The Wedding Report states that 1,934,982 people got married in 2021. You would assume the majority of those people had a wedding ring, but how many of you think they are happy with their choices?
If you want to look back fondly on the time you got married, one of the best ways to do so is to choose a wedding ring you truly cherish. Some people may prefer a classic wedding ring, while others prefer a modern wedding ring.
In this comprehensive guide, we will focus on wedding rings that are modern and very much “now.” By the end of reading this, you should have all the knowledge and confidence to choose a wedding ring that you can adore for decades to come.
How to Choose a Modern Wedding Ring
Whether it’s a modern or classic-styled wedding ring you are after, the same principles of how to choose a ring may apply.
Here, we’ll run through a few tips on how to go about choosing a wedding ring. Then, we’ll move on to various modern wedding ring styles for you to think about.
Begin Your Search Early On
One of the biggest mistakes people make when wedding planning is not choosing their wedding rings early on. With so much to plan, the ring-choosing process is easy to neglect, but if you don’t give it some time and thought, you might end up with something second-rate.
For a custom-made ring or one that you need altering, you need to allow time for the jeweler to produce the final product. At the very least, you’ll need to set aside a month for the process. And if you are after a modern wedding ring, it might take even longer to get the ring finished in its final form.
Yet, you should start searching for your ideal wedding band maybe 6 months before your wedding date. This might seem like a long time, but it will be worth it in the end when you are happy with a ring that you will likely wear for the rest of your life!
Get Your Budget in Order
As a rule of thumb, set aside around 5% of your total wedding budget for the wedding rings. You might be able to put this number down a little for modern wedding rings over vintage or antique rings. Yet, some modern rings are the priciest of them all, depending on the materials used and the overall design.
To save a little money while still gaining a stunning-looking ring, consider different metal options. For instance, you could opt for a half eternity band rather than a full version, yet still have a beautiful ring to cherish.
Anyone who didn’t know the exact details of the ring, wouldn’t be able to distinguish between the two types. Only with a close inspection by an expert would the differences be revealed. These differences would be to do with color and clarity.
Furthermore, to save money on a modern ring, consider not choosing a designer ring, as they usually prop up the prices of these solely because of the brand name, not the quality. That being said, don’t price yourself too low to realize five years down the line that you have an inferior piece of jewelry.
Consider Your Lifestyle Demands
It’s all well and good getting a stunning wedding ring, but will it stand up to your lifestyle demands over the years? If your ring is too delicate, will you end up just hiding it away for the rest of your days?
You should choose a wedding ring that is practical and tough for day-to-day wearing. Our mini-guide-to-metal choices should help you figure out what will be the best material for your particular wedding ring.
Spend Time Learning About Metal Choices
Most people will think of gold as the primary material when choosing a ring for their wedding, and they’re right. Yet, people are now choosing other modern options made from various other metals.
Rose gold is a type of gold that’s becoming ever more popular with women. The reason for this is that it gives off a soft feminine look. A man getting married might opt for something more masculine-looking like sterling silver or classic gold.
Some of the most popular metals for wedding rings in summary are:
- Yellow gold
- Platinum
- White gold
- Silver
- Rose gold
If you’re going to choose yellow gold, 14-18 karat options might be best for durability and longevity. Yellow gold rings are the classic option, yet there are modern designs now that really set them apart from plain old wedding bands of yesteryear.
Platinum is your premium metal choice since it is expensive and jewelers find it much harder to craft than gold and other metals. The great thing about platinum is it will not tarnish or fade. Platinum is also very scratch-resistant.
Keep in mind, that if your engagement ring is not platinum, it could become worn down by your platinum wedding ring.
White gold is a great option if you like the look of platinum but do not have the budget for it. It works as a great metal type for various modern ring styles. Just be aware that over time you will need a professional to re-polish your white gold ring as its rhodium plating will come off eventually.
Silver is a go-to option for anyone wanting modern ring designs. The reason for this is it is super-malleable, meaning there is cope for ring concepts that you would not be able to do with a material like platinum, for instance. However, since silver is a soft metal that oxidizes, you need to take extra care of a silver ring.
Rose gold, as we’ve mentioned, is a romantic feminine option to consider. It will keep its color and will not tarnish.
Non-Precious Metal Options
All of the above metal options we discussed in the last section are precious metals. Other metals work very well as rings, though, and they won’t be as pricey as the precious metal options.
