The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Rings

 When it comes to finding the perfect wedding ring, there are a lot of things to consider. But with so many different styles and settings available, it can be tricky to know where to start. In this guide, we'll take you through everything you need to know about wedding rings.

Jump Right In:
-        Brief History on Wedding Rings
-        Types Of Wedding Rings
Plain Bands
Diamond Bands
-        Understanding Metals
-        Where to Buy
-        Final Thought

Brief History on Wedding Rings

The tradition of exchanging wedding rings is thought to date back to ancient Egypt, where the ring was seen as a symbol of eternal love. In those days, the rings were made from copper or brass, and were often quite plain. Over time, the design of wedding rings evolved, and by the Middle Ages, they had become quite elaborate.

In the early 1800s, the Victorians brought about a new trend for wedding rings. They started to use precious metals and stones in their designs and set the trend for wearing wedding rings on the fourth finger of the left hand. This tradition remains popular to this day.

Types of Wedding Rings

There are many different types of wedding rings available, from simple bands to intricate designs with diamonds. Here are a few of the most popular types:

Diamond Bands

The choice for diamond set wedding bands can sometimes seem like there are never-ending options! But I can help you understand more clearly. You may see some brands selling very unique looking bands but I'm just going to go through the more popular ones for now.

Channel set wedding bands consist of different shaped diamonds set within 2 edges of metal, where the metal edge sits ever so slightly over the edge of the diamonds to create a secure fit.  In my opinion, one of the ‘cleanest’ settings, when done by a master craftsman channel set rings look very uniform. Known to go with almost any engagement ring, it is usually best paired with a plain band engagement ring to create a continuous look.

Grain set wedding bands usually consist of round diamonds set in the band with little pips of metal as claws (also known as grains) with an edge of metal on either side. Usually associated with a more ‘vintage’ style, these are normally paired with grain set engagement rings or antique rings. Grain set is traditionally one of the more popular styles of setting because the beads of metal holding the diamond is are barely visible and the setting style is seen heavily in some of the most famous pieces of jewellery throughout history.

Micro set wedding bands in recent years have shot to popularity! With round diamonds held in just by little claws, the diamonds are edge to edge on the band creating a look of just a row of diamonds. Having such an open setting gives these rings a lot of sparkle and they can also be very thin! Perfect for those who love a delicate band. Micro set wedding rings are sometimes called ‘claw set’ although that would normally be a sign of bigger claws. They can also sometimes come with different diamond shapes but round diamonds are the most common.

Rub-over set wedding bands are one of the more unique setting styles. Consisting of different shaped diamonds set within an edge of metal like the channel setting but what makes this different is that the end of metal follows the shape of each diamond. Creating more of a border that accentuates the shape of each stone. This created a very safe setting but in doing so you typically have to give up some of the sparkle due to how much light it blocks.

Diamond Shapes

Wedding rings can come in many diamonds shaped, but some are more suited to certain rings than others! For example, micro-set bands tend to come with round diamonds but very rarely you may find them with princess cut ones.

The rub-over setting gives lots of space for customisation. We hold a few variations such as an emerald cut ring which perfectly embodies the simplicity of a rub-over design. More recently emerald cut and oval cut claw set eternity rings have become the craze so don’t be surprised if you start to see a lot of them, although typically these are worn as eternity rings instead of wedding bands.

Ultimately the sky is the limit when it comes to how you see your perfect wedding band but hopefully, this guide gives you a better understanding of wedding bands so you can go out a search with confidence!

Plain Bands

Plain wedding bands are the most traditional type of ring. They are made from a single piece of metal and are often quite plain in design. They are a popular choice for those who want a simple, elegant ring. Although they may have a simple appearance, understanding the differences in ring shape can sometimes become a little confusing. So let me break it down for you below.

