Posts Tagged ‘choose matching’

Engagement rings symbolise the intention to get married and are worn on their own only for the duration of the engagement.  And although wedding rings can be worn on their own after marriage, in reality most women wear their engagement rings and wedding bands together.  It is therefore essential that the two rings compliment each other. 

The easiest way to do this is to buy the engagement ring and the wedding band together.  This is especially important if you are designing your own ring and are planning on an elaborate styling which cannot be easily replicated.  You should also get the wedding band made at the same time as a rose gold engagement ring because the colors of rose gold can vary enormously from deep copper red to near pink depending upon the gold quality and the precise alloys used.

However if you are buying the wedding band as a later purchase, there are four main areas to consider for your rings to compliment each other.

Complimentary Style
Choose to have the styles match exactly, or flatter each other.  If you have an engagement ring with intricate metal work on the shoulders, or a pattern etched onto the band, then you could choose a wedding ring with the same embellishments or else choose one which is totally plain to ensure that the engagement ring continues to draw admiring glances even after the wedding!   

Although it is a matter of personal preference, more ornate styles date quickly and are easy to tire of.  Over the years, a woman may hope to receive an eternity ring, which may then be worn as well as or in place of her engagement ring from time to time.  For future flexibility of wear, it may be the best idea to select a plainer wedding band if the engagement ring is particularly ornate.

Complimentary Size
The two rings should look proportionally well balanced when worn together.  The wedding band should not be narrower than the engagement band but it can be wider.  If you have a good sized diamond, say, of more than a carat and a half, then it would suit a wider wedding band if that was your preference. 

Some engagement ring settings look great alongside a D-shape wedding band, others suit a rounder shape, some look better with a wedding band with a bevelled edge cut and still others, a flat wedding band.  Check which style of band suits your engagement ring best.  This is simple to do.  Always wear your engagement ring when you go to choose the wedding band and try the rings on together.

Comfortable Fit
The wedding ring must sit comfortably alongside the engagement band and both must lie flat on the finger.  If your engagement ring has a particularly elaborate setting, you may need to have a small section of your wedding band cut so the rings exactly slot together.  Most reputable jewelers can do this easily for you.

Matching Metal
Even allowing for the current popularity of two tone wedding rings, the engagement and wedding rings must be made from the same metal.  Platinum and silver are both harder metals than gold.  18k gold, whether white, yellow or rose colored, is especially soft.  NEVER buy a platinum wedding band if your engagement ring is 18k gold.  Over time, the platinum band will rub away the engagement ring setting to such an extent that you will risk losing your gemstone.