For instance, you could look into getting a tungsten or titanium wedding band. Tungsten is a very abrasion-resistant material making it great to wear for people who have active outdoor lifestyles. Titanium is an excellent option for anyone wanting a lightweight yet solid and long-lasting ring.
If you love things shiny, then cobalt is a material you could think about using to make your wedding ring. It is very scratch resistant, but hard to shape, meaning you will have limited design choices available to you unless you are willing to pay.
Finally, we have stainless steel, which many brides and grooms are turning to these days as the metal in their wedding rings. Stainless steel is cheap, does not tarnish, and has a similar appearance to silver.
Get Your Ring Size Right
If you are planning on ordering your ring or rings online, you need to fully understand your ring sizes. Here is a handy ring sizer chart to help you with this.
It may be the case that you receive the ring, even after carefully checking your size, and it’s not a good fit. Thus, you should make sure you order your ring well before the wedding. If the ring is oversized it won’t be a big issue in the ceremony, but if it doesn’t fit on your finger, then you’re going to need to sort the problem out before you exchange your vows.
Modern Wedding Rings
A classic wedding ring will be a band for both the man and the woman. However, modern wedding rings tend to challenge orthodoxy and have things included like diamonds, sapphires, or other precious stones.
One of the more interesting ideas that people come up with nowadays is to take a vintage ring and update it with a modern twist. In this sense, you get the best of both worlds.
Another idea that is modern in thinking is to have your own custom rings made. And this is possible on almost any budget, as it will depend, for the most part, on the materials you use and the complexity of the design you want.
If you feel passionate about the environment and sustainability goals, you might want to have rings made from recycled materials. You might also want to support developing nations and so have your rings made from someone from one of those regions in the world.
Some people will take a modern stance on things and say that a cheap stainless steel ring will surface for our marriage. After all, a wedding ring is meant to be a symbol of the love you share with a partner. It’s also a symbol of the process you committed to at the time to dedicate yourself to someone.
Others will want to have their wedding ring as something of a family heirloom to pass down through the generations. In this case, you might want to spend a decent sum of money getting something that will truly last the test of time and add a true sentiment to the generations that gain its possession.
Common Modern Wedding Ring Styles
In general, here are a few modern wedding ring styles to consider:
- Pipe wedding bands
- Pave wedding bands
- Prong set bands
- Wide wedding bands
Pipe wedding bands are often called flat-cut wedding rings. The concept is comparable to if you cut a ring-sized portion out of a pipe. Men tend to like these sorts of rings for their contemporary and simplistic design.
A popular option for women is pave wedding bands. These are wedding bands with a row of small precious stones set within the band, but in a different shape to traditional band types.
A prong set band has precious stones set upon the top of the ring. This type of ring can be a great compliment to an engagement ring as it may tell someone the story that you have “sealed the deal” so to speak.
Wide wedding bands are a very contemporary option. Some people hate them and some people love them, so we recommend you take a look at some and see what you think!
How to Go Ring Shopping in Physical Stores
If possible, you should try to go ring shopping in physical stores where you can see and feel what you are buying. Of course, buying online has its advantages, but it doesn’t compare to going to a jeweler and testing out the merchandise. However, a happy medium approach could be to try on several rings in a store and to help you figure out what you want to order online.
Either way, when you try on rings in a store, you should consider a few important things. The first thing you should look for is certification of any jewels in your ring. This is especially important for engagement ring purchases which almost always have precious stones, but modern wedding bands may have such jewels encrusted in their makeup.
To check if the jewel you are looking at matches the certificate, you should ask for a jeweler’s loupe. This is the small eyeglass device you see jewelers use to magnify the surface of a precious stone. You should look for a tiny laser inscription that matches up with the info on the certificate.
Negotiation is something you ought to get your head around when shopping in physical stores. You might surprise yourself much cheaper you might be able to get a ring if you just ask for a discount.
Just don’t make out that you have your heart set out on buying a particular ring, or the seller won’t have any motivation to drop the price when they can clearly see you will buy it at the given price.
A Modern Wedding Ring to Suit Your Needs
The key to finding a modern wedding ring to suit your needs is to spend time considering different options. You may surprise yourself with your final choice – or it could be the case that you opt for a classic ring design.
Whatever the case, ensure that you know you will cherish your ring for years to come.
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