The Savvy Bride - Wedding Planning & Tips » Wedding Bands

Wedding Bands – Precious Wedding Rings

Author — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:28:47 +0000

Wedding rings are precious objects in our lives, and for reasons that span the spectrum from everyday practical to the most deeply felt.

These small circles around our fingers wrap around our hearts like few other symbols. They represent a major commitment to one another while they demonstrate a major financial investment. But that money isn’t seen purely in terms of dollars and cents. It is a measure of our desire to give the very best to the one we regard as the very best.

They’re made of metals that range from precious silver and gold to the exotic: palladium or titanium. Because of their rarity or unique qualities they serve as the base of a wedding band that is anything but base in our values.

Strong, stainless and pure they suggest the very qualities that are the reason we treasure the ring’s wearer. Rare, lovely and finely wrought, these precious bands are only so because of what they can show about our love for the person who also bears those features.

At the same time, because they have these attributes, they have a practical side that completes the circle of worth. They last a lifetime, like our goals for the special bond of marriage. They remain sturdy in the face of shocks and adversity. They shed the dirt that life sometimes exposes us to, making a polish back to purity a worthwhile task.

Yet, we often adorn these bands of gold or platinum still further. We encrust them with jewels. And, this too, is evidence of the practical and the emotional that these symbols represent for us.

Diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald are often found in wedding bands. Like the precious metals from which the rings are made, these choices too are no accident. Hard enough to stand up to the strongest blows, rare in a world of common things and beautiful beyond compare are the jewels that sit so lovingly in our wedding rings.

The passion red of a fine ruby sits aside a central pure white diamond, harder than any other stone. A dazzling green emerald that evokes the crystal clear sea green of a honeymoon tropical paradise serves as companion. These fine gems are both a high money value and symbols of esteem.

The combination of precious metal and jewels creates a wedding band that contains all we bring to the wedding ceremony – and the life beyond it.

It’s an investment of dollars to bear proof of our investment in a relationship that is unlike any other. That dollar sum is small, though, in comparison to the investment we make in the person we marry. Just as these precious objects are protected from loss or harm, so is their wearer.

Wedding rings. Symbol. Fashion adornment. Pinnacle of beauty and meaning. So much in so small a space.

Wedding Bands – Plain Wedding Bands

Author — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:25:22 +0000

‘Plain wedding bands’ is a misnomer. Simple. Elegant. Unadorned. But hardly plain. In the realm of wedding rings there is no such thing. For, here, ‘plain’ can never mean ordinary.

The elegant simplicity of a plain wedding band is far from mundane in the feelings it evokes. Such rings unmistakably say: classic. They display the gold or platinum from which they’re made in all its natural glory in order to evoke clear sentiments.

It might at first appear that making a wedding band that lacks hash marks, edge stripes, central cables and other design elements will result in a lackluster presentation. Nothing could be further from the truth. A simple design leads to an item of jewelry that lacks any kind of distraction from the main focus: fine material, finely crafted.

Whether white gold or traditional yellow gold, these wedding bands offer the finest that craftsmen can produce in a stylish ring. Band widths of 2mm-4mm carry the same straightforward message: richness in a slender form.

But a plain outer band doesn’t negate the possibility of adorning the interior with a simple message or text. The wearer’s name, the engagement or wedding date, or even a favorite saying are only three possibilities among many. Having a plain band even makes for a nice contrast between the exterior and the interior.

The bold, unadorned look of plain wedding bands provides a statement of purity. All focus is on the material, the sheen, the sheer beauty of this powerful symbol. Scrolls, jewels and other elements that are often found in different designs are lovely and have their place. But in this setting the ring carries its own weight.

A band of 95% platinum will shine from reflected highlights of the objects nearby. This gives the ring a complex look that belies the simplicity of the basic design. This paradox is part of what makes such approaches so attractive.

Yellow gold will perform in a similar way. Here, those reflections result in subtle shades that turn a simple design into a moving array of images. We sense those visual changes without being fully aware of them. The ring brings itself to attention with a subtle ‘Hello’, rather than a loud shout. The net result is a wedding band that pleases the senses and soothes the soul.

