It’s not always easy to choose an engagement and wedding ring that feel comfortable, and look good together. Planning your big day can be an incredibly busy time, so read on for our comprehensive guide to choosing the right wedding ring to match your engagement ring, so you can get it right for your wedding day (and for the rest of your life!)
1. First things first: ring size
First and foremost, you need to get the ring size right. DIY measurements almost always end in disappointment, so use one of our suggested methods instead:
• A ring sizer app on your smartphone
• A ring sizer tool (we’ll send you one for free)
• Take a visit to a a jeweller and have your finger measured
Rings from our Unique Engagement range – seen on our jeweller’s ring measuring tool
2. The engagement ring
Do you have an engagement ring already? If so, just skip to the next part.
About engagement ring styles
When considering engagement rings, the main thing to think about is the design. Will the bride love it so much she’ll want to wear it for a lifetime? This may sound like a no-brainer, but it can be easy, when shopping alone, to become too fixated on the diamond quality or the ring’s technicalities.
When researching engagement ring styles, start by looking at her clothing. If she likes understated, elegant outfits, then a simple solitaire is best. If she prefers big, luxurious accessories, a more extravagant ring will fit the bill. You can also get great advice from the bride’s friends or sisters, because they will be closest to her and understand her taste.
Next, you should decide on the precious metal for the ring’s band. A classic, traditional choice is yellow gold. Next, you have the white precious metals: white gold, platinum or palladium. You could also opt for rose gold, which has a delicate pink tone and is considered very romantic.
Choosing the metal quality:
18K gold (whether yellow, white or rose gold) contains 75% gold and therefore it’s more expensive than 9K gold, which only contains 38% gold. Platinum is the toughest and most lasting of all the precious metals, but it’s also the most expensive. If you can afford it, this would be the metal most recommended by jewellers because if its aptness for a lifetime of wear.
How sparkly is your diamond shape?
Most brides expect their diamond to sparkle. And because the ‘sparkle factor’ depends on the diamond’s cut, it’s useful to understand the effect your diamond shape has on it:
Round brilliant cut – The sparkliest shape
Princess cut – Square, almost as sparkly as the round cut
Marquise cut – Two rounded sides tapering to points, medium sparkle
Pear shape – Like a teardrop, medium sparkle
Emerald, baguette and cushion cuts – Rectangular shapes with flat tops, give off long flashes of light rather than sparkle
Cushion Cut and Prince Cut – Modern variations on the traditional princess cut and emerald cut, but with more sparkle!
Diamond quality
Familiarise yourself with diamond quality basics, but don’t get too hung up on the jargon – a trustworthy jeweller will help you find the best diamond grade for your budget. Want to learn more? Read our 5 Most Asked Diamond Questions.
Small budget? Opt for a cluster ring
If you know she wants a big ring but you have a smaller budget, opt for a diamond cluster ring. This means that the ring is made of lots of small diamonds grouped together, rather than one solitaire diamond. Several small diamonds will actually cost you less than one big one. For instance, the below ring has impressive magnitude, but costs less than £800.
3. The wedding ring
It’s vital that your wedding ring sits comfortably next to your engagement ring.
Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding and engagement rings
You can mix metals The first thing you should know is that your wedding band and engagement rings don’t have to be made of matching colour metals. It’s fine – and actually quite fashionable – to have ‘mismatching’ metals. Queen Elizabeth II’s rings are perfect proof that this is acceptable etiquette!
How to combinevintage styles:
It’s OK to mix and match different vintage styles as long as the designs are along the same lines. Just try to avoid extreme differences in design eras, to not clash. For instance, a classic gemstone engagement ring can look great with a diamond eternity wedding band, but an ornate Victorian style halo engagement ring might not go that well with a modern, geometric wedding ring.
4. Some solutions to engagement rings that don’t fit together with a wedding band
If you have an engagement ring with a large stone or an unusual shape, it can leave a gap between itself and the wedding band. This is because it pushes your wedding ring away. As well as not looking the best, it could also feel uncomfortable.
Here are 2 easy fixes to this problem:
Solution 1 – Wishbone Rings: These have a V-shape that gives space for the engagement ring stone.
Solution 2 – Bridal Sets: There are a couple of ways to avoid this problem. One is to pick a bridal set with a perfectly matching wedding band and engagement ring. These come as a set and are made to fit together so that the wedding ring “curves” around the engagement ring’s stone.
Solution 3 – Contoured wedding rings: Some engagement rings have a choice of separate “contoured” wedding bands to fit the stone shape. Even if you already have an engagement ring, a contoured band like this could fit around it. Since you can buy them separately, unlike wedding sets, this can be a good solution:
Always order your rings about 3 months before your wedding. Most jewellers don’t carry all the sizes and styles in stock, so you may have to order in advance – this could take a few days, or several weeks. In order to get the rings you truly want, make sure to order early.
It’s not always easy to choose an engagement and wedding ring that feel comfortable, and look good together. Planning your big day can be an incredibly busy time, so read on for our comprehensive guide to choosing the right wedding ring to match your engagement ring, so you can get it right for your wedding day (and for the rest of your life!)
