Your parents’ wedding rings are probably simple yellow gold bands — they might even have been passed down for generations. It’s a timeless look! In fact, we carry a wide variety of simple gold wedding bands. If you’re on a budget or looking for a wedding band that’s unassuming and traditional, a gold band is great!
But these days, there’s an enormous amount of variety in the world of wedding bands. If you’re coming into the wedding ring world blind — and, let’s face it, most people only do this once — it can be completely overwhelming to try to figure out what all these terms mean.
Lucky for you, we’ve been in the jewelry business for a long time, so we can help! We’ve put together this handy guide to all the wedding ring styles and terms you might hear during the process. And if you need help, feel free to call or stop by! We’ll make sure you find exactly the right ring for you.
Jewel or No Jewel?
Traditionally, wedding rings didn’t have gems in them — but that’s changing. Modern styles of wedding bands include gemstones, from diamonds to sapphires and everything in between, adding a little more splash and excitement to a plain gold band.
The gemstone on a wedding ring is generally set into the band or is at least flush with it, as opposed to the prominent stones you’re used to seeing on engagement rings. That said, there are several different ways to add a stone to a wedding band that you might want to know about.
Channel Setting
For both men’s and women’s wedding bands, channel setting can be the perfect way to add a subtle splash of sparkle to a metal band. Channel setting usually consists of several tiny stones set in a small groove cut into the ring. Sometimes that groove goes all the way around the ring, sometimes just part of the circumference, and sometimes it can even go across the ring.
Flush Setting
A flush setting is a simple way to set a medium-sized stone into the heart of the wedding band, showing off its color and brilliance while keeping it subtle and understated.
Tension Setting
For a bold and modern look, ask about a tension setting for the stone in your ring. A tension setting is a creative technique of cutting a gap in the ring, then suspending the stone in the middle of that gap, using the natural strength of the metal (and a few strategically placed grooves) to hold the stone in place. A tension setting also lets more light into the stone, adding to its sparkle and shine.
Alternative Surfaces
Of course, the classic wedding ring is a highly polished band, so smooth that you can see your reflection in it (if you look very closely). But there are so many more options with today’s rings! Whether you’re looking for a sleek, modern ring or something a little more off-beat, there’s a finish for you.
Hammered Finish
This finish is created by hammering the ring surface gently, then brushing or polishing it to give it a natural, organic look.
Sandstone Glamour Finish
This finish adds a little more depth and contrast to a band made of any material, making your ring look warmer and resisting smudges, scratches, and fingerprints.
Brushed Finish
For a more modern, clean, industrial look, try out a brushed finish! This is created by brushing the band gently with a metal brush, creating the smooth, parallel lines you see here.
Which Material Should You Buy?
For all the styles and shapes of wedding rings out there, there are almost as many materials to choose from! Traditional wedding rings have come in gold and platinum, but if those aren’t your style, feel free to branch out!
Gold Wedding Bands
Gold has a gorgeous, bright yellow shine that’s unmatched anywhere in nature. That’s why gold has been so popular in jewelry for thousands of years. But gold is also a very soft metal by itself — it scratches and bends easily, which means it’s not as durable as we’d like. That’s why most jewelry (including our gold wedding bands) is made of either 14 Karat or 18 Karat gold — 14 or 18 parts gold, alloyed with 10 or 6 parts other metals.
The specific ratios and types of other metal that are mixed to make a gold wedding ring create a huge spectrum of other shades — copper for red and rose gold, silver for white gold and gray gold, and even gold-platinum alloys.
Platinum and Palladium Wedding Bands
If your personal color palette trends more toward winter than autumn, you might not like the look of yellow and rose gold rings. If that’s the case, palladium and platinum wedding rings might be perfect for you.
Platinum is a naturally white metal, giving the ring a beautiful bright finish that almost glows in the light and emphasizes the natural color and brilliance of the stone set in it. It’s also significantly heavier than gold, giving your ring a more premium feel.
Palladium is similar to platinum in color, though it’s slightly darker and more “grey,” giving the jewelry a soft, smoky appearance. It’s also much lighter than platinum — though some people like the heft of a platinum wedding band, others find a light palladium ring more comfortable.
Tantalum Wedding Bands
It’s entirely possible that you’ve never heard of tantalum before — but we didn’t make it up! Tantalum is a beautiful blue-gray elemental metal that’s extremely resistant to breakage, corrosion, and wear. Tantalum wedding rings won’t react with most chemicals and won’t corrode in acidic environments. If you’re looking to make a striking statement with your ring, tantalum might just be the answer.
Find What You Need at acredo Rings
At acredo rings, we carry thousands of different rings in any combination of materials, finishes, gemstones, and styles. Come in and browse them, picking and choosing the aspects that you like the most about each one, and talk to one of our jewelry experts about the ring that’s right for you.
We’re sure that we can create the perfect ring for your personal tastes, combining your own style, creativity, and passion with our precision engineering and precision craftsmanship. Stop by our store today!