Seven tips for choosing the right men’s wedding ring
Men can do many things but when it comes to choosing the right men’s wedding ring they find the process daunting. The technology for wedding rings, the jargon and then the almost endless array of styles seem to be designed to specifically confuse a guy trying to make up his mind on the perfect wedding ring to wear for the rest of his life.
At weddingrings.net we understand that perfectly which is why we have put together a very comprehensive guide on how to best go about choosing that perfect wedding ring for your wedding day. When it comes to choosing a wedding ring it’s hardly rocket science. The criteria which help you choose the ring that’s best for you are simple enough:
Choose a wedding ring which suits your lifestyle, is right for you as a person and fits your current budget. You also need to think of comfort. After all this is a ring you will be wearing for the rest of your life, so you owe it to yourself to get a Comfort Fit wedding band which will be fitted to your ring finger rather than buy a wedding ring and then have to wait for your ring finger to adjust to it.
Nothing would please us more at weddingrings.net than to be able to give you an algorithm which would allow you to precisely calculate the perfect wedding ring for you. With thousands of satisfied wedding ring sales behind us however we know that when it comes to choosing a wedding ring, each customer is truly unique and there is no magic formula which can give you the answer. What we can do however is use our own experience of how men buy wedding rings to help guide you through the choices so that you can find the one that’s just right for you.
Wedding rings for men with style
We know for a fact from sales, for example, that when it comes to choosing a wedding ring men tend to look at design first. Perhaps it’s the fact that design is more technical and men find it easier to judge or perhaps it’s a case of not knowing where to start from so they start from there. By considering other factors first however, the choice of wedding ring can become a lot simpler and, perhaps, the usual headache associated with finding ‘the one’ can become less of a struggle.
There are seven criteria you should always apply when it comes to choosing the perfect men’s wedding ring
- Choosing a wedding ring that is appropriate for your lifestyle
- Choosing a wedding ring that reflects your personality
- Comfort is important – how to choose a comfortable wedding ring
- Which wedding ring metal is best for you?
- Choosing matching wedding rings
- Should your wedding ring have gemstones?
- Choosing your wedding ring design
Choosing a wedding ring appropriate for your lifestyle
When deciding which men’s wedding ring is right for you, first you need to consider your current lifestyle and also visualise a little how it may change.
Every one is different. A ring design that appeals to one person, may not appeal to another, just as a ring design that works well with one person’s lifestyle may not be appropriate for another person’s lifestyle. In order to make the right choice of wedding band you need to consider what effect your lifestyle will have on your wedding ring. Consider the following questions together with any other facets of your lifestyle that will play a part in your choosing your men’s wedding ring.
Can you wear your wedding ring at work? – If you are a woodworker or a mechanic, if you work with machinery and equipment that could get caught on your ring, you need to consider the safety aspect for your person as well as choose a ring that will be able to withstand the rigor of your working environment. If there is some kind of emergency, for instance, will you need a ring that can be cut-off from your finger if necessary?
Do you work with your hands – will manual labour be tough on your ring? If you are a gardener, for example, or a kitchen fitter or even if you have a hobby like dry stone wall building you need to choose a ring which will be able to take all that and still look new. Similarly, of you find that you have to scrub your hands with abrasives or use tough cleaning agents (in order to take off oil or pain for instance) you need a ring which will not react with the cleaning chemicals you use.
Will you wear your wedding ring everyday? – This is more than a trick question. Although men often joke about wearing their wedding rings occasionally or having them on a chain around their necks, research has shown that they wear their rings more often than not, though there are days when the rings come off. Some men are not able to wear a ring to work due to the harsh treatment that they expect their work may give to their ring or because they are prohibited from wearing a ring at work due to safety standards. Those men, usually go for rings which are a little more ornate because when they do wear their ring they want to wear something a little more unusual and offer a more decorative role than the traditional gold wedding ring.
Those men who carry through with their promise and choose to wear their wedding ring on a neck chain when they cannot wear it on their finger need to consider that their choice of wedding ring has to be suitable to one which can be word on a neck chain. Woven wedding rings and rings with more intricate designs, for instance, are not really designed to be worn on a chain. Apart from the fact that their design will not be seen to its advantage they are also less able to withstand the duress of a chain rubbing against the inside of the ring itself.
