Your Wedding Rings Guide Sections

Hot Trend: Platinum Wedding Rings

Several high-profile newlyweds have taken a shine to the cool elegance of platinum
White Gold Wedding Rings
The elegant and sophisticated look of glittering, gleaming gold

Balancing Cost to Appearance of rings

First is material, then strength, durability, taste and ofcourse budget
All About Wedding Rings
basic review, and ideas for pushing budgets by Elsie Gilbert

Hot Wedding Trend: Platinum Wedding Rings
by: Donna Monday

In our hungry-for-anything new pop culture world, celebrities are often the ones that can start a hot fashion trend seemingly overnight. With their heavy media exposure, they are often photographed wearing the latest styles in fashion and jewelry.

Platinum engagement and wedding rings are the latest celebrity trend that has taken the jewelry industry by storm. Several high-profile newlyweds have taken a shine to the cool elegance of platinum.

“Platinum is like our relationship in that it is strong, precious and timeless,” says Nick Lachey about the custom made platinum wedding rings he and his wife Jessica Simpson tied the knot with.

It seems that view of the lustrous metal is shared by other celebrity couples as well such as: Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Adam Sandler and Jackie Titone, as well as, popular actresses Reese Witherspoon and Kate Hudson.

Celebrities are especially fond of pairing fancy colored diamonds with their platinum rings. Also, the three diamond platinum engagement ring has quickly become all the rage among new brides.

So, if you’re looking to buy diamond jewelry online, whether it’s for a special occasion like a wedding, or a gift for a special person, consider platinum jewelry as one of your best and brightest options.

Wonderful White Gold Wedding Rings
by: Donna Monday

The elegant and sophisticated look of glittering, gleaming gold. There’s nothing quite like it.

Some people never grow tired of the look of pure gold jewelry. Gold, being our most precious metal, is often a first choice among couples looking for that perfect gold wedding ring.

While yellow gold remains very popular with the wedding crowd. Many people prefer the brilliant hue of a white gold wedding ring.

White gold will look beautiful on you whether you’re a man or a woman. You can find online a great selection of white gold diamond wedding rings and white gold wedding ring sets. Also, if you’re looking for something a little fancier that can also become a piece of wonderful keepsake jewelry, white gold makes a very elegant engraved wedding ring that can be passed on to future generations.

The one thing you need to be aware of when buying a white gold wedding ring is that it will need periodic maintenance in order to keep it’s luster.

To obtain it’s much desired glittering white color, white gold is coated with another alloy called Rhodium (the natural color of white gold is really light gray). Rhodium will wear down after a while, so to maintain your ring’s luster, you’ll need to visit your local jeweler about every 12-18 months and have it re-plated with a new coating of Rhodium. The cost for this should be very reasonable.

Whether you’re looking for a plain gold wedding band, or a wedding ring with sparkling diamonds, white gold is an excellent choice for those looking for something a little extra special.

Wedding Rings
by: Elsie Gilbert

Wedding rings don’t tend to get the public airing that they deserve, in your average wedding celebration. However, wedding rings are likely to be worn for the rest of the bride and grooms’ living days, so they are, arguably, the most important element of the wedding accessories.

Wedding Rings – The Basics

Wedding rings are exchanged as part of the ceremony, normally as vows are said by both parties. The guests do not normally see the wedding rings until after the ceremony is well and truly over, so it can be tempting to skimp on this element and save money.

Bear in mind that the bride will almost certainly wear her wedding ring alongside her engagement ring. It is essential, therefore, that they both rings work together well. This is particularly important if the engagement ring is of an atypical shape or with a particularly large stone.

Always consider your everyday jewelry. Although it is possible to accessorize on your wedding day to complement you choice of wedding rings, this ring will be worn every day, for many years, so it must fit in well with your general style. This is equally important for the groom, as he too will have to wear the ring for some time, so he should also consider what would go well with his usual attire.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not essential to choose golden rings. If you prefer silver colored rings but want to retain the quality, why not consider white gold? It is also possible for the bride and groom to have different styles of ring, so do not feel pressured into selecting matching styled rings.

Wedding Rings – Ideas for Slashing the Budget

Whilst you want the best wedding rings possible, you do not need to spend a small fortune! Often, wedding rings are passed through the generations, particularly on the male side, so find out whether this is the case so that you can avoid the time and energy of searching for the perfect wedding rings!

When you are selecting an engagement ring, it may be possible to negotiate a discount on wedding rings, if they are purchased at the same time. Another possible option is to consider using cheaper wedding rings for the ceremony itself and to purchase the more permanent wedding rings, at a later day. The real point of this is to spread the major expenses – weddings do not come cheaply!

A great way to make cheaper wedding rings look unique is to have them engraved with your wedding date and your initials.

With a little imagination, wedding rings can truly look magical, without costing the earth!

Balancing Cost and Appearance When Searching for Wedding Rings
by: Tim Moore

You've decided to get married and tie the proverbial knot. Now comes the part where you and your future spouse must choose the symbols of your imminent union, your rings. To simplify this task, keep these thoughts in mind when you begin shopping. After all, with your wedding date fast approaching, finding the right rings at the right price will simply be one of the worries you’ll have to contend with.

Your first decision will be the type of material you want for your bands, which may be yellow gold, white gold, platinum, titanium, or even as unusual sounding a material as tungsten. The metal you choose will be very important. Not only will the metal used to make a ring determine its appearance, it will also go a long way toward determining its strength, weight, and durability, as well.