1. First things first: ring size
First and foremost, you need to get the ring size right. DIY measurements almost always end in disappointment, so use one of our suggested methods instead:
• A ring sizer app on your smartphone
• A ring sizer tool (we’ll send you one for free)
• Take a visit to a a jeweller and have your finger measured
Rings from our Unique Engagement range – seen on our jeweller’s ring measuring tool
2. The engagement ring
Do you have an engagement ring already? If so, just skip to the next part.
About engagement ring styles
When considering engagement rings, the main thing to think about is the design. Will the bride love it so much she’ll want to wear it for a lifetime? This may sound like a no-brainer, but it can be easy, when shopping alone, to become too fixated on the diamond quality or the ring’s technicalities.
When researching engagement ring styles, start by looking at her clothing. If she likes understated, elegant outfits, then a simple solitaire is best. If she prefers big, luxurious accessories, a more extravagant ring will fit the bill. You can also get great advice from the bride’s friends or sisters, because they will be closest to her and understand her taste.
View now | Blue and Pink Sapphire Diamond Halo Rings
Most popular engagement ring designs:
View ring styles: Solitaire, Halo, Sidestones, Cluster, Sapphire
Choosing the metal colour:
Next, you should decide on the precious metal for the ring’s band. A classic, traditional choice is yellow gold. Next, you have the white precious metals: white gold, platinum or palladium. You could also opt for rose gold, which has a delicate pink tone and is considered very romantic.
Choosing the metal quality:
18K gold (whether yellow, white or rose gold) contains 75% gold and therefore it’s more expensive than 9K gold, which only contains 38% gold. Platinum is the toughest and most lasting of all the precious metals, but it’s also the most expensive. If you can afford it, this would be the metal most recommended by jewellers because if its aptness for a lifetime of wear.
View now Martini Rose Gold Diamond Ring
How sparkly is your diamond shape?
Most brides expect their diamond to sparkle. And because the ‘sparkle factor’ depends on the diamond’s cut, it’s useful to understand the effect your diamond shape has on it:
View ring styles: Round, Princess, Marquise, Pear, Emerald Cut, Cushion, Prince Cut
Diamond quality
Familiarise yourself with diamond quality basics, but don’t get too hung up on the jargon – a trustworthy jeweller will help you find the best diamond grade for your budget. Want to learn more? Read our 5 Most Asked Diamond Questions.
Small budget? Opt for a cluster ring
If you know she wants a big ring but you have a smaller budget, opt for a diamond cluster ring. This means that the ring is made of lots of small diamonds grouped together, rather than one solitaire diamond. Several small diamonds will actually cost you less than one big one. For instance, the below ring has impressive magnitude, but costs less than £800.
3. The wedding ring
It’s vital that your wedding ring sits comfortably next to your engagement ring.
You can mix metals
The first thing you should know is that your wedding band and engagement rings don’t have to be made of matching colour metals. It’s fine – and actually quite fashionable – to have ‘mismatching’ metals. Queen Elizabeth II’s rings are perfect proof that this is acceptable etiquette!
How to combine vintage styles:
It’s OK to mix and match different vintage styles as long as the designs are along the same lines. Just try to avoid extreme differences in design eras, to not clash. For instance, a classic gemstone engagement ring can look great with a diamond eternity wedding band, but an ornate Victorian style halo engagement ring might not go that well with a modern, geometric wedding ring.
Diamond wedding ring or plain band?
A plain band is beautiful, classic and traditional. However, if you want spectacular sparkle, choose a wedding band with diamonds. These come in two styles: with diamonds on the entire ring (eternity) or with diamonds on top of the band (half eternity).
4. Some solutions to engagement rings that don’t fit together with a wedding band
If you have an engagement ring with a large stone or an unusual shape, it can leave a gap between itself and the wedding band. This is because it pushes your wedding ring away. As well as not looking the best, it could also feel uncomfortable.
Here are 2 easy fixes to this problem:
Solution 1 – Wishbone Rings: These have a V-shape that gives space for the engagement ring stone.
Solution 2 – Bridal Sets: There are a couple of ways to avoid this problem. One is to pick a bridal set with a perfectly matching wedding band and engagement ring. These come as a set and are made to fit together so that the wedding ring “curves” around the engagement ring’s stone.
View now | Perfectly Matching Engagement & Wedding Ring Set
Solution 3 – Contoured wedding rings: Some engagement rings have a choice of separate “contoured” wedding bands to fit the stone shape. Even if you already have an engagement ring, a contoured band like this could fit around it. Since you can buy them separately, unlike wedding sets, this can be a good solution:
Buy these rings separately:
Carly engagement ring, Carly wedding band,
Anais engagement ring, Anais wedding band
5. One final VERY important tip
Always order your rings about 3 months before your wedding. Most jewellers don’t carry all the sizes and styles in stock, so you may have to order in advance – this could take a few days, or several weeks. In order to get the rings you truly want, make sure to order early.
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