How To Select the Perfect Gold Ring For Your Wedding

Today, the wedding ring is an integral part of marriage in all religions and societies, as it symbolizes adoration, responsibility, commitment, and family bonds. It garners so much respect that even in organizations that typically ban personal items (for example, research labs, factories, and even prison facilities), it is the only piece of jewelry that is permitted to be worn.

Historically, a groom gave his betrothed a gold wedding rings on their wedding day to mark that she was no longer under the authority of her father but was now a married woman. Years later, during the Second World War, men's wedding bands became popular with GIs coming to battle in Europe. These rings acted as a constant reminder of their wives and families back home. The tradition was picked up, and today, it's standard in the US for married men to wear a wedding band — and cause for raised eyebrows when a man does not. In Europe, where men historically have not worn wedding rings, things have changed. Today it is quite normal for married men throughout the continent to wear a wedding band on their ring finger.

Yellow gold was the metal of choice for several decades, as it is a valuable material that doesn't tarnish. Also, it’s hypoallergenic and inert, meaning that it will not react to your skin, and it won't respond to daylight, salt, or household substances with which you are probably going to come in contact. Today, other metals are making their way into wedding ring designs because of their physical properties and fashion appeal. Platinum and palladium wedding bands are becoming more mainstream, as are rose gold and white gold rings.

Picking The Right Gold Metal

Gold: Gold is a highly valuable metal that has been used in wedding bands since 560 BCE. Societies throughout the world understand gold's value as a pure, inert, beautiful, and valuable metal. Gold of 24 carats is the most concentrated gold available; however, it is too delicate to make into rings as it will break or wear out rapidly. In fact, 22-carat gold is the purest form that can sensibly be made into jewelry, but 18-carat styles are equally appealing and stronger. Lately, there has been a lot more interest in 9-carat gold, which is stronger yet.

White Gold: White Gold is a composite of different metals that determines the shade of a gold ring. It has a silvery appearance, from yellow gold mixed with zinc, nickel, or palladium. Only the color is noticeably influenced; the ring holds the various other properties of gold, including its weight and resistance to discoloration, and looks particularly beautiful if adorned with jewels or stones.

Rose Gold: Rose gold is another blend of gold that uses copper to achieve the rose tone. The copper color comes through and makes the metal look considerably more orange than a standard gold wedding ring. The gold substance makes a rose gold ring equally sturdy and as valuable as other colored 9-carat gold. It has the same weight on the finger, which many individuals like.

Platinum: Platinum is getting more popular as it is exceptionally hard and sturdy, representing eternal love. It is also scratch-resistant and inert, meaning that, like gold, it will never discolor.

Titanium: Titanium is almost the opposite of gold in terms of appearance and sturdiness. It's a shiny white metal that is both lightweight and amazingly solid. Since it's so hard, it's difficult to re-size as a ring, so you should be certain it fits perfectly before buying a titanium ring.

If you want a gold ring, choose one of the more sturdy 9-carat gold wedding rings in a blended-metal tone as the 18- or 24-carat varieties will wear out and get scratched after a few years of use.

Picking the Right Band Width

The width of the gold wedding band is entirely dependent on personal preference. If you’ve always loved big, weighty rings, then go with that. If narrow, delicate rings are your taste, follow that direction. The only thing to consider apart from your personal preference is a practical concern. If you have large fingers, then a very narrow band probably would not be suitable as it's possible for delicate rings to twist or even break.

If you need to have your wedding ring engraved, it is essential to pick a ring that is at least two millimeters wide, as the lettering can't be made any smaller than that. When a ring is this small, the text itself is practically unreadable without the help of a loupe or magnifying glass. You can refer to the Larson Jewelers Sizing Chart.

Do You Want Stones for Your Wedding Ring?

Precious stone settings are a completely personal decision, and if you like diamonds, then they are ideal for gold wedding rings. People selecting diamond wedding bands need to decide on a diamond style, which has to do with how the stone is cut. (71% of engagement rings have a diamond as the primary stone

In short, a brilliant-cut diamond is round while the princess cut is square. If you choose to go with diamonds, it requires thinking about how the stone is set. A flush or bezel setting is favored for wedding bands when you don’t want the diamond to “sit proudly.” A jewel that sits flush inside its setting is less prone to becoming loose or get lost over time. The downside of flush settings is that they don't reflect a lot of light, which means there is less sparkle than if the diamond has a prominent setting.

The Wedding Budget

Gold Rings are an expensive investment. While selecting a gold ring, couples must carefully plan their budget and select the pieces that do not burn a hole in their pockets.