| You've heard the "4 Cs" of smart diamond buying. | | | | braided wedding bands are tougher than they |
| But what about the wedding band? Wedding | | | | appear and will be fine under most conditions. |
| bands are not the most expensive wedding | | | | Design Band or Designer Name Brand |
| purchase you will make, not like spending between | | | | Most wedding bands that are on the market |
| $1,000-$10,000 on that beautiful sparkling diamond | | | | today are actually not designer name brand rings, |
| rock. You may not spend a lot of time | | | | yet they are, in my opinion, the same quality as |
| researching the wedding band purchase, but many | | | | most designer name brand rings. The difference |
| people end up wearing their wedding band more | | | | with a designer name brand and a generic version |
| often and on a day to day basis compared to | | | | is mainly the price. Most design bands range |
| their engagement ring. | | | | between $300-$350 vs. $600-$800 for the exact |
| Make an informed decision when purchasing your | | | | ring made by a known designer name. |
| wedding band. | | | | However, if paying 2-3 times more is not a |
| - Do you prefer a traditional plain wedding band or | | | | significant difference to you, you may want to |
| a design wedding band? | | | | consider a name brand simply for the security or |
| - Do you want to budget in for a designer name | | | | status that the name you purchase may give |
| brand or do you prefer to forgo the brand name | | | | you. In shopping for a wedding band, whether it is |
| and opt out for essentially the same ring without | | | | a designer name or not, make sure you |
| the "name", thereby significantly reducing costs? | | | | understand your wedding or jewelry store's |
| - Pricing Your Wedding Band. | | | | policies, warranties, and guarantees. Often, the |
| Plain Wedding Bands | | | | generic brand will offer you the same security, |
| You may want to consider a plain band if you | | | | quality, and warranties. So why spend the extra? |
| prefer a simple design or are not a big "jewelry | | | | Yellow Gold, White Gold, or Two-Tone |
| person". As a jeweler, I often get women | | | | This too is mostly a personal choice, but there |
| shopping for their husbands wedding bands who | | | | are a few things to consider in selecting your |
| are considering a plain band because their husband | | | | wedding bands' color or metal type. |
| "does not like jewelry". I usually recommend a | | | | White gold is often more suitable for those who |
| narrower plain wedding band, such as a white gold | | | | are not normally big jewelry wearers. White gold |
| or yellow gold 4mm wide band. Although a wider | | | | is also somewhat more contemporary, although |
| 6mm, 7mm, or 8mm band is standard for most | | | | trends suggest that yellow gold may be coming |
| men, someone who does not wear a lot of | | | | back strong into fashion. Ultimately, whether you |
| jewelry may feel more comfortable in a narrow | | | | choose yellow or white gold should depend on |
| band. (Wedding bands are usually measured in | | | | your personal preference, rather than following |
| millimeters. A 4mm band is approx. ¼" wide). | | | | any trend, since trends come and go and you plan |
| If someone is looking for something with a little | | | | to wear your ring forever! |
| more of a design, but still wants a simpler band, I | | | | You may also want to consider two-tone gold. |
| may even steer them towards a more subtle | | | | Two-tone wedding rings are an excellent |
| design, such as a hammered wedding band. | | | | compromise between subtle and rich tones and |
| Hammered bands are still understated, but a little | | | | they serve one additional purpose that people |
| more exciting than a traditional plain band. | | | | tend to overlook. |
| Design Band | | | | Two-tone wedding bands give you the flexibility |
| There are many types of design wedding bands | | | | of both yellow and white gold colors so that you |
| to choose from, such as braided wedding bands, | | | | can match a variety of other jewelry with your |
| hammered design bands, paisley bands, and other | | | | wedding jewelry. If you buy a white gold wedding |
| unique designs, such as a Celtic wedding band. | | | | band, all of your future jewelry purchases will |
| The type of design band wedding you choose is a | | | | tend to be white gold. Wearing yellow gold or |
| personal choice. There is nothing scientific or | | | | two-tone with your white gold ring may clash. The |
| practical in selecting a design wedding band other | | | | same can be said of pure yellow gold. But with a |
| than primarily deciding what type of design you | | | | two-tone wedding band, you can wear an all |
| simply like. | | | | yellow gold bracelet or watch, for example, and |
| The only practical considerations that you may | | | | interchange jewelry and colors. This adds great |
| want to make in selecting a wedding band with | | | | versatility to your jewelry line-up. |
| designs is in understanding that trends come and | | | | Price Benchmarks |
| go and you will be wearing and looking at the | | | | Use the below benchmarks to assess if your |
| design hopefully forever. The other consideration | | | | selected jeweler is charging you too much or if |
| is in deciding whether you will wear your ring on a | | | | their prices are reasonable. |
| daily basis and what kind of wear and tear your | | | | Expect to spend between $100-$150 for a plain, |
| ring can safely sustain. This usually depends on the | | | | traditional wedding band. |
| type of work or career or regular hobbies. | | | | Expect to spend approx. $300 for a standard, but |
| Do you work with your hands a lot? Do you do | | | | high quality design wedding band. |
| construction work or do you have an office job | | | | Expect to spend between $600-$800 for a |
| that is not taxing on your hands? In purchasing a | | | | designer name brand. |
| design band, if you are planning to wear your ring | | | | Remember, you may not want to dish out the |
| to a job that is physically demanding you may | | | | additional cost for a designer name brand when |
| want to consider a hammered design band or a | | | | you can find virtually the same ring without the |
| similarly rugged design that can withstand wear | | | | "name". Above all, this should be a choice that you |
| and tear. You may want to stay away from a | | | | make yourself or with your spouse. Forget about |
| braided wedding band, for example, if you are a | | | | trends and think long-term. $300 over 50 years |
| police officer and want to wear your ring on the | | | | of your life is less than a penny a day! Don't get |
| job! If you are "outdoorsy" and rugged, you may | | | | caught up too much in the price. Opt for the ring |
| want a more solid band with less design that could | | | | that you really want. You plan to wear your ring |
| get damaged. | | | | forever. |
| Keep in mind these are extreme cases. Most | | | | |