All About the Band

Maybe you weren’t involved in picking out your engagement bling (or maybe you were, as 31 percent of brides admitted to being “very involved” according to a 2011 survey by TheKnot.com), but when you exchange rings during the ceremony, you and your new husband should both know the wedding rings you’ve chosen will look fabulous. But with so many options out there, choosing a wedding ring is a like battle of the bands. Spouses should keep a few things in mind so shopping for a wedding ring runs smoothly. Simple or Extravagent While men tend to lean towards a simple design, women typically decide to go another route. “We care about the visual, and they care about the comfort,” says Helena Krodel, director of media and special events at Jewelers of America. “Some men today are opting to add diamonds or black diamonds, but they tend to be pretty straightforward,” she says. Women tend to want special details like an eternity band - a row of diamonds around the ring - or even colored gemstones, Krodel says. If you have colored gemstones in your engagement ring, don’t be shy about also employing them in your wedding band. Platinum and Gold “Platimun tends to be the metal of choice for women’s engagement rings and wedding bands,” Krodel says. It’s not only a beautiful metal, it’s also hypoallergenic. For men, the metal of choice is typically gold. But be sure to look for the quality mark and the purity before purchasing a gold ring, she adds. “18 carat gold is what people are opting for most often nowadays,” she says.