What you need to consider when buying a wedding ring

Wedding rings are a symbol of your togetherness. You will hopefully wear them for a lifetime. Therefore, it's especially important to plan and prepare your ring purchase as carefully as possible. With our tips on what to consider when buying wedding rings, you can ensure you make the right decision and find the wedding rings that are perfect for you.

These days, it's not easy to keep track of the huge selection of jewelers, jewelry stores, and online retailers and to find the right pair for you.

To begin with, we would like to answer a few questions that we are frequently asked by customers.

Does the man also wear an engagement ring?

Generally, it's not customary for a man to also wear an engagement ring. In good, old tradition, a man proposes to a woman and expresses this by placing or presenting an engagement ring on her finger. This ring symbolizes that the woman is "promised" until the wedding. When choosing an engagement ring, care should be taken to ensure that it also matches the wedding ring. But as with any other tradition, this can be broken, and the engaged couple and the bride-to-be can choose engagement rings together. However, the carefully considered "surprise wow factor" is lost. In this case, I would recommend cheaper friendship rings. Speaking of cheap, based on our decades of experience, the average price for an engagement ring is around 700 to 900 euros. In some Western countries, two months' net salary is expected for an engagement ring, which is considerably more. This is also based on the old tradition that the woman has a certain financial security if something "happens" to the man! Choosing an engagement ring is still a true male bastion—perhaps the only one! ; )
Whether inexpensive or exclusive, the engagement ring should be one thing above all: come from the heart.

What does it mean if you wear your wedding ring on the left hand?

This has less to do with meaning than with tradition and history. In Austria and Germany, the wedding ring is worn on the right hand, as in other European countries. Wedding rings are worn on the left hand in the USA and southern European countries, for example. It is said that the ring is closer to the heart this way.

Gold or platinum as material for wedding rings?

Yellow or white, perhaps a combination? Red or rose gold? This is a matter of personal taste and the personality of the wearer. A certain timelessness should not be overlooked.

Which is better: gold or platinum? If the question is based on the rarity of the precious metal, then the answer must be platinum. Naturally, you want to express the individuality of your wedding rings with your choice of material. A trend toward platinum over white gold for "white" rings is discernible. Platinum is processed more "purely" than gold (usually 950 fine), has a higher density, and is therefore less susceptible to abrasion. It is particularly suitable for allergy sufferers, as it contains hardly any other additional metals.

For yellow wedding rings, we also use a particularly hard special alloy in 585 and 750 fine gold, which has a Vickers hardness of 200 and 190, respectively. Our custom-made gold wedding rings are also sustainably produced from 100% recycled scrap gold.

Wedding rings from our own workshop

Image: Wedding rings in 585 yellow gold with a milled, diamond-matte surface.

Image: 585 white gold wedding rings with hand-engraved partner hearts. Ladies' ring with diamonds.

Titanium wedding rings?

Titanium wedding rings are no longer a rarity. Titanium is a robust material that plays an important role in construction, then in sports, and now also in jewelry and watchmaking. Titanium is completely allergy-free and very lightweight, which in turn is important for comfort.

Titanium wedding rings in the shop »

Titanium watches in the shop

How much do wedding rings cost?

The price of your wedding rings depends on several factors – above, we discussed the materials used, for example. Of course, it makes a difference in price whether you choose precious metals like gold or platinum or more affordable materials like titanium, carbon, or stainless steel. Furthermore, the gemstones used will also affect the price, as will whether you choose a pair of rings "off the shelf" or opt for custom-made ones by master craftsmen. In most cases, these are – as expected – more affordable with us!

Our offering in the My Fine Jewellery Shop from selected manufacturers ranges from €4,500 (white gold with diamonds) to under €200 (carbon and stainless steel).

We have been making wedding rings according to individual wishes for 25 years. We would be happy to advise you in a personal consultation and, of course, with our tips in our blog – there is hardly a wish that we cannot fulfill.

Image: Handcrafted wedding rings in a gold and silver combination, with baby hair inlaid in transparent "cold enamel." Ladies' ring with diamond.

Recommendations when buying wedding rings

Take your time, but start early

Choosing the perfect wedding rings should be carefully considered, so as not to end up running out of time or perhaps later being unhappy with your choice. Two to three months of lead time should be planned, regardless of the season or month of the wedding.

Find your own style

Just like choosing a lifelong partner, choosing wedding rings is a long-term decision. It's important to find your own style and stay true to it – take your cues from the jewelry you usually wear: classic, minimalist, or extravagant. The key is that the rings you choose will still please you and bring you joy for many years to come.

Get advice from an expert

Visit a jeweler or goldsmith you trust. Make sure the company you choose has expertise and experience in wedding rings. A specialist should carry a good selection of wedding rings for you to try on. This allows you to best compare and select the different materials in terms of shape, color, and weight. Retailers with goldsmith workshops, like ours, who also custom-make your wedding rings, can offer this service.

Choose online, comfortably from your sofa?

The selection of online shops for jewelry and wedding rings is constantly growing. Here, too, make sure the shop has expertise and experience and offers a wide range (in various price categories). Some online retailers also have brick-and-mortar stores with additional offerings in addition to their online offerings. Searching and browsing online, but consulting and shopping in a brick-and-mortar location is certainly a good idea when it comes to wedding rings.

Choosing the right material

When it comes to wedding rings, everyone thinks of gold—yellow gold or white gold, plain or set with precious stones. Rose gold is also a popular material. When choosing a precious metal, you should consider your personal preferences, as well as your hair color and skin tone. For lighter skin tones, "white" materials are preferable, whereas for darker complexions, yellow gold or rose gold are recommended. The rings are generally available in 585/000 (14 carat) or 750/000 (18 carat) alloys— you can find out more about gold alloys here. We can also offer other alloys or create our own upon request.

Choosing the right gemstones

Traditionally, the bride's ring is adorned with one or more gemstones, while the groom's remains plain – although there are exceptions. The choice of gemstone, as well as the material, depends on various factors: preferences, selected material (color), eye color, skin tone, etc. The classic choice remains a diamond – if you'd like to learn more about cuts, here's a brief overview »

Find the right ring size

A perfectly designed wedding ring is worthless if it doesn't fit perfectly. If you seek personal advice from a specialist, your correct size will be determined on-site. This is especially important for men who never wear rings. Ladies can, of course, bring their favorite ring to the jeweler, but the master jeweler usually takes measurements directly to ensure the ring fits perfectly. After being worn for a lifetime, rings must fit perfectly. Should the ring no longer fit, we can, of course, resize it in our own workshop.

The engraving of the rings

To further personalize the rings, you can have them engraved. Typically, your partner's first name and the wedding date are engraved on the ring. We offer a wide selection of fonts. Engraving is always free. (Except for hand engravings and engravings of your own handwriting.) If you order the rings online, please check before having the engraving done to ensure that this does not invalidate your right of withdrawal.