How to choose a wedding ring that goes with your engagement ring
How to choose a wedding ring that goes with your engagement ring
A wedding ring is one of the pieces of jewellery you’ll wear for the rest of your life, so it needs to be suitable for decades of wear. We understand it might feel like an enormous task, and it’s normal to feel a little nervous about making such a big decision. We’ve heard all the concerns before, which is why we’ve put together our expert advice to make choosing a wedding ring easier by following our top tips.
Consider the shape and setting of your engagement ring
Make sure to look at your engagement ring on your finger, not just in the box. The way your engagement ring is crafted determines which types of wedding rings will work best alongside it. Trying both on together will help you see how the rings share the same space, complementing each other rather than competing.
Highset solitaire engagement ring
A high-set solitaire is where the centre stone of the diamond is mounted noticeably above the band on prongs so that it catches the light more and appears bigger and more brilliant. From the side view, you’ll notice a gap between the bottom of the stone and the band, which makes it easier for a straight wedding band to sit flush next to it.
Modern Intertwined Round Diamond Engagement Ring
A low-set solitaire engagement ring
When the stone sits closer to the finger with a low-profile setting, a straight wedding band can push against the setting, leaving a gap or rubbing against your engagement ring over time and wearing it away.
This is when a slightly curved or wishbone-shaped band can be a better choice, as the curve follows the shape of the engagement ring and sits closely without gapping or rubbing.
Oval Diamond Bezel Set Solitaire Ring
A halo engagement ring
A halo engagement ring typically features a central stone and surrounding stones that extend significantly wider than the band's thickness. Similar to a low-profile solitaire, a straight wedding ring will look gappy and fit awkwardly around the halo. In this case, you could choose a wedding ring specifically designed with the contour of the halo in mind. When worn together, the wedding ring and engagement ring lock comfortably.
Round Diamond Single Halo Ring
Trilogy rings and a shoulder set engagement rings
Engagement rings with ornate sides and shoulders can rub and wear against your wedding ring, which is why it’s better to choose a custom-fitted or shaped band to protect both rings, especially if the shoulders taper, twist or feature diamonds that sit low in the band.
Oval and Round Diamonds Trilogy Shoulder Set Ring
Consider the metal of your engagement ring
Keeping the metal the same for your engagement ring and wedding ring helps to create a seamless aesthetic. You could intentionally choose a different colour wedding ring for contrast, but accidental mismatches tend to age poorly.
It’s best to avoid slightly different shades of the same type of metal or mixing colours that don’t share any other design features.
Choosing the same type of metal also has a practical benefit, as two metals of different hardness will result in the harder metal eroding the softer one. Different metals will have different wear patterns, so while it might not look noticeably different now, it could look inconsistent as the rings age differently.
Consider the proportions and detailing of your engagement ring
An engagement ring with a delicate thin band could be overshadowed by a wide band. Similarly, if you choose a plain dainty wedding band next to a bold engagement ring, it might look like your wedding ring is missing something.
Matching the detailing of your engagement ring in your wedding ring doesn’t necessarily mean choosing something identical. Selecting a ring with similar sized diamonds or a similar setting style will add cohesion to the overall look.
Another option is to let the engagement ring shine on its own while the wedding ring acts as a simpler counterpoint. A plain metal band works well with intricate vintage designs, trilogy rings and halos, where a simpler band stops the overall look from appearing “too busy”.
How can Shining Diamonds help?
Here at Shining Diamonds, we offer a wide range of wedding rings designed to complement every engagement ring style, even if you didn’t buy it from us.
Our helpful team is on hand to help you choose the ring you’ll wear for the rest of your life. We have stores across the country, in London, Brighton, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Belfast, Newcastle, Norwich, Southampton, book an appointment with our friendly team today.
We also have a wide range of bridal sets, so you’re not left guessing if the rings will match on the big day, as they are quite literally made for one another.