Both men’s and women’s wedding rings can equally take advantage of this approach. In either case, the band presents an image of straightforward elegance. A woman’s thinner band might evoke a feeling more of delicacy. A thicker, man’s ring could suggest strength. For either, the emotion is one of attractiveness that comes from dependability and honesty.

Consider plain wedding bands for your selection. You’ll find all the qualities of a fine piece of jewelry combined with a symbol that says all you want to say – and nothing more.

Wedding Bands – Hand Crafted Wedding Bands

Author — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:22:48 +0000

Today, millions of products are machine made. That includes many fine wedding bands. There is often some input by a superb craftsman to select and set a stone, for example. But much of the process is carried out by highly sophisticated systems.

But there remains no more sophisticated system than the skill in the mind, eye and hands of a master jewelry maker. That skill is much the same as it was centuries ago, but now brought to new heights with modern tools. Yet the careful focus, the precise direction and other attributes of the craftsman are still the essential elements.

That craft, handed down generation after generation, may be less visible today. But it is still just as vital to making a fine wedding band as it ever was. The most sophisticated computer programs can barely begin to simulate even elementary human movements. And none come anywhere close to duplicating the creativity of expert jewelery makers.

Those skills are nowhere more evident than in the hand crafted wedding bands that are available today. For those looking for a truly unique engagement ring or wedding band, one that will never be found anywhere else, a hand crafted ring is your guarantee.

Imagine the delicate, complex scrollwork evident on a classic white gold band. The master’s hand is everywhere evident. The unique sworls, the individual petals and other touches could only have been created by that unique person. At the same time the level of skill is so high, that it might seem as if the ring was made by machine. That’s the mark of a true expert.

Picture a titanium ring in a contemporary design. The subtle sheen is the result of the master’s attention to detail. The dark cable running down the center was selected by careful thought with an eye to the design of the whole. This two-tone masterpiece could only have been made by a single person striving to create their best work just for you.

An 18kt yellow gold comfort fit band sports a delicate wave of rose gold down the center. Asymmetrically at one top corner is a small round-cut diamond. It was cut by the hand of one who has trained for decades to acquire the needed skill. It was mounted with equal care and attention to this unique creation.

A braided tri-color band shows clearly the hand of the artist. The design could only have been conceived by someone concentrating on the task at hand. It could only have been executed once. To create the same ring over again would violate the canon of artistic principles.

The result in each case is a one-of-a-kind work of art to be displayed as proudly on the hand as a fine sculpture is on the table. Consider a hand crafted wedding band and obtain that piece that lifts the soul of the wearer as it did the artist.

Wedding Bands – Contemporary Wedding Bands

Author — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:33:26 +0000

You are contemporary. You are fashionable. You are a trendsetter. Why shouldn’t your wedding band reflect the same sensibility? Luckily for you, contemporary wedding bands or engagement rings don’t have to go out of fashion like yesterday’s hairstyle. These last forever.

Picture a classic yellow gold band. Ordinary? It depends. Run two platinum stripes along the edges and dot the center with a diamond of flawless clarity and then try to claim that. This is the leading edge that stays in the lead for generations to come.

Take it to the next level. Break up the band with alternating squares of rose gold and palladium. Put a VVS baguette in the grooves in between. Declare yourself the winner of the race to own one of the finest contemporary wedding ring styles around.

Execute a variation on a contemporary theme. Take an 18kt yellow gold pipe-cut band and dot the outer rim with small F color diamonds. Too regular? Fine. Move the stones to alternate sides, or break up the symmetry altogether. Now you’re creating dynamism in a wedding band. Now you’ve got a ring like no other.

Yellow gold not your thing? Platinum doesn’t do it for you? Break free from the crowd. Go with titanium. Lightweight, ultra-strong and available in variations that will surprise you, titanium rings are the latest in wedding band options.

