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