Wedding Rings - Balancing Cost And Style

Once you decide to get married, many decisions have to be made, including what kind of rings you and your spouse will wear. You may know exactly what you want or you may just be beginning to think about it. You may have a lot of money set aside to spend on wedding bands or you may be on a very tight budget. Most people fall in between both of these categories - they have an idea what they want, but it's not entirely fixed in their minds, and they have some money to spend on their rings, but they can't exceed a certain budgeted amount. Your preferences and your budget should guide you as you consider what kind of wedding band will find its place on your left hand.

The Right Material For Wedding Bands

Consider starting this decision-making process by determining what material you want your wedding bands to be made of. Rings can be made from yellow gold, white gold, platinum, or titanium. The metal you choose for your ring will be an important factor in determining the look, strength, and durability of your ring.

Yellow and white gold are the most traditional and most popular choices for wedding bands. In terms of durability, however, they are among the weaker types of ring you can buy. Gold is a softer and less dense metal than others that are used in wedding rings.

When buying a gold rings, keep in mind that the lower the karat weight, the stronger the ring will be. This seems counterintuitive, because a lower karat weight means a lower percentage of pure gold in the metal, but gold has to be mixed with other metals if it is to last. If you choose 10-karat or 14-karat gold, rather than 18- or 22-karat, your golden wedding band is much more likely to endure for many generations. It is an added bonus that the lower the pure gold content of a ring, the less expensive the ring is, making less expensive gold bands actually stronger than their more costly counterparts.

Many couples forego the golden bands altogether and choose platinum, a bright, silver-toned metal that surpasses gold in terms of strength and durability. Because it is denser than gold, platinum is very strong and will last for generations to come, which is an important consideration for many people. Platinum is more durable than gold and, for that reason, it is also more expensive, but it is equally as beautiful when made into wedding bands.

Another less common choice is to buy rings made out of titanium. Titanium is incredibly strong and durable, and because of its chemical composure is impervious to corrosion or decay of any kind. It is also less expensive than platinum, because platinum is a purer metal, yet still shines as brightly on your finger.

Considering the Cost of Wedding Bands

Like any product, wedding bands fall into three categories of prices: high-end, mid-range, and lower-end. This simply means expensive with higher quality, less expensive but good quality, and inexpensive with lower quality. You and your partner have to be faithful to the budget you have established together. Keep in mind, however, that even an inexpensive ring can be beautiful and durable.

Once you decide what you want, shop around at local stores, chain stores, and on Internet sites to see who has the highest quality merchandise for the money you can spend. Read quality reviews, which are almost always available through online consumer sites and local Better Business Bureaus, to make sure other customers have been satisfied with the products offered by certain jewelry stores. If you decide to buy a higher-end ring that requires financing, shop around in that area as well, and favor those businesses that will offer you flexibility in financing plans.

Only you and your partner know what kind of wedding bands you want and how much you can afford to pay for them. Fortunately, whatever your budget, you have many choices in terms of appearance, material and cost, that will ensure that the ring you buy today will be one you are happy with for the rest of your life.