Will you play sport whilst wearing your wedding ring? – Men often have active lifestyles. If you rock climb, play football, basketball or surf then that could be a little rough on your ring. Although we would recommend that you not wear your wedding ring whilst playing a rough sport, there are wedding rings which can take punishment more than others, such as, for instance, ones made of stainless steel or titanium. If you do plan to wear your ring during sport, you will need to make sure that the ring is suitable for it.
Choosing a men’s wedding ring that reflects your personality
A wedding ring is not only a symbol of your love and your commitment to a person, it is also a fashion accessory that will be with you for the rest of your life. So you need to choose a ring that reflects your personality, rather than a ring style that may be a passing fashion or is picked up at an opportunistically low price. The odds are that you will appreciate your wedding ring more if you put a little thought into it so ask yourself some questions (and make sure you give yourself some real honest answers).
Are you a simple no-frills type of guy? – Then the classic gold wedding ring may really appeal. Though there are many types of simple rings the width and shape of the ring itself can make each one look quite different. There are also many options available to make your simple wedding ring more comfortable for you so make sure you check out all the rings available in our traditional wedding rings range and try and find a style which appeals there, first.
Do you like the idea of having something a little different – but not too different? – You are not the only one. Today there are many options available for the man who does not want a simple gold wedding band, but who doesn’t want an overly flashy ring either. Perhaps a twist on the simple wedding ring is for you. What about a ring with ribbed edges, a white gold inlay stripe, a satin finish textured ring rather than a polished texture, a two-tone ring with yellow and white gold or a woven pattern. There are many subtle yet stylish options available. You just need to spend a little time and do some thinking and try to visualise yourself wearing a particular ring for the rest of your life and see how that makes you feel about it.
Is your fiancé encouraging you to choose something a little different but you’re not yet convinced? – Guys these days rarely make the choice of their wedding ring on their own. The women in their lives play a significant part in their choice of wedding ring. This has been behind a surprising but perhaps understandable move away from the traditional gold wedding ring towards rings made of alternate metals and designs that are just a little different.
Why not consider a wedding ring that is still simple, but a little more than the traditional gold wedding band of the past? What about a ring with ribbed edges, a white gold inlay stripe, a satin finish textured ring, a two-tone wedding ring or a wedding ring with woven pattern? There are many subtle yet stylish options available which can help you move past tradition without, however, looking outlandish.
Are you an engineer or a technically minded person who is looking for the latest technology in his choice of wedding ring? – It should come as no surprise that men tend to be technical even when it comes to choosing a wedding ring for themselves. Whereas women tend to appreciate the diamonds, the finish or the workmanship men often choose wedding rings based on the complexity of their manufacture.
Titanium, for example, a high technology metal used in the latest scientific breakthroughs is the top choice for this group and so are both stainless steel and Ceramics. Ceramic wedding rings are a brand new type of wedding ring which is also favoured by this group of men. Other favourite choices include rings that uses the latest laser technology in the ring’s construction, such as a wave style or fusion rings which combine different gold types in unique patterns to form two-tone wedding rings.
Are you bold and daring? – If you tend to do the more extreme things in life then something different to what you normally see on the wedding ring finger of other men may appeal. Perhaps a custom designed titanium ring, a ring incorporating unusual metals such as white gold or platinum or a two-tone ring with a combination of two metals such as white and yellow gold, or rose and white gold may be the perfect choice for you.
Does your cultural or ethnic background make a particular type of ring style appeal more to you? – We all have cultural influences we take with us and the choice of wedding ring for men is no different. For example if you have Irish heritage a claddagh ring or celtic ring may appeal to you more than a simple wedding band. If you have Italian heritage a diamond wedding ring may appeal more than a two-tone one.
Your wedding ring is just that, yours. It should reflect where you come from as well as where you are going.
How to choose a comfortable wedding ring
Many men are concerned that a wedding ring will not be comfortable to wear every day and that was true in the past where many years of wear would often leave their mark on the wearer’s wedding ring finger. Naturally, today, we find that this concern normally stems from the fact that many men have not worn a ring before. Men’s wedding rings can be comfortable to wear if you know what to look for in your choice of wedding ring. Consider these two factors: the shape of the ring and the ring width.
First, look for a ring design that has softly rounded edges, rather than sharp angular edges. This does not mean that a flat band style cannot be comfortable. A flat band can still have a good construction where the edge of the band is made with a very gentle rounded inside edge so that it does not work hard against the skin.
