Additionally, if you buy one of the above wedding rings with diamonds, knowing your metal options helps further narrow our scope. These bands come in a range of metal types, including white, yellow, rose gold, and platinum. Keep reading for a quick rundown on each metal type.
White Gold
White gold has that beautiful silver color but will need some care to maintain its beautiful color. It has a rhodium plating for the silver color and typically requires at least an annual trip to the jeweler to keep it in good condition. Keep in mind that white gold is not ideal for anyone with nickel allergies, and wearing it can trigger a reaction.
Yellow Gold
Yellow gold is the traditional golden option we often see in jewelry. It comprises around 25 percent alloy, making the jewelry fairly durable. The price of all gold depends on the karats, as a 14K gold wedding band is 14 percent gold. The higher the number, the closer it is to pure gold, so 18K is closer to pure gold than 14K.
Rose Gold
Rose gold is a beautiful gold-copper alloy making it quite durable and giving it that unique pinkish hue. It’s comparable in price to other gold options and a great alternative if you want a slightly more unusual color choice. You should bring it in for annual maintenance to ensure the ring and the coppery-pink plating remains intact.
Platinum
Platinum is a naturally silver-colored metal that is hypoallergenic, making it ideal for people with nickel allergies who love the color. It also requires very little maintenance because it doesn’t tarnish or corrode. With all these benefits, you may wonder why every couple doesn’t buy platinum bands, and that’s because it’s quite expensive. However, if budget is no concern, platinum would be an excellent choice!
Ring Shopping Tips
Deciding on a wedding band style is part of the shopping equation, but it’s not the only thing to consider before buying a ring. You and your partner must also establish a spending budget for your rings. Moreover, seeing how the wedding band looks with your engagement ring is always best.
Create a Budget
Sit with your partner and evaluate the many wedding band styles you have to choose from, plus which you like most. After this, establish a budget based on typical prices for these ring types. Remember that the metal used and the diamond size for the wedding ring also play roles in determining the price.
Consider Your Engagement Ring
While some couples purchase the engagement ring and wedding band as a pair, this isn’t always the case. If you don’t buy a set, try on different wedding ring options to determine what looks best with the engagement ring. Generally, you would not mix metals, nor do a flashy engagement ring with a showy wedding band. Pairing styles such as a three-diamond with an eternity ring may appear bulky when stacked, especially if you have slender fingers.
Decide Together
Above all else, make this decision as a team. You don’t have to buy matching—two yellow gold or platinum—rings. One of you may prefer the look of a specific metal. Likewise, each metal type looks best on different skin tones. Shades of silver tend to look best on cooler skin tones, while gold is ideal for warmer tones. Make shopping for wedding rings a date for you and your partner as you grow closer to tying the knot.
Pro Tip
Marriage means making compromises, and as you shop for wedding bands, one or both of you may have to make a few sacrifices. If this happens, talk it out so you understand one another about the ring option.
Visit ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø’s Best Jeweler
The type of metal and style of wedding band you choose is a significant decision, as this ring will be with you and your partner forever. However, knowing which style and metal type you like most can be tricky since there are many fantastic options.
If you live in or around ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø, IL, make an appointment with ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø. One of our experts will aid you in selecting the perfect wedding band. Buy a ring that you’ll want to wear for eternity.
