Choosing the Perfect
Pair of Rings
The shape is important
The unbroken circle symbolizes eternal
love. It not only represents the
permanence of your marriage, it also
links you to the chain of generations
past and future who celebrate the
marriage ceremony.
Of all the choices you will make for your wedding day,
only the wedding band you select will endure. No matter
how gorgeous your gown or delicious the wedding cake,
only your wedding band will be close to you always,
a beautiful symbol of your vow. For this reason, you
should choose a band that reflects your style, personality,
and taste.
METAL MANIA
First things first: Which metal speaks to you? While
tradition, and perhaps your future mother-in-law, says
yellow, your heart may say white. If that is the case,
follow your heart. You're the one who's going to wear
it every day!
- Yellow Gold
For some, the gleaming color of gold, the "traditional" wedding
band metal, symbolizes the warmth and love of a
marriage. Gold is available in 14k, 18k, or 24k.
The karat reflects the gold's purity; a 24k band
is pure gold. Lower carats means metal alloys have
been added to strengthen the metal.
- Platinum or White Gold
The hottest trend in jewelry today? White metals
such as platinum and white gold. Platinum's supreme
strength and rarity make it an ideal choice for
your eternal symbol of love; its purity makes
it safe for most people with sensitive skin.
White gold offers a similar look for less money.
- Daring Duo
Can't decide? Choose a design that gracefully combines
yellow and white metals, combining white and
yellow gold, yellow gold with platinum, or several
different shades of gold. A bit of texture highlighting
one of the colours adds even more richness to
the design. A classic new look sandwiches an
18k yellow gold circle between two narrow bands
of platinum (or vice-versa). This dual-metal
and duo-tone band need not be very wide to convey
an intriguing mix of elegance and individuality.
DELIGHTFUL DETAILS
If you don't want to mix the colours but like the idea
of a more intricate design, consider a unique finish
(florentine, hammered, matte, satin, or high polish)
and/or detail such as engraving, filigree (twisted
wire), or milgraining (beaded border). The beauty of
finishes is that they can be applied, removed, and
changed at will (except the hammered finish). Consider
your plain ol' band a canvas, ripe with possibilities,
and your hand its showcase.
MANLY BANDS
For many men, the wedding band may be the only piece
of jewellery they'll ever wear besides a wristwatch.
When in doubt, err on the classic side: Don't buy a
trendy design he'll regret in five -- or fifty! --
years. Opt to indulge in subtle details instead --
a wedding band may be small in size, but it can pack
a lot of design on its surface.
BONDING BANDS
To match or not to match, that is the question. Choosing
the same band in different widths for both of you is
an obvious way to visually confirm your bond. Traditionally,
the wife's band is wider than the husband's, but you
decide what width looks best on each person's hand.
For some couples, the same design doesn't have equal
appeal or look as good on both partners (or with your
engagement ring). Don't read any great significance
into this -- all it means is that you have different
tastes in wedding bands! Indulge your diversity and
consider instead bands that have a family resemblance.
You might both select a mix of yellow and white metals,
but with different decoration. Or she may choose a
diamond wedding band, while he chooses one with the
same shape but is all metal, or with just one diamond.
FINGER FASHION
When buying a wedding band, consider the shape of your
hand. The basic rule is the same when buying any ring:
width adds width, length adds length.
- Large Hands
A band that is too narrow may look lost on a large-boned,
wide hand. Instead, consider a medium-width band
with an interesting herringbone pattern or openwork
design to "lighten up" a broader hand.
If you like the look of a wide wedding band,
but have heavy or wide fingers, choose one with
rounded edges (called a "comfort fit")
to apply the least pressure on the flesh of the
fingers. Because larger stones also go well with
the larger hand, a ring that is generously set
creates a balanced appearance.
- Small Hands
A flatter band looks better on a narrower finger.
For slender fingers, a wedding band with a diagonal
design pulls the eye across the hand and gives
the illusion of greater width. The smaller or
slimmer hand also looks good with a multi-stone
ring, a series of smaller stones in a channel
or prong setting
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