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Choosing Men's
Wedding Rings
The last thing
a groom thinks about is his wedding ring. It's the poor cousin to his
bride's spectacular diamond engagement ring. That said, the groom's
wedding ring is the one indicator that this man has a gorgeous wife
somewhere, possibly on his arm. The great news is that a groom and
bride's wedding rings are the one item in a wedding that don't cost a
fortune. In this article, GroomGroove.com covers what a man needs to
know about the most important piece of jewelry he'll ever wear.
Cost of the
Wedding Ring
A man's
wedding rings will cost between approximately $100 (for titanium
rings) to $2000 (for platinum with diamonds set in the ring), with
most rings coming in around $600. The reason for the price range
(albeit much less of a range than a woman's diamond engagement ring)
is the material used to make the band, and whether diamonds are used.
Mens Wedding
Rings Materials
A groom's
wedding band will be made of platinum, white gold, yellow gold,
titanium, stainless steel or, lead. (Just kidding on the lead bit).
Platinum and white gold are, at present, the most popular materials.
White gold is
an alloy of gold (ie. it is gold and silver or palladium). This is
where the concept of Karat comes in. Karat is a measure of the purity
of the material. An 18K gold ring has 75% pure gold (the element).
The higher the karat, the softer the ring and the more easily it will
get scratched and dented. Accordingly, 18K is considered the optimal
karat (with pure gold coming in at 24 karats).
There are
positives and negatives with each type of wedding ring material you
purchase. In particular, each will show different wear and tear after
some time. The photo above shows what you can expect after one year
of wear from each of the popular wedding ring materials.
Learn more
about men's wedding ring materials:
Platinum
Wedding Rings - the king of rings
White Gold
Wedding Rings - the most popular choice for the groom
Gold Wedding
Rings - the classic ring choice for the groom
Tungsten
Wedding Rings - won't scratch and very inexpensive
Titanium
Wedding Rings - slick, but has some drawbacks
Width of the
Wedding Ring
The width of a
man's wedding ring is measured in millimeters. The smallest rings are
3 mm in width, whereas the largest rings are 8mm in width. Generally,
men will purchase a ring that is on the larger side, tending towards
5-6 mm.
Style
Most younger
generations of men choose simple wedding bands, and generally, have
shied away from yellow gold in favor of 18k white gold or platinum.
Some men have chosen rings that have a braid carved in them, or
alternatively, some other edging that the manufacturer has set.
Diamond-studded rings for men are definitely in the minority.
For additional
comfort, grooms should consider purchasing a ring where the inside of
the wedding ring is cambered or with rounded edges. Frankly, however,
when a groom first wears a ring - any ring - it is likely to feel
like a foreign object, with hard edges. Over time, rounded edges
probably don't add much, especially since most of the time, you'll
not even notice your ring. (You will, however, notice when your ring
is not on your finger, as you reach to play with it. Read on to find
out why this is the case.) article continues...
When to Buy
the Wedding Band
Generally, a
groom will buy his bride's diamond engagement ring separate from the
wedding bands, as the bride and groom each have wedding bands, and
may want to choreograph the look of their rings with matching wedding
bands. Accordingly, the wedding bands should be purchased two months
before the wedding (at the latest). This will allow for time to get
it sized properly, and make any adjustments.
Ring Measurements
The diameter
of the ring will be measured either by your jeweler, or if you are
buying wedding rings online, all reputable online retailers have
suggested wedding ring size guides that you can print out. And even
if you are buying your ring online, jewelry stores will happily fit
you for your ring (as they try to sell you on their product!)
Working Out
A note - men
should take their ring off and put it in a safe place (and the same
place) when going to the gym to work out. This is because dumbbells
and barbells can easily scratch or dent ring materials. Don't leave
it in the locker, but rather, put it in your bag. Countless husbands
have had to admit to their wives that they lost their 18k white gold
wedding ring at the gym.
Playing with
Your Ring
One of the
first things a groom will do upon wearing his ring for the first time
as a husband, and not a groom, will be to play with it. Twisting it
on his finger, many a groom will twist and turn at the ring when
nervous, such as when the groom makes his wedding speech.
Your wedding
band will be a constant reminder of your wife and the commitment
you've made. Perhaps it's a reminder that you haven't bought flowers
recently. Or that you should tell her that you love her everyday.
Whatever it signifies to you, take some time to pick out a man's
wedding ring you will be happy to wear. |
