STEP 1 BUDGET Much like the rest of your wedding planning you need to mutually agree on what you want to spend on your wedding rings, bearing in mind this is something you’ll be wearing 24/7 for the rest of your life. Considering the hardiness of the metal you choose for example is important. More on that later! There’ll be something out there to suit whatever your budget though. STEP 2KNOW YOUR RING SIZE It’s important to get this right before you order as not all rings can be easily resized without a major overhaul of the design. Your jeweller will take your measurements properly, but if you’d like to get an idea for yourself there are plenty of measuring guides online. STEP 3CONSIDER YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING Be sure to wear your engagement ring when you’re shopping for the wedding bands as it will influence your choice. You’ll likely want to match the metal and even the shape, stones and depth. This is doubly important if you want your wedding band to be shaped around the design of your engagement ring. Many jewellers offer ready-shaped options to fit alongside standard diamond cuts such as marquise and pear, but you can always go down the custom-made route if none of them work. Natalie Towell at Navette Jewellery Studio (www.navettejewellery.co.uk) says, “Advice and guidance from experienced jewellers is always offered at wedding ring fittings, as well as suggestions for the perfect ring set for you both. A top tip for gents is to opt for a comfort fit, where the inside of the ring is curved to sit correctly on the hand.” STEP 4WHAT’S YOUR STYLE? Once upon a time wedding rings were by and large simple gold bands, but nowadays the options are incredibly varied. On a basic level there’s eternity (where stones go all the way around), half eternity (where they cover half the band) or plain of course; then there’s matte or polished... we could go on. Also, have a think about whether you want your rings to match, complement each other or be completely different. Natalie says, “Try them on and see what suits your hand shape. There’s a surprising amount of choice when it comes to the humble wedding band, so just as you’d have a fitting for your wedding attire, so you must for your rings.” STEP 5 WHICH METAL? This is arguably the most crucial decision as it will affect everything from the cost to the longevity of your rings, as well as the obvious look. The hardest wearing precious metal is platinum, which holds polish a lot longer than white gold. Alternatively, 18ct gold is best if you prefer the yellow tone. STEP 6 PERSONALISATION Your wedding rings are the ultimate symbol of your love and commitment to one another, so why not personalise them as much as possible. While all of the above will do that for you, you can go one step further by having them engraved with a meaningful phrase, your initials and wedding date or even your finger prints. DID YOU KNOW? Traditionally, the wedding ring goes onto the third finger of your left hand first, so that it’s the closest one to your heart. The engagement ring will be next followed by any eternity rings you’re lucky enough to receive for future anniversaries! The ring’s the thing YOUR WEDDING RING BUYING GUIDE “There’s never a wrong choice as long as you stay true to your personal taste and not what’s popular.This ensures that as the years pass, you’ll always enjoy your ring.” – Natalie Towell, www.navettejewellery.co.uk Navette Jewellery 71 JEWELLERY & ACCESSORIES
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