It goes without saying, of course, that yellow and white gold wedding bands are still the most commonly worn rings today. But, with regard to durability, they are also among the weaker choices, as gold is softer and less dense than many other metals used for ring construction. Here’s a tip: if you really want gold bands, but also want your rings to hold up over time, choose a 14k or 10k ring versus an 18k ring. A lower karat number indicates a lower percentage of true gold mixed together with a higher percentage of added metals, which makes, nicely enough, for a stronger ring. Ironically, when it comes to gold rings, the less expensive the ring, the stronger the ring actually is.

Of course, if you are looking for real strength and durability, consider a platinum band. Platinum is incredibly strong due to its metal density, so if you want the ultimate in precious metal strength and durability, platinum is for you. However, platinum is even more of a precious metal” than gold, due to its rarity. And that brings us to our next consideration: cost.

Rings, like any type of traditional-event purchase, fall into pricing categories that cater to high-end buyers, mid-range buyers, and lower-end buyers (typically, this covers young soon-to-be-marrieds who are just starting out and may barely have a roof over their heads after the reception is concluded). Gold rings of various styles and karat weights are certainly available to buyers in all price ranges. Platinum, though, may bring up cost issues that are not advantageous for many young couples starting out.

However, if you are looking for rings that are “different”, very durable and strong, and, at the same time, are not particularly expensive, you may wish to consider bands constructed of titanium. Titanium is an extraordinary metal that, by weight, is stronger than steel. It is an also an inert metal that is impervious to corrosion or decay. And, nicely enough, despite the fact that it is so very strong, bands made of titanium tend to be fairly inexpensive. Yet titanium may be a perfect choice for those who work with their hands, such as mechanics and carpenters.

Once you’ve decided on the type of bands you want (material, appearance, durability, and price range), your next step will be to decide where to make the actual purchase. In some regards, this is very similar to car shopping. As with buying a car, you consider first what you want and then consider where you should go to get the best deal in terms of quality and cost.

Where should you go to buy your wedding bands? Well, there are a large number of franchise jewelry stores to choose from. However, a local and “locally-owned” jewelry store may offer better service, and, potentially, a greater willingness to “bargain” (though, it should be said that chain stores can often use an economy of scale to drive prices down considerably). Also, though chain stores may feature financing arrangements on ring purchases, locally owned stores may offer financing that is more flexible.

But, regardless of the type of wedding bands you ultimately decide on, or even where you decide to buy them, you will, without a doubt, save a considerable amount of stress and, perhaps, money, if you simply consider, beforehand, what it is that you truly want and can be satisfied with.

Le Marriage - Wedding directory

Shopping For Your Wedding Ring

Getting the most for your money

When you pick your diamond, you'll probably have to choose between size and quality. If you want a big stone, you can save by downgrading the quality of color and even clarity - barring any obvious visible flaws - but don't stint on the cut, which releases the most brilliance from the gem. Prong and tension settings make a stone look larger; so does surrounding it with pave diamonds. Cluster rings maximize sparkle by grouping smaller, less expensive pave diamonds to look like one large one. A white-metal setting makes a diamond look bigger; white gold can be half the price of platinum. Like a copyrighted cut? You may be able to find an almost identical, unbranded cut for less.

Sizing & Caring for your Ring
You walk into a store, spot your solitaire, and exit with it flashing on your finger. In your dreams, say Guy Spaulding, a diamond specialist at London Jewelers in Manhasset, New York. The process typically takes three to four visits and the wait time for a ring can be a few days to six weeks. Do couples pick out settings or diamonds first? "It's fifty-fifty," he says, but suggests choosing the diamond first. "The stone is the single most important element of the engagement ring. You pick a shape - whatever flatters your hand - then deal with the carats, cut, clarity, and color." Your jeweler will show you a selection of stones with the shape and qualities you like, and the settings that work best with them. Though Spaulding thinks it best to buy your engagement and wedding rings from the same jeweler - "if you trust the place, why go elsewhere?" - he suggests waiting to choose the band. "You may choose to where your engagement ring on the other hand."

Getting Your Ring Insured
Stuff happens - a ring falls down a drain or is placed in a pocket for safekeeping, never to be seen again. That's why you should buy insurance for it. Homeowners' policies typically cover personal effects for up to only $1,000 - renters' policies often insure less - and the payout may be limited to theft, not loss or damage. Riders to your policy - about $50 extra per year for a ring valued at $5,000 - can get you more coverage. Make sure it's a replacement-of-like-kind or cash-back policy so you can get the same ring you lost. A stand-alone policy specifically for jewelry from firms like The Chubb Group and Jeweler's Mutual is another option.

Where to shop for your ring

* National jeweler - (Tiffany & Co., Zales, Et.) As convenient as the mall, these places offer excellent, unhurried services. Downside: You may pay a premium for the name.
* Neighborhood jeweler - Expect familiarity and personal attention at the shop your family has patronized for years. What you won't get: a huge selection.
* Department store - (JC Penney, Saks Fifth Avenue) This multipurpose retailer offers a trusted name, convenient locations, and an array of styles - some cutting-edge - and prices, but not always the "jewel box" ambience of a specialty store.
* Big-box store - (BJ's, Costco) Major-league discounts, popular styles, liberal returns policies, and the possibility of walking out of the store with your ring are pluses. The minuses: warehouse atmosphere; service and customizing options may be limited.
* Online-only jeweler - (bluenile.com, diamond.com) Shopping for rings at 4 a.m. in your pj's - how much fun is that! So is the vast selection, great value, and create-your-own-ring software. One-on-one service? Strictly by phone or email

Wedding-perpect.com