Imagine the subtle gray sheen. Sound dull? Don’t you believe it. Burnished to a high gloss and studded with sapphires, it doesn’t get any better than this. Stripe only one side and let the sapphires crown the top along the other.

Contemporary wedding band designs, like wedding rings in general, aren’t just for women, of course. Picture a black titanium wedding band that reflects style and strength. Stud the top with an Asscher-cut diamond that completes this picture of contemporary style.

Push it to the limit. Go for tungsten. What? A material used in lightbulbs? Think this will look cheap? Think again. The ultimate in a contemporary man’s wedding ring doesn’t depend on using a precious metal. It’s the result of having the ultimate design.

Imagine beveled edges of tungsten sloping off a central inlay stripe of yellow gold. Polish the product to a sheen you would swear was silver. Provide the interior with the finest comfort fit by echoing the bevel on the inside on a smaller scale. The net result? A contemporary tungsten wedding band design that fits your finger like… well, the finest gloves never fit so well.

The latest materials, the most up-to-date design. That’s what contemporary wedding bands are all about. This kind of thing never goes out of style.

Wedding Bands – Celebrate Your Anniversary With A New Band

Author — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:31:24 +0000

Celebrate with a new band? You mean the latest musical group? Er, no. Your marriage was made to last. You made it that way. Celebrate your achievement and your undying devotion by giving the perfect gift: an anniversary ring.

Whether it’s your 10th anniversary, your 25th or your 50th, your loved one will appreciate the symbol and the fact of reaching the pinnacle of success. Forming a bond that endures takes dedicated effort. Celebrate that bond with a band, an anniversary band.

Traditionally, paper, silver and gold represent the 1st, 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries. Yet an anniversary band of platinum and diamond is appropriate in any year. Where else can you break tradition and respect it at the same time?

Imagine an antique anniversary band that is newly made. A paradox? This classic design may be studded with dozens of small oval-cut diamonds set into a band of 14kt gold. At the same time, it speaks to the modern heart that wants a special symbol to celebrate the glorious progress toward a lifetime goal.

A sloping pipe-cut band of yellow gold can be crowned with a series of baguettes. The superb clarity and color of these diamonds need not be reserved for the 75th wedding anniversary, or even the 10th. Because an item of jewelry such as this is perfect on any year.

Men, too, are equally deserving of an anniversary band. Success in marriage is a two-way partnership. The ring choices open for them are as wide as those they face everyday to sustain a loving relationship.

Picture a platinum band inlaid with a central cable of titanium. Or, consider a titanium band inlaid with a central strip of sapphires. However you mix and match these materials, the anniversary band at which you arrive will be informed by the finest design. That’s the perfect symbol for the fine undertaking that supports you both through the years.

Every one of those years is equally deserving of a celebration. Mark them all, because dividing the years evenly by five is just a convention. Be unconventional and go for the tungsten ring that traditionally represents the 16th year.

Tungsten? Light bulb filaments? Think again. True, this metal melts at 6,000 degrees so it can never be destroyed in a home fire. True, it’s incredibly strong, durable and scratch resistant. But practical attributes are a small part of the reason to select one of these. They are stunning.

Polished to a high sheen, these lightweight anniversary bands have the look of fine silver. Carved with a contemporary design and topped with square-cut ruby they are not merely a fine piece of jewelry. They are the embodiment of all you have striven to protect and enhance through the years.

Anniversary bands are more than just a fine piece of jewelry. It’s a promise of a memory to come.

Wedding Bands – Platinum Wedding Bands

Author — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:26:30 +0000

Platinum is not merely a precious metal. It is the soul of a fine wedding band. Yes, it’s true that platinum wedding bands tend to be more expensive than a white gold wedding ring, similar in appearance. Sometimes, they’re almost twice as much. But there are good reasons for that.

Platinum has superb shaping properties. It’s dense and therefore will hold its shape well under the everyday pressures that a wedding ring often sees. It’s highly nick resistant, another common concern. But, it is relatively rare and thus tends to cost more.

But, there may be one reason that outweighs all the others: platinum is stunning to look at.

