Friday 6 February 2009

Wedding Ring Designs - All You Need To Know

Choosing a wedding ring design can be a very difficult decision. Not only have you got to worry about the reception, the actual wedding, food, invitations, flowers but you've also got to try and pick the perfect ring design! It's a lot to think about, but there is no doubt that the ring is one of the most important things of the ceremony and is perhaps even more important than the engagement ring. Remember you only get just one shot at it - so you need to get it right first time! Whether you are planning a beach holiday or something more traditional you'll need to get the ring sorted as soon as possible.

Here are some of the things you need to think about when choosing a wedding ring.

A Band Or Something More Complex?

If you're going to go for the traditional wedding band then choosing a ring is comparatively simple compared to an engagement ring - it's really just a choice of colour. Try to pick one that matches your engagement ring as traditionally it is worn on the same finger but further down - hence closer to the heart.

If you are going to go for a more complex non-band ring then you'll need to put more effort into the design. If that's the case just make sure it complements the engagement ring and won't look over the top or out of place next to it.

Metal Colour

As I said, you can try to go for a ring that is the same colour as the engagement ring, or you can be a bit more daring and go for a wedding band that is a different wedding ring design altogether.

If you want to play it safe you could get a matching colour. A lot of woman like the idea of having two matching rings because of the more obvious symmetry.

If you're really confident you can go for a complementary colour. This is just as acceptable and you shouldn't be dissuaded from going this route. Just be careful you don't choose a colour that clashes with your spouses engagement ring.

Types of wedding ring designs?

Most wedding rings are bands, but that doesn't mean you can't get encrusted diamonds or other stones inside the ring to liven it up a bit. Again, you need to be careful of the colour and make sure they are a reasonable carat metal.

In most cases the simple band is completely acceptable though.

Choosing the right size

It's not the end of the world if you don't choose the right ring size as it is something which can often be easily fixed. However it's always best to choose the right ring size straight away to avoid unnecessary inconvenience!

Thursday 5 February 2009

Design Your Own Engagement Ring

Of course, designing a wedding ring isn't just confined to wedding rings, you can design a ring for any occasion you might choose. A good example of this is engagement rings. If you are about to propose to your other half then going the extra mile to design your own engagement ring is a wonderful thing to do - who knows it could even make the difference between a yes or a no!

Where To Start

Knowing where to start is the hardest part of planning engagement jewellery as there is simply so many options. You want your design to be unique - but not strange! Not too expensive - but not too cheap looking either.

There are so many options with type of ring too ranging from gold to diamond. Try to find out what your partner likes best (subtly of course) and then use this to plan a ring.

A good tip is to look through bridal magazines to get a feel for the style of ring that most attracts you - and most importantly that your partner will like. You'll also want to make sure that when you design your own engagement ring you do it with a professional who specialises in engagement rings.

It's also a good idea to take the magazines to the jewellers as this will help him or her narrow down exactly what you want.

Sketching Your Engagement Ring

This should be the final stage and should be done by a proficient artist! Once you have all the features of the ring sorted you can sketch it to give to your jeweller. Of course, if you aren't a confident artist you should get someone who is to do it to avoid any confusion in the design.

Things To Watch Out For

  • Make sure you get the ring created by a specialist. Shop around for the best deal and also look for reviews to make sure you're getting the right designer who can bring your creation to life.
  • Also shop around to get a lower price. A custom made engagement ring will cost more in general than a store bought one simply because of the extra man hours required to create it.

Wednesday 4 February 2009

Design A Wedding Ring - The Ultimate Gift

Designing a wedding ring can be the ultimate way to impress your future partner and give them something they will treasure for life. Any wedding ring is special but when it has been designed by your hands it will be even more unique and show your love for the other person.

Why Are Designed Rings So Special

I always like to talk about the example of greeting cards. If you get a store bought card from your other half, that's great, but if your partner makes you a card its that little bit more thoughtful. The same applies to wedding rings except multiplied by 10!

The problem is designing a ring can be very difficult and many people don't know where to begin. It is much easier to go out and buy a store bought diamond ring instead of putting the effort in - especially when there is already so much to worry about when planning your big day.

What Are The Downsides

Every bride or groom wants their wedding ring to be beautiful, unique and most importantly not embarrassing! If you are planning on designing a ring it can be a wonderful thing to do, but there are some guidelines you need to follow to avoid disaster.

On the other hand, no matter whether you buy a ring or design one you want it to be perfect for you partner to see on the wedding day, so these apply even if you aren't buying a ring.

First of all you must make sure you know exactly what you want from a ring before you start designing it. If you go into a jewellers with a vague idea then it will be much easier than if you go in without a clue what you want. You're much more likely to get a ring you can be proud of if you know what you want.

Also make sure you plan your ring well in advance! It takes time for them to be made, so whether you want a gold, irish, pearl or diamond ring you need to book it with plenty of time to spare to avoid major disappointment.

What Do I Need To Look Out For?

There are - of course- downsides. Designing a wedding ring takes much more time than just buying one ready made. Not only that, but it will usually be more expensive. This is because your jeweler must spend time making the ring which costs labor.

You'll also have to shop around a lot more. Not all jewellers do designing rings and some will be cheaper than others, so spend time getting the right deal.