Meant to commemorate one of the major transitions in your life, the sacred bond of marriage, your wedding ring may be the most significant jewelry purchase of your life. Although engagement rings are more often worn by women than men, wedding rings are normally exchanged during the ceremony and are worn by both partners to signify their commitment to one another. In some cultures, wedding rings feature symbols, such as the Irish Claddagh ring or the trinity of interconnected rings used in Russian Catholic weddings. In the U.S., the wedding band is traditionally one piece, with no seam, representing the eternal unity of marriage.
Women’s Wedding Rings
Wedding rings made solely of platinum, yellow gold, or white gold are traditionally used for wedding ceremonies, and can be selected or specially designed to match almost any engagement ring. In many cases, couples choose to coordinate the women’s wedding ring with the groom’s ring. For brides who prefer a more extravagant look, more elaborate women’s rings can be set with diamonds or a combination of diamonds and gemstones. With eternity rings, diamonds or gemstones are often wrapped entirely around the ring. Whatever metal, gemstones, and setting you choose for your wedding ring, it should be comfortable and should reflect your personal style.
Men’s Wedding Rings
Men’s wedding rings have become increasingly popular in the past several decades. The male wedding ring is usually part of a pair that the bride and groom exchange during the wedding ceremony to complete their vows. Men’s rings are traditionally thicker than women’s wedding rings, but there is no set style. They are most often a simple band of platinum, yellow gold, or white gold that pairs with the bride’s ring, but they can also be set with small diamonds, gemstones, or textured designs. Other types of metals, such as palladium, titanium, tungsten, and stainless steel, are growing in popularity for men’s wedding rings.