Plain wedding bands
If you prefer a simple design or are not a “big jewelry lover,” consider a plain band. As a jeweler, I often see women looking for a wedding band for their husband consider a plain band because their husband “doesn’t like jewelry”.
I usually recommend narrower plain wedding bands, such as a 4mm white or yellow gold ring. Although a wider 6mm, 7mm or 8mm band is standard for most men, someone who doesn’t wear much jewelry may feel more comfortable in a narrow band. (Wedding bands are usually measured in millimetres. A 4mm band is about ΒΌ” wide.)
If someone is looking for something with a slightly fancier design, but still wants a simple band, I can also recommend a more subtle design, such as a hammered wedding band. Hammered wedding bands are still subtle, but a little more exciting than a traditional solid colour ring.
Design band
There are many types of design wedding bands, such as braided wedding bands, hammered design bands, paisley bands, and other unique designs, such as a Celtic wedding band.
Which type of design wedding band you choose is a personal decision. There is nothing scientific or practical about choosing a design wedding band, other than deciding what type of design you simply like.
The only practical consideration you should make when choosing a designer wedding band is to realize that trends come and go, and hopefully you will wear and look at the design forever. The other consideration is whether you will wear your ring every day and what kind of wear and tear your ring can handle. This usually depends on the type of work you do, your profession, or your regular hobbies.
Do you do a lot of work with your hands? Do you work in construction or do you have an office job that doesn’t put a lot of wear and tear on your hands? If you plan on wearing your ring for a physically demanding job, consider a hammered design band or similar sturdy design that can withstand wear and tear. For example, you should steer clear of a braided wedding band if you’re a police officer and want to wear your ring at work! If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you may want to opt for a more solid band whose design won’t be as easily damaged.
Keep in mind that these are extreme cases. Most braided wedding bands are more durable than they appear, and will work well in most conditions.
Designer band or designer brand
Most wedding bands on the market today are not actually designer brand rings, but they are of equal quality to most designer brand rings in my opinion. The difference between a designer brand and a traditional version is mainly the price. Most designer rings range from $300-$350 compared to $600-$800 for the same ring from a well-known designer brand.
However, if 2-3 times the price doesn’t make a significant difference to you, consider a branded ring simply for the security or status that the name you are buying gives you. When buying a wedding ring, whether it is a designer brand or not, make sure you know the policies, warranties and guarantees of your wedding or jewelry store. Often, a store brand will offer you the same security, quality and warranty. So why pay the extra price?
