You’re engaged and it’s time to look for wedding bands. The tradition of wearing a wedding band dates back about 4,800 years to ancient Egypt. Sedges, rushes and reeds were twisted and braided into rings and worn as a symbol of marriage. Well, we’ve come a long way since braiding reeds into bands. We now adorn our fingers with beautiful gemstones set in platinum or gold. Let’s take a look at the latest styles in wedding bands for you and your guy. We think you’ll be saying, “I do!” to these exquisite rings.
Rings for Her
The first thing you should think about is if you want to wear your wedding band with your engagement ring or alone. This is an important consideration when looking for bands. We suggest trying on both styles to see what looks best with your engagement ring and what you are most comfortable wearing. Ask yourself the following questions:
Do you want something classic or modern?
Do you want a band with diamonds or do you prefer something simpler?
Do you want a band with colored diamonds or gemstones?
With all these options, how’s a girl to choose? Read on, as we break down the best looks in wedding band designs.
Classic Diamond Band – JB Star Platinum Band, Featuring 36 Tapered Baguette Diamonds and Pave Set Round Diamonds
Diamond and Colored Gemstone Band – JB Star Platinum Shared Prong Band, Featuring 3 Cushion Shaped Blue Sapphires and 4 Round Diamonds
Yellow Gold Band – ArtCarved Stackable Diamond Eternity Band in 14K Yellow Gold
Plain Band – Precision Set 18K White Gold New Aire 2MM Plain Band
Vintage Inspired Band – ArtCarved Stackable Diamond Band in 14K White Gold
Diamond Eternity Band – JB Star Platinum Shared Prong Diamond Eternity Band, Featuring 16 Cushion Shaped Diamonds
Rings For Him
Many men have never worn a ring prior to getting married and may not even know if they’re going to like the feel of a ring on their hand. When choosing a band there are a few things to consider:
What is his lifestyle and personality?
Will he be wearing the band everyday or just on the weekends or special occasions?
Does he have an office job or is he someone who works with his hands as a tradesman or mechanic?
Does he dress conservatively or is he more fashion forward?
Does he want to make a statement or is comfort his priority?
These questions are important when choosing the type of metal for his band. Men now have more options in wedding bands than ever before. Mixed metal bands, titanium and tungsten are all great options and provide an alternative look to the classic gold or platinum band. When choosing a band, it is important to know about the characteristics of the various metals.
Gold – When looking at gold wedding bands, you will want to make sure you get a band in 14K or 18K. This will provide the best color and hold up the best over time versus a gold in 10K. Gold comes in three colors: yellow, white and rose. A gold wedding band like this one from the Alson Signature Collection is a classic look and is perfect for the guy who is more conservative.
White Gold – White gold is a great choice if you love the look of platinum but want a ring that doesn’t come with the platinum price tag. Consider this ArtCarved 14K White Gold 8.5mm Men’s Band with Satin Center Finish.
Rose Gold – Rose gold is a hot new trend in bridal and we’re seeing it used in designs for women and men. The warm, subtle rose hue enhances the ring and makes it stand apart from the traditional yellow gold or silver toned band. If you favor rose gold, this ArtCarved White and Rose Gold Men’s Band is the perfect choice.
Platinum – Platinum is a white metal that is long wearing and will not scratch as easily as gold. Platinum is more expensive than gold and is also a heavier metal. It is strong and durable with good resistance to scratching, corrosion and chemicals. It makes a great choice for the guy who wants something simple and elegant. Plus, it will never go out of style. We suggest this platinum band from the ArtCarved.
Titanium – Titanium is a new metal that is being used for men’s wedding bands. It is the hardest natural metal yet very light weight and very comfortable. It is three times the strength of steel and is also hypoallergenic. Titanium is a great choice for the guy who would like something that is very light weight. We suggest this titanium and diamond ring by Bez Ambar.
Tungsten – Tungsten carbide rings are very durable and retain many of the characteristics of pure tungsten metal – including a high melting point and high tensile strength. The rings are extremely resistant to scratching, and have a light gray color which can be darkened with brush finishing processes. We love this tungsten band by ArtCarved.
Sterling Silver – Sterling Silver is a softer metal than gold and requires more care than the other metals due to oxidation that can occur over time. Oxidation is easy to care for with the use of a polishing cloth or bringing it to a jeweler for cleaning. This type of metal comes in great styles and is perfect for the guy who is looking for something more casual and sporty for his band. We love this Modern Chain Band by John Hardy.
Diamonds – Diamonds are not only a girl’s best friend, guys like them too! If your guy likes a little bling, he’ll love this 18K White Gold and Diamond band by Bez Ambar.
See something you like? Be sure to join us for our Wedding Band Weekend, April 20th and 21st. We’ll have 1,000’s of bands from the best bridal designers. For more looks in wedding bands, check out our website and Pinterest page. We’re very social, so be sure to join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
~ Rings pictured at top of page are by ArtCarved.
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