White gold rings are very attractive. But the color is the result of mixing gold with whitish metals, such as palladium or, in cheaper rings, nickel. Alternatively, the color can be achieved by coating it with rhodium. But that wears off over time and has to be re-done.

Platinum rings, by contrast, are nearly pure. Most alloys are 90-95%, which makes a platinum ring heavier, more lustrous, and with a special sheen that can’t be duplicated by any other material. It is a premium material, even in a class of jewelry that includes many precious metals, such as gold and silver.

These two aspects of platinum – the practical attributes and its extraordinary beauty – open up a million design options.

Platinum has been in use in wedding bands for thousands of years. It was used by the ancient Egyptians who were attracted to its beauty and divine heaviness. Craftsmen of South America used ‘platina’ (’little silver’) in a wide array of ornaments. When Louis XVI latched on to this precious metal in the 18th century, its success in the modern world was assured.

We are the lucky recipients of these historical trends, since platinum wedding bands can now cover a world of styles.

Even a plain wedding band made from platinum is an elegant piece of jewelry. It needs nothing beyond this metal to present a luxurious piece that anyone can proudly wear. But it can also be enhanced in numerous ways.

A simple row of small sapphires will turn platinum wedding bands into treasures that will be passed down for generations. A square-cut diamond can form the centerpiece of a design that lifts an already magnificent item to new heights. Even a band with no stones, that relies solely on delightful silver grooves or palladium facets, can easily present enormous elegance.

A fine platinum wedding ring will be in the range of 900-950Pt, a mark that signals it is 90-95% pure. The remaining 5-10% however, is far from base metal. It is commonly made up of a combination of iridium, osmium and other very similar metals that only add to the extraordinary beauty of these fine pieces of jewelry.

Select a platinum wedding band and you’ll be happy with your choice for your lifetime. Many generations that come after will also be grateful for your good taste.

Wedding Bands – Men’s Wedding Bands

Author — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:24:06 +0000

In generations past a plain gold wedding band was the most common choice for men. The ring was usually yellow gold and wider than a woman’s ring. Today, the options for men’s wedding bands are as diverse as men’s clothing styles. Platinum, titanium and tungsten have entered the scene. Classic is still there, but now supplemented by a wide range of contemporary styles. It’s all about choice.

Picture the traditional 6-8mm men’s band. It may be yellow gold, or even white gold. For ornamentation it will probably have at most a milgrain scroll along the rims. Stylish, classic and fine looking. A perfect choice for many.

But there are newer designs that will appeal to others.

Take the opposite extreme, for example: a contemporary tungsten band with inlaid gems. These ultra-hard, lightweight bands are perfect for those looking for an attractive lower-cost ring that stands up well to abuse. They’re highly scratch resistant and can polish to a high sheen that resembles silver.

Their desirable qualities go well beyond their purely practical character, though. Contemporary designs may include asymmetrical grooves, some with inlaid sapphires. Small round-cut diamonds dot the rim of another. Small rubies are a favorite among many men, their color highlighting a great design.

Titanium is another new favorite among men. It comes in two basic types: light and black.

The lighter style is a grayish metal that polishes to a subtle shade, perfect for a low key style. It can be inlaid with a stripe of yellow gold or crowned with a fine diamond that matches the woman’s ring.

Genuine black titanium is produced by a special manufacturing process that creates a wedding band that is a uniform color throughout. Scratches won’t show and there is never a need to replate the exterior, as with some lesser quality rings.

Both colors are ultra-lightweight, extremely durable and make for a stylish choice in a wedding ring.

But different choices of metal represents only the beginning of the options available in modern men’s wedding bands.

Many men today prefer a smaller width band than those of generations past. The lighter weight and thinner style appeals to those who seek a minimalist ring that is highly attractive. This choice also opens up greater possibilities for matching ring sets.

One option, for example, is a 2mm platinum band that sports a small oval diamond of exceptional color and clarity. Many more men will wear a ring of this type, when in the past they might have foregone wearing a ring regularly at all. The comfort fit and silvery sheen fits in well with an overall style of class and dynamism.

