Buying The Perfect Wedding Rings

The never-ending circle of the wedding ring symbolizes eternal love. During your wedding vows you may pledge to stay together whether rich or poor, through sickness and health, through good times and bad. You may talk about your commitment and your enduring love for each other. These things are all symbolized by the closed circle and enduring quality of the wedding ring. Gold and platinum, the most popular precious metals chosen for wedding rings, will last a lifetime and beyond.

Make Sure Your Rings Fit Well Together

Most couples choose a simple gold band to seal their love for each other, but lucky is the bride whose new husband slips a diamond studded wedding band on her finger! When choosing a wedding band that has diamonds or other gems embedded in it, be sure that it fits nicely with your engagement ring and that the two feel comfortable and stay in position relative to one another.

If the wedding band has diamonds all around it, there won't be a problem. But, if the band is only partially encrusted with diamonds, it will need to sit on the finger so that the main diamond of the engagement ring is centered in the middle of the gems on the wedding band. If the two tend to become off-centered, you can ask a jeweler to fuse your rings together. Do this after the wedding, of course! Also, some rings are shaped with a slight S-curve and the two rings need to nestle together to look their best. These rings will definitely benefit from being fused. Rings that are fused can be separated for sizing or repair, so don't be concerned about that.

Where Do You Find the Perfect Wedding Rings?

You can shop your local jewelry stores, but, if you live in a small town, you might be better off taking a trip to a nearby city. Or, in case you didn't know, the Internet is a great place to find affordable wedding rings! Just make sure you know your size before ordering. And, for those who can afford it, jewelers can make you custom rings. Get recommendations from friends and family and always ask the jeweler to show you some of their work before you commit.

Think Out of the Box When Looking for Wedding Rings

While diamonds may be a girl's best friend, not everyone likes diamonds! The main gem in my engagement ring is a sapphire, flanked by small diamonds and sapphires. My wedding band is set with diamonds and sapphires, too. The top of the rings are S-shaped. The engagement ring was purchased from an antique dealer and the wedding band was made by a jeweler to match the engagement ring. I get many, many compliments on my rings because they are so different. Not one on earth has rings exactly like mine!

So, think out of the box a little when looking for rings. Choose your birthstone, instead of a diamond. Check antique stores. Watch the classifieds in the newspaper and browse the Web for second hand rings. Check eBay. Some of the second hand rings you find will be unusual, elegant and affordable. If you find a ring suitable for an engagement ring, but it doesn't have a matching band, a jeweler can make a band to match, or you can simply choose a plain wedding band.

Find out if there's a family heirloom ring that would look wonderful as an engagement ring. Have a band made to match or choose a plain band that looks good with your family ring. If the ring isn't suitable for an engagement ring, a jeweler can create a new ring by using some of the original stones, or by using the setting and replacing the stones.

"Rings for a Lifetime" Better Not Snag on Everything!

You'll be wearing your rings for a lifetime, so choose what you like and make sure they fit well. Finally, before you buy any rings, do the "snag test." Put on your engagement ring of choice and slip your hand in and out of your pocket, brush it across a sweater. Does it catch or snag? Now do the "glove test." Can you easily slip gloves over your engagement ring? If your wedding band has stones embedded in it, do the "snag test" on that ring, too. If all is well, you're ready to make the one purchase for your wedding that will truly symbolize both your lifetime commitment to one other and the never-ending circle of your love.