Selecting Your Diamond Wedding Band

You're getting married and now the search is on for the perfect diamond wedding band. When looking for wedding bands, you have many options to consider as there are a myriad of styles and materials available. A wedding band should meet four basic criteria. A wedding band needs to be practical to wear every day. A wedding band that doesn't fit into your lifestyle isn't worth buying at all. Withstanding everyday wear is also a must of a wedding band, and you shouldn't have to buy another one because the first one wears out. Your want your wedding band to last, so durability is important. Thirdly, a wedding band must hold the diamonds securely and comfortably. Lastly, your wedding band must look good! Even if a ring possesses all the other qualities, if you don't like the ring, it's not the right one for you. For a wedding band to be considered, it needs to exhibit all these characteristics.

Choosing a wedding band that is practical and comfortable to wear is as simple as thinking about your lifestyle. If your wedding band is really high, you are more likely to catch it on things. If you are active or work with clothing that can snag, or you have to put on gloves for work, or if you have children or work with children that might get scratched or hurt as a result of the setting, you may want to consider a lower setting. If you work behind a desk all day and don't have much opportunity for a ring to catch on things you'll be able to choose a ring with a higher setting. The type of setting holding in the stones can also make a difference. A prong setting allows more of the diamonds to show and lets more light into the diamonds for maximum brilliance, but prongs can snag clothing or scratch skin or get caught on clothing. A channel setting gives a smoother look and feel and does not have the same tendency to snag or scratch like a prong setting. Really take the time to consider how well each setting will fit into your lifestyle. Thinking about your setting and your lifestyle now will give you more satisfaction with your wedding band in the future.

Durability is an important issue when choosing a wedding band, too. A wedding band is typically not taken off except for cleanings and size adjustments so it must hold up well. Most of us come into contact with chemicals (including perfumes and cosmetics) and abrasive items all day every day, and this can slowly wear away at jewelry. For this reason, 14kt gold, 18kt gold, and platinum are preferred metals when choosing a wedding band. Two new metals, titanium and tungsten carbide also are very durable for wedding rings, but tend to have a more masculine appeal. These are all durable metals and they hold up to the wear and tear better over the years than softer metals. Choosing a heavier design and thicker band will help the metal hold up better for a longer period of time.

Your wedding band's ability to securely hold the diamonds in the ring will also secure the value of your wedding band. If the band features a large prong set stone, look for rings with six prongs holding the diamond instead of four. When you have six prongs holding the diamond in place the stone is less likely to be lost and also less likely to be damaged. Channel and bezel settings are more secure than a prong setting and have become very popular. A heavier setting is often advisable as it's more secure than a lightweight setting. Also, a lower setting is less likely to be damaged than a higher setting. This is one point often overlooked, and it's only when a stone is lost that the importance of a secure setting is realized.

Style is the final consideration. If you have found a wedding band that you like and it is also comfortable and fits your lifestyle, is durable, and holds diamonds securely, it's likely that you have found your wedding ring. You must decide how big you want your setting to be, what type of metal is most attractive, and what design you want. It can be anything you want it to be, and as long as you have considered the other three parts of the equation, you're likely to love and wear the ring forever!

Two other factors that may affect your choice of a wedding band are your budget and if you and your spouse will have matching wedding bands. The amount of money you decide to spend is a valid consideration and will help you limit your choices to the rings you can afford. There is no reason to look at wedding bands that you cannot afford as it just takes time away from finding the right wedding band. As far as matching rings, that is a personal decision that varies from couple to couple. Some things for a couple to consider are if you want matching metals, matching styles, matching amount of diamonds, or what, if any, engraving you would like to done to the rings.

While buying the first wedding band that you see and like would be easy, the process of finding your wedding band should be a bit more involved than that. It's really not too difficult to find a ring that is beautiful and everything else it should be, it just takes asking the right questions, paying attention to the details, and knowing what you want. An impulse buy may seem a bit more exciting, but if you take the time to look for the right ring you'll end up with a quality wedding band that will make you happier for much longer than your impulse buy.


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