All the same criteria of quality in a stone – great cut, flawless clarity, fine color – still apply. All the long-standing attributes of an outstanding band continue to inform modern designs. Scratch resistance, durability to avoid going out of round and other qualities remain important. But added to these is a whole new world of style options for men’s wedding bands.

It’s all about choice.

Wedding Bands – Gold Wedding Bands

Author — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:22:20 +0000

Gold! The very name brings up images of wealth, beauty and long lasting value. Gold wedding bands are among the most popular not only because of tradition, but because those practices grew out of simple recognition of gold’s great worth.

There are good and simple reasons this magnificent material is so highly valued as a base for wedding bands. Gold never tarnishes. It is scratch resistant and doesn’t produce any allergic reaction. And, not least, it is supremely beautiful.

But pure gold (24 karat) is also somewhat soft. So, in order to make it useful for a wedding ring, which is expected to last for generations, it is alloyed with other metals. Thus the total gold content of a ring is less than 100%. When it’s about 58%, the result is 14kt. (14/24 x 100% = 58.3%.)

It may be alloyed with palladium, for example. Palladium, with superb hardness and capable of long duration, is often used in the manufacture of gold wedding bands. It provides the stiffness and increased scratch resistance that pure gold does not. At the same time, it allows for beautiful variations in tone and a larger array of designs.

White gold, for example, is an alloy that may be formed from a blending of gold with silver or palladium. A particularly hard form is created by coating the ring with rhodium, a metal similar to platinum. The coating does wear off gradually, however, and will need to be replaced periodically. An 18kt white gold ring will be composed of about 75% pure gold with 25% other metal.

Note that platinum is a completely different element, and doesn’t go into making white gold, even though the appearance of the two rings is sometimes similar.

Yellow gold may form by allowing more of gold’s natural color to dominate the mixture, especially near the surface. But typically, the color is the result of blending pure gold with copper or zinc. In different mixtures, the result may be rose gold.

Because of this alloy process, gold wedding bands can incorporate a million unique designs.

A plain gold wedding band is anything but ordinary. It shows itself in simple elegance, with nothing more needed to bring on envious looks. But it can be enhanced in a thousand different ways.

A simple milgrain scrollwork can form a classic looking wedding band. A row of simple diamonds can easily be embedded along the sides of a main stone or as the chief feature. There is an endless array of purely geometric alternatives, such as stripes, hash marks, rectangles and more. These design elements open up the possibilities so that every wedding band can be unique.

And, after all, shouldn’t your gold wedding ring be as one-of-a-kind as you?

Wedding Bands – Comfort Fit Wedding Bands

Author — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:32:57 +0000

A wedding ring is normally worn all day, every day. Wouldn’t it be great if that wedding band was as comfortable as your finest slippers? While most rings are just that, it helps to look for that extra feature if you want that extra degree of comfort. Comfort fit wedding bands to the rescue!

That comfort is achieved in many ways, each a little differently thanks to the ingenuity of designers. One way is to round or bevel the edge along the interior of the ring. Another is to provide a smooth arc that blends the outer and inner portions of the engagement ring or wedding band. This is in contrast, for example, to pipe cut rings that have sharper edges.

The net result is an increased level of comfort, thanks to the absence of those sharp angles. Since ring material is hard metal, that edge can produce discomfort when worn over time. Shaping the ring, which can be done more exactly today than ever before, produces the ultimate in relaxed fit.

Comfort fit designs interplay with another aspect of engagement ring or wedding band selection. Sizing plays a role.

A wedding band may be as slim as 2mm or as large as 8mm. A millimeter is about the minimum distance the average person can hold the thumb and forefinger apart. It’s roughly the width of a fine pencil lead. For smaller sizes, a comfortable fit is easier to achieve. But as the ring width increases, it can help to adjust the sizing.

An extra-wide band, such as 7mm, may call for a comfort fit ring that is 1/4 size larger in diameter. Take into account that finger size can and will change, from such obvious but long term changes as weight loss or gain to hourly fluctuations in temperature or fluid intake. Wedding ring alloys are designed to change only very minutely over the normal range of temperatures a band is worn.