Next, consider the inside curve the of ring. The inside of a ring should have a gentle curve on the inside edges of the ring. This soft internal curve will make the ring feel more comfortable on your finger than if it did not have it. Men, like women, can have different skin types which react differently to the constant wearing of a ring. In this case, if you do happen to be a little sensitive you may find that a soft fit ring, which has softly curved edges on the ring, though not a completely curved inside surface in the ring, is the perfect choice for you.
Something that is also a popular choice for men’s rings is a ring made with a comfort curve. A comfort curve refers to the inside of a ring, not the outside. So it is possible to have a comfort curve with a ring that is flat on the outside surface and still feel very comfortable to wear every day of your life. A comfort curve is a ring that is curved on the inside of the band, rather than having a more flat surface on the inside of the ring.
When considering ring width, factors to consider include the size and length of your fingers and your personal preference. Often men with larger hands or longer fingers choose an average width band or a slightly wider band in order to emphasise the fit. Men with smaller hands or more slender fingers often choose a 5mm ring or a slightly narrower ring because it looks more in keeping with their physique. Men’s wedding rings are usually wider than a ladies wedding ring and most men choose a ring width of between 5mm and 7mm with 6mm and 7mm being the more popular widths.
If you choose a wider ring style you will also need to consider the finger size that you will need. Wider rings can be tighter on the finger than a narrower ring would be and here getting it just right for you will need both a little research and some thinking.
For a ring width of 8mm or wider you may need to choose a slightly larger finger size (perhaps a 1/4 US size or a 1/2 a British size larger). Most finger size measurements are made on quite narrow sizing rings, so when you have your finger size measured by a jeweller you should let them know the width of the ring that you are interested in, so that they can factor in the width of your ring when determining the best finger size for you. You may also be interested in out ring sizer which is there to help you decide the best ring fit for your finger.
Which metal is best for men’s wedding rings
The metals that can be used to make men’s wedding rings include gold, titanium, platinum and silver. The information below will help you choose the metal to use for your wedding ring.
Gold wedding rings
Gold is the most popular choice for men’s wedding rings. There are two things to consider when choosing a gold men’s wedding ring. Which gold carat to choose and which gold color or what combination of gold colors you would like to wear on your ring finger.
The gold carats normally used in men’s wedding rings are 14kt and 18kt. The higher the proportion of gold used in the final metal, the more valuable and expensive the metal will be. So all other things being the same, an 18kt ring will be more expensive than a 14kt wedding ring . Many people consider the hardness and durability of gold when choosing a men’s wedding ring and you should do the same.
When it comes to metals hardness is measured by what is called the Vickers scale where harder metals receive a higher Vickers score than less hard metals. An 18kt wedding ring has a Vickers hardness of 125. This shows 18kt as harder, though the difference is so slight that in practical terms 14kt and 18kt are much the same in terms of hardness.
Generally speaking a 14k wedding ring is a little more springy than 18kt and therefore a fine 14kt ring may be less likely to bend out of shape than a fine 18kt ring. However, if the ring is of a good sturdy construction neither metal will be likely to bend out of shape easily.
Next you need to consider the color of the gold for your wedding ring
Gold is available in several different colors depending on the composition and the gold content. The most popular is yellow gold, followed by white gold and rose gold, though other gold colors are sometimes also available such as bronze, peach, red and lime gold.
As each gold color contains the same proportion of pure gold, all gold colors that have the same carat will have the same Vickers score. When comparing the price of the gold colors in the same carat, white gold is normally a little more expensive than yellow gold and rose gold. Yellow gold and rose gold normally have approximately the same price. When trying to decide between the gold carat types there are three things to consider.
The metal’s performance with every day wear
The difference in color between the 14kt and 18kt gold.
The difference in price between the gold carats.
In practical terms, 18kt generally holds up to everyday wear better than 14kt and 18kt gold tends to look better than 14kt gold as it ages over the years. This is one of the reasons why 18kt is normally preferred for ladies engagement rings rather than 14kt gold.
When it comes to men’s wedding rings 18kt is the superior metal provided that the ring is not a lightweight construction and can withstand the harder wearing that all men’s wedding rings are exposed to. One thing to remember however is that an 18kt gold is more expensive than a 14kt which in a large men’s wedding ring can be a noticeable difference in the final price.
Price however should be a relatively small consideration when it comes to a wedding ring which you will be wearing every day of your life. One other consideration which you may want to bear in mind when it comes to a man’s wedding ring is that, with time, apart from the color of the gold, the size of the wearer’s fingers may also change. A simple gold wedding ring can normally be resized in the future a lot easier than a more ornate one. A gold ring with ribbed edges, a wave or woven pattern or engraving may be more difficult to resize without affecting the ring pattern which helps make it distinct.
