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