That sizing is especially important in titanium rings, for example, since they’re very difficult to adjust after ordering. A small amount can be shaved from the interior to enlarge them slightly. Reducing their size is nearly impossible owing to the hardness of the metal.

Fortunately, a comfort fit can be achieved in a wide array of stylish choices. Comfort fit wedding bands are not limited to a plain, rounded or domed edge by any means. The outer portion can sport any number of alternatives and still achieve the designer’s comfort goal.

Imagine, for example, a two-toned band in yellow gold and platinum. The interior is shaped to perfection with comfort in mind. The outer portion is peaked and can be grooved, or even display gems. Since a portion of the ring doesn’t contact any surface, the designer has nearly a third on which to exercise additional creativity.

The carefully contoured interior integrates seamlessly with the stylish design of the more visible portion of the ring. That’s the very definition of win-win in jewelry.

Wedding Bands – Bands of Gold, Bonds of Love

Author — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 08:30:35 +0000

There are more styles of wedding bands available today than there are engaged couples. Yet, what is symbolized by these precious metal and gem rings remains what it has always been. A wedding band says: you are the one, and deserve nothing less than the finest possible.

Plain wedding bands can say that as well as the most elaborate design. Classic styles remain the choice of millions because they need nothing beyond themselves. With the sheen of gold and little or no ornamentation, they can convey the same message as any other ring. They adorn with simplicity and bond a couple together as strongly as the most flawless diamond.

Contemporary styles show the restless imagination of the world’s finest jewelry designers. Experiments with tungsten, titanium and other alternative metals have all proven extremely successful. These bands incorporate the latest ideas in ring making, but are destined to become new classics themselves.

Gold wedding bands remain a popular choice, beyond the impetus of tradition. White, yellow or rose, they are strong, beautiful, and last forever. That makes them the perfect representative of a relationship that is aiming for the utmost.

Platinum is preferred by many. No finer choice could be made. Some metals are called ‘precious’ for more reasons than their rarity in the Earth. This silvery metal is ultra-durable, heavy and stunning to the eye. Its heft betrays the gravity that the engaged couple feel when approaching their commitment. Its beauty symbolizes that of their devotion.

Add to that platinum band a single or set of diamonds. You’ve now reached the pinnacle of wedding rings. A single stone may form a centerpiece of stellar clarity and dazzling color. Whether pure white or deep yellow, or any of the hundreds of other colors available, a diamond set in a platinum band says it all.

All of these possibilities can be carried to the limit by the master craftsman who creates a hand crafted wedding band or engagement ring. With designs as individual as the artist and the ultimate recipient, these pieces of jewelry become fine works of art to wear.

But there are practical aspects to the choice of an engagement ring or wedding band, as well. Beyond the need to scratch resistance, durability of shape and surface, and other attributes they still need to wear well.

Sizing is a basic element to meet this need, of course. But the design itself can greatly aid in achieving that goal. A comfort fit ring assists the wearer to want to wear it always. With beveled interior and exterior edges, rounded arcs and other features incorporated in the ring one can truly want never to take it off.

All these features are equally true of men’s rings as they are of women’s. Men want a choice of styles, excellent wear characteristics and a ring that is truly fine to look at. They want something distinctive. Modern rings surpass these goals easily.

But the engagement and wedding ceremony don’t end the possibilities in ring selection.

Anniversary bands celebrate the well-deserved success of keeping that long-term commitment. Whether celebrating the 1st, the 10th or the 100th anniversary of a marriage, there’s a ring to suit.

Many couples will want to increase still further the celebration of their devotion to one another. Renewing their vows – whether after five years or fifty – is a superb way to do just that. And for each of those possibilities there is an anniversary wedding band to help them do so.

Selecting wedding bands is one of the happiest of occasions. The purpose that drives the choice is one of joy. The options available to fulfill that choice are as boundless as the feelings they symbolize.