We here at PJD are well aware that finding a men’s wedding band can be tricky. With the massive variety of wedding bands out there today, it’s tough to know where to even start on your search. Luckily, we’re experts when it comes to this sorta stuff, so we’ve put together a few tips to help any groom-to-be find the perfect wedding band.
Tip 1: Know Your Preferences!
Unless you’re Johnny Depp, most men go through life with their wedding band being the only piece of jewelry they wear. While this is good and all, this lack of experience when it comes to jewelry means that most men don’t even have an idea of what sorts of precious metals, jewels, or wedding band styles they even prefer.
1. Precious Metals
Starting with metals, most engagement rings are made of gold, platinum, and sometimes cobalt, tungsten, or other “alternative metals.” All of these metals have various advantages and disadvantages, but really comes down to a matter of taste. While yellow gold, white gold, and platinum rings are fashionable timeless, there’s an argument to be made for branching out and wearing a ring featuring a more distinctive metal such as rose gold, tungsten, or palladium.
2. Diamonds
Back in the day, men’s wedding bands were built to be plain, simple, and unadorned with any sort of anything sparkly. Luckily for the modern man, those days are over and available today is an impressive selection of bands that feature confidently placed diamonds. Ranging from subtle to flashy, a wedding band featuring a diamond is a great way to stand out and be noticed.
For example, these bands from Henri Daussi are made with black and white diamonds, creating an extremely fashion-forward piece.
On the other hand, these pieces from CrownRing feature diamonds placed in a more subtle and understated style than the bands by Henri Daussi. If this is more your style, look for bezel or burnished diamond settings, as these types tend to be less flashy than pave or channel set bands.
If you’re still not sure what kind of band you’d be into, it’s no big deal. Most jewelry retailers, like our fave GMG Jewellers, have a staff that is specially trained to help in these sorts of situations, and that are more than willing to hold your hand (so to speak) through the entire wedding band browsing, picking, and buying experience.
Tip 2: Consider Your Lifestyle!
Last week we talked about what sort of considerations to take when searching for an engagement ring (you can read that here, it’s great). While we were talking more specifically about the role that work and play have in finding an engagement ring for your beautiful bride-to-be, many of these rules still apply.
For example, if your job or hobbies require the usage of your hands, then you should consider a band with a more streamlined and svelte design. Bands, like these from Hearts on Fire, are constructed with simple designs and diamonds placed with the band, making it tough for the ring to get caught or hurt by everyday wear and tear.
Alternatively, if your hobbies or job has you often dealing with the public then a band with a more distinctive design, such as the CrownRing pieces below, would be a great way to make an impression and to portray your individuality or personality.
Tip 3: Don’t Be Afraid to Mix It Up!
While it’s important to consider the design of your significant other’s band, there’s no rule that says that they have to match. If you find yourselves on drastically different sides of the wedding band spectrum, then it is totally fine to get two rings that have nothing in common.
If it is important to you or your partner that the bands feel like a “pair”, consider getting the rings with matching inscriptions or other subtle design elements.
Tip 4: Take Your Time!
With all the planning and choosing that surrounds getting married, you might be tempted to go with the first wedding band that seems halfway decent. This might work for some, but the truth is that (hopefully) you’ll be wearing your wedding band for a long time, so remember to take your time and really find the perfect ring for you.
Most jewelers are more than willing to assist you in finding the ideal ring and even offer services like special orders, in-house alterations, as well as custom jewelry design services, all to really make sure that the wedding band you ultimately decide on is the absolutely perfect pick.
Additionally, when you’re actually trying the band on remember to consider the lifelong comfort of the ring. If a ring seems comfortable, then try writing, texting, or typing with the ring on to guarantee that the band is going to work for you in the long run.
Tip 5: Make Sure that the Price is Right!
Whether you be Bob Barker, Drew Carey, or whoever else, having a good idea of what you are willing to spend on a ring can mean a big difference. While band prices change depending on metals, diamonds, and detailing, the general rule is that a couple is “supposed” to spend around 3 percent of their total wedding budget on bands.
Like most other bits of traditional wedding wisdom, this is no hard-and-fast rule. Spend whatever you and your partner feel comfortable spending, keeping in mind that (ideally) these bands are going to be accompanying you throughout the rest of your lives together.
Further, most jewelry retailers offer an array of financing plans built for budget of all sizes and are more than willing to help their customers with all budget-related issues.
We Wanna Hear From You!
Do you have any advice on how to find the perfect men’s wedding band?
If you do, hit us up on out Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, and share with us your tips!
~~PJD Team