Exchanging wedding rings is an extremely meaningful part of a wedding ceremony, with both rings being a symbol of love, devotion and partnership. However, it can become an arduous task to pick the design and style of ring with so many types of metals and detailing that is offered. While the emphasis of the process is put on brides, grooms should also be thinking about their wedding band designs.
Surprisingly, there is a vast variety of men’s wedding band styles from modern jewelers as unique designs become more popular. Whether it be simple, subdued, stylish or flashy, men want to be able to show off their personality in what they wear. Rather than just simple bands, men now have many more unique and fun options as they can include different cuts, jewels or metals to an existing band for more pizazz or flair.
It’s time to go through all of the different options to style your perfect wedding ring that will suit your taste or preference.
Ring fit
Primarily, the first thing that should be assessed is the fit of the ring. A men’s wedding ring should slide gently onto the hand, fit snugly but still be comfortable for daily tasks. The reason this is so important is because there are a vast variety of sizes available as men’s hands tend to vary more than womens. The metal and style may also affect the fit of the ring on your finger with metals like gold being lighter than platinum thanks to its density
Metals
Each metal has a different quality, durability, style and uniqueness with its own strengths and weaknesses that will convey a different type of personality and lifestyle.
The six most popular metals for men’s wedding rings are:
- Gold
- Platinum
- Palladium
- Tungsten
- Titanium
- Silver
Gold
Top rated men’s wedding bands are usually made from a style of gold, whether it be yellow gold, rose gold or white gold. Each type of gold has a different feeling and look.
Yellow gold is a classic vintage style and stands out on men with darker or olive skin tones. White gold gives a more contemporary look that compliments rosy and fair skin with its cool, timeless tones. Rose gold is thought of as a vintage style with a warmer, softer more romantic feel but extremely durable amongst the gold styles.
In all of its forms, gold is quite malleable and will scratch and bend. This means that regular polishing and buffing may be required as signs of wear and tear begin to appear.
Platinum
Platinum is one of the most expensive metals for men’s wedding bands due to its density in comparison to other metals. However, this also means that it doesn’t highlight scratches like its other counterparts. Platinum’s shine and luster does not fade and it will retain its colour well over time being a very low maintenance metal.
Palladium
Palladium features a high shine with a white hue giving a similar look to platinum but less durable and therefore less expensive. Men’s rings that are created from this metal have more unique designs and characteristics as they can feature diamonds, gemstones or engraved details that other metals cannot.
Palladium is one of the best choices if you want a highly customisable ring to fit your specific style or personality. It is also hypoallergenic meaning that you won’t have to worry about skin irritation or discomfort.
Tungsten
Tungsten is the best metal for men that work with their hands. This metal almost never tarnishes and is highly resistant to scratches meaning it is extremely low-maintenance.
Tungsten style rings are known to feature the most unique designs with incorporated details such as laser engravings and imprints. However, tungsten metal rings cannot be resized so it is important to know what ring size you are prior to making your final decision.
Titanium
Known as a metal for those with an active lifestyle, titanium has become extremely popular due to its durability and lightweight. Designs for this metal usually include etchings for complete customisability. Traditional titanium has a bright silver metallic colour for sleek sophistication but if you’re looking for something more masculine and edge, black titanium is also an option.
Silver
Another extremely popular option is sterling silver or silver due to its affordability and availability. The downside is that these metals tend to tarnish over time and scratch fairly easily meaning regular maintenance is needed to upkeep the shine and glamour that this metal originally had.
Silver is the best style of ring if you are on the lower end of the budget spectrum but want to be able to pull off a high end look.
The finish of a ring may feel like a miniscule decision in the grand scheme of choosing the perfect ring but it can really create a unique distinction on a wedding ring. There’s a few different finishes that you can opt for with their own unique flair:
- Matte Finish
- High Polish Finish
- Satin Finish
- Sand Blasting Finish
- Hammer Finish
Unique detailing
To create a wedding ring that is truly unique and bespoke it is important to take it to the next level with some detailing. There are a few options that you can consider when detailing your wedding ring:
- Diamonds are a great way to make a ring feel more opulent and expensive. In mens rings, diamonds are usually paved as accents instead of focal points for a more subtle shine.
- Milgrain adds a unique texture to rings with small metal balls that are connected to make unique details.
- Carving similar to milgrain detailing, carving is a way to add unique flair without having to add extra gemstones or metal to the original piece. Carving allows you to create designs that are as intricate and detailed as possible.
While there is an abundant amount of combinations and designs that you can create for the ideal or best wedding ring for you, it should suit your personality and lifestyle the most. Each and every design, metal and finish has strengths and weaknesses but the perfect ring should fit your hand, life and budget.