Ten years ago, the traditional wedding rings for a bride and groom were plain white or yellow gold bands. To have a diamond band was considered something extravagant or indulgent. However these days the trend has reversed completely, with only 1 in every 40 brides or grooms choosing a traditional band.

For the ladies, the popular choices are either channel set or claw set diamond wedding rings. While the diamonds are almost always set in white gold. However it is quite popular to have a yellow gold band when the engagement ring is in yellow gold. One of the most important factors is to make sure that your diamond wedding ring matches your engagement ring, not just in the style of the setting, but also in the number of stones you choose and the width of the band. Normally 9 stones is the minimum number, and it is preferable to aim for an odd number (one for the center and then one stone for each side moving out). It is usually advisable to have the wedding ring’s band width the same width as your engagement ring, and it is important to choose a stone size that compliments this. Lastly, the benefit of asking a jeweller to custom-make a wedding band to match your engagement ring, is that the jeweller can match the profile at the bottom of your engagement ring. That way, the two rings will always look like they were made at the same time, by the same jeweller.

For the gentleman, the range is much more varied and diverse. Today’s groom can choose between a multitude of metals for his band, such as Platinum, Palladium, Titanium, 18ct and 9ct gold, with many choosing a combination of more than one option. Not to be outshone by the ladies, some men today are also choosing to have diamonds in their wedding rings. A diamond’s ability to stand the test of time echoes the symbolism of the wedding ring as representing a never-ending love. As the saying goes, “Love runs out at the circle’s end”.

Rule of Thumb

As a general rule, if your engagement ring has diamonds in the shoulders, you should match it with a diamond wedding band. If the engagement ring is a solitaire, then you can either have a traditional or diamond wedding band. While this is a general rule, you are the one who will look at it for the rest of your life, so always make your decision based on personal preference.