Titanium wedding rings
Titanium is a natural element which has a silver-greyish-white color. Titanium is also the hardest natural metal in the world. It is three times the strength of steel and much stronger than gold, silver and platinum and yet is very light weight. Pure titanium is also 100% hypoallergenic which means that it if safe for anyone to wear as it will not react to your skin.
Titanium provides several unique factors that make it a good metal for wedding rings. It is very strong and its hardness makes it a more dent, bend and scratch resistant than gold, silver and platinum. It is lightweight and it also has a greater range of colors than most metals. Do remember however that its hardness and durability makes it almost impossible to resize in future which is why a titanium wedding ring really is for life.
Platinum wedding rings
Platinum is a white metal, but unlike gold it is used in jewellery in almost its pure form (approximately 95% pure). Platinum is extremely long wearing and is very white, so it does not need to be rhodium plated like white gold. Platinum is a very dense, heavy metal, so a platinum wedding ring will feel heavier than an 18kt gold ring.
Platinum is however significantly more expensive than gold. All other things being the same, a platinum ring will be approximately twice the price of an 18kt white gold ring (not including gemstones).
Silver wedding rings
Sterling silver is a white-grey colored metal which is less expensive than gold, platinum or titanium.
Silver is a softer metal than gold, titanium, tungsten and platinum and does not have the hardness that the other metals do. Silver is also more prone to oxidisation, sometimes causing the silver to turn black. For these reasons silver jewellery is best worn as dress jewellery or is worn occasionally and is not generally recommended for everyday wear over an extended period of time. Silver wedding t=rings have a huge advantage in terms of cost so if the budget is a consideration having silver wedding rings is certainly a way out.
Ring maintenance
You should note that all metals will scratch with time, though some are more durable than others. Titanium and platinum are more scratch resistant that gold and silver, though they will still scratch. This means that scratches on your wedding ring is something which is inevitable and should be considered as part of wearing a ring which will acquire some history. If the ring you choose has a polished finish, you can have your ring re-polished by a local jeweller. We suggest that rings be polished about each 12 months or so, or sooner depending on the wear and tear they display.
Should your men’s wedding ring include gemstones?
It is acceptable for a men’s wedding ring to include diamonds and gemstones. The decision to include diamonds or gemstones in your ring will depend on your personal preference. Just as when choosing other types of wedding ring you should consider the type of work that you do and the sports you play when considering gemstones. Gemstone settings can be affected and the risk of a gemstone being lost will be increased if the ring is knocked around during work or sports.
The degree to which the ring may be knocked about also means that you should also consider the type of gemstones that are suitable to be worn in wedding rings. Some gemstones are more fragile than others and are not suited to be worn everyday. The gemstones which are suitable to be worn in wedding rings are diamonds, sapphires and rubies.
Choosing matching wedding rings
The fashion, these days, is very much towards choosing wedding rings sets. This is because couples are actively involved, equally, in the decisions around their wedding day and this includes the wedding rings they choose. We have a great variety of wedding rings sets to satisfy most tastes as well as a custom wedding ring service.
Choosing your men’s wedding ring design
Traditionally men preferred simple gold wedding bands to symbolise their love and commitment. Simplicity was also governed by the fashion of the time. Over the last 15 years men have increasingly been moving away from the traditional gold wedding ring towards something a little different. There are many ring designs to choose from and you will need to take into account the factors above in your choice of them.
Types of ring styles include simple bands made in all yellow gold, all white gold, platinum, or titanium wedding rings with inlay stripes or ribbed edges; rings with diamonds or gemstones; rings with unique patterns; two-tone rings with a combination of metal types, and woven or wave ring styles.
When considering lifestyle factors and ring designs you should note that a woven, puzzle or heavily patterned ring could be damaged whilst playing sport or working with your hands. A ring with diamonds or gemstones may be at greater risk of having the gem settings damaged and potentially losing a gemstone.
A wedding ring is a very personal thing for a man and the choice in men’s wedding rings reflects the many different variables you will need to consider. By going through this list of wedding ring choices carefully you stand a good chance of actually making the right choice for you.
Tags: ceramic ring, diamond wedding ring, men's wedding band, platinum wedding ring, stainless steel wedding ring, titanium ring