Wedding jewelery
How to Buy Your Wedding Jewelery
Choosing your wedding jewelry is going to be one of the most important decisions you will make. These pieces are going to be worn daily, and symbolize the most enduring bond the two of you will create. Your ring is not only a critical element to being married, but is also a long lasting symbol of love and commitment to each other. With this in mind, you want to choose rings that are timeless and as superior in quality as you can afford.
Style
When you are choosing the style of your ring, keep in mind that you need to be comfortable wearing this ring every day for the rest of your life. A plain band will be a current style for many years to come. If you want something more ornate, go with a beaded edging, or something engraved. If you want to go even more high end, choose a ring with a channel of diamonds in the band. You need to choose a ring that expresses both your style and personality.
Metal – Gold, Silver, and Platinum
The common trend here is to choose a metal that matches your engagement ring. If you choose to opt for something different, try and match your band with the kind of jewelry you wear regularly. Is it silver? Do you have a gold watch?
The primary metal choices are the following:
- Yellow Gold: This is the most traditional of metals. It is a symbol of warmth and love in a marriage. You will find this in 14K, 18K, or 24K with each number representing the softness, or purity. The higher the number, the more pure the gold, and thus, the softer it will be.
- White Gold: This is a current look because platinum is a hot trend right now. White gold blends with platinum perfectly and is much less expensive than platinum.
- Platinum: This is the most stylish of all as it is the hardest metal. This symbolizes the enduring love of a marriage. Also, it is not mixed with lesser metals like gold is and so you will pay much more for platinum.
Choosing Gems
If you are considering adding gems to any of your bands, keep in mind that you are wearing this every day for the rest of your life. Gems are measured in hardness, so the harder the are, the higher their quality, and their durability. While the softer stones can be beautiful, they may not be the best choice for a wedding or engagement ring. The Mohs scale will register a stone’s ability to resist abrasion, the higher the number, the harder the stone. You should also know that a general rule of thumb is the darker the color, the more expensive the stone.
Here is a list of the most common stones, and their hardness level:
Rubies 9
Sapphire 9
Emerald 8
Topaz 8
Aquamarine 7.5 to 8
Amethyst 7
Garnet 6.5 to 7.5
Opal 6
Now that you have some of the basics down, when you go in to choose your rings, you will have a clearer idea of what to look for and what questions to ask.