Court Shaped (Traditional Court)

Plain bands come in a few notable shapes, but none are more popular than the court shaped band. Based on the traditional style of wedding band but with a modern twist.... comfort. The term ‘court’ or ‘courted’ basically means curved. So, a court shaped band means that it is curved on the inside and outside creating a much smoother and more comfortable finish. These go by a few names such as comfort fit and traditional court.

Flat Court

This ring’s name is just a description of the 2 parts of the ring to put it simply. The ‘flat’ refers to the outer edge of the ring being flat, so unlike the court band, it doesn’t have any curve. The inside of this ring is still curved hence the ‘court’ part. The reason for this is that curved rings tend to be a lot more comfortable to wear, so visually this ring looks flat but still has the same comfort as the traditional court ring. This design is known to be more modern or industrial, which for some people is the look they want to achieve.

D-Shaped

A D-shaped wedding band gets its name from the cross-section of the ring looking like the letter D. Like the flat court ring one side is curved and the other flat, although in this case it is reversed with the outer side being curved and the inner side being flat. Now you may wonder why someone would want this as the curved part is more comfortable, but this is solely for looks. Having all the weight of the ring in the curved side, you end up with a higher domed edge giving it a much more ‘curved’ appearance which comes to an abrupt stop on the finger.

Understanding Metals

Throughout history, wedding bands would be made in gold, whether that be yellow gold or a form of rose gold. Today there are 2 main metals which wedding bands are made from, those being Platinum and gold. Gold comes with its own set of options due to the choice of colour and purity.

Options for colour are white gold, yellow gold and rose gold each of which share the same purity factors being 9ct and 18ct (yes there is a 22ct and 24ct but they're not so commonly used in western jewellery). The carat of the gold (written at ‘ct’) just tells you how much of the full weight is made up of gold, 9ct being 37.5% and 18ct is 75% and the rest being made up of other metals such as copper, silver and palladium to name a few.

White Gold & Rose Gold

Gold is naturally a yellow metal when it is mined, but certain processes can be used to change its colour. For example, in white gold, the gold is mixed with other white metals to create a much whiter metal, but it is not yet white gold. White gold is plated with a metal called ‘rhodium’ which is what gives it its fully white metal finish. Over time this can wear away leaving a slightly yellow finish but can be re-coated any time. Rose gold is made similarly to white gold except it is mixed with a lot more copper to give a rosy appearance. It also doesn’t have a surface finish to what you see is the colour of the actual metal. Due to the mixing of copper that gives it the colour, the lower the gold content the ‘redder’ it looks.

Platinum

Platinum these days appears to be the ‘go-to’ metal for wedding rings and engagement rings in most recent years. Most likely due to its natural white colour and durability. Platinum was commonly used as a ‘stronger’ metal hence making it a safer metal to use when holding precious gemstones. It has now become a part of the luxury world from diamond jewellery to watches. As well as jewellery it has a few industrial uses too like its use in catalytic converters in car exhausts.

Where to Buy

Wedding rings can be bought from a variety of places, including jewellery stores, online retailers and wedding ring specialists. It's important to choose a reputable retailer who sells high-quality rings.

At Webley London, we have one of the biggest collections of wedding bands in Hatton Garden. With a wide range of diamond and plain bands to choose from. We specialise in custom making our rings to tailor any of your needs. Book an appointment now if you would like to get in touch, we would be happy to help.

My Final Thought

When it comes to wedding rings, there are many different options available. It's important to choose a ring that reflects your style and personality, and that will last a lifetime. I would find it hard to make personal recommendations due to the emotional nature of the purchase but this is the advice I would give.

As cliché as it may sound let the right ring come to you! Many people will look for their ‘ideal’ ring but what you have in mind might not be what grabs you in person. Search Pinterest, Instagram or wedding ring pages and wait until that 1 perfect ring jumps out at you! Trust me.... you will know it when you see it.

So, there you have it - everything you need to know about wedding rings. Whether you're looking for a simple diamond band or something a bit more elaborate, we've got you covered. And don't forget, if you're not sure what type of ring to choose, your jeweller will be able to help you make the right decision.