Choosing the Rings

An engagement ring is a traditional and significant piece of jewellery that is still usually paid for by the groom. Conventionally an engagement ring should be a diamond ring, but nowadays sapphires and rubies are also chosen as the main stone or side settings. The rule of spending two months salary on the ring is now not the case and it is also not essential to produce a ring when proposing. To buy your fiancée something that you know she will like, such as a bracelet, is a safer option, but a ring should appear on her finger within a reasonable time.

It is important to take into consideration the bride’s tastes, hand shape and expectations. A groom may wish to select a few rings for his fiancée to choose from, or the couple may look for rings together. When looking for rings together a budget should be established well in advance and various styles should be tried before a decision is made. Remember to incorporate a small amount of leeway when trying sizes to leave enough space for swelling. A ring or set of stones donated by a family member from an heirloom is a way to keep to tradition, but allows the bride to choose her own design. A fairly discreet ring may be more suitable for everyday wear. Remember to get all rings insured and keep the jeweller’s receipt in a safe place in case a claim is necessary.

Wedding bands
A huge consideration for wedding band is that it must complement the engagement ring so that the two look good together. It is a good idea to try an engagement ring with a plain band just to see how it will sit on the wedding day and after.

The engagement and wedding rings should be made out of the same metal, or the stronger metal will wear away the weaker one over time. Gold {comes in a variety of shades, tones and carats}, Platinum {expensive, but will never need to be re-plated} and Titanium {durable yet lightweight} are the most popular metals for wedding bands. Those who prefer to wear silver jewellery should consider white gold or platinum. Eternity rings or patterned and engraved rings may be preferred to a plain wedding band and usually the rule stands that the wider the hand, the thicker the wedding band should be. Adding a small message or the date to the inside edge of the wedding band is a nice touch.

Traditionally the bride pays for the groom’s wedding ring and it is a very much accepted practice for men to wear rings nowadays. Usually a bride-to-be will give an expensive present to her fiancée as a way of marking the significance of the occasion. Items such as a watch, cufflinks or a pen are popular choices.