Wedding Bands

With so much attention focused on the engagement ring, it’s easy to forget about another all- important piece of bling.

NARROW YOUR OPTIONS

Do you want yellow gold or platinum? Diamond embellishment or plain? A ring that matches your partner’s, or one that’s totally unique? Flip through magazines and look at local jewellery store websites to suss what the options are. Be sure to take your engagement ring into account to find an option that works well with it – some bands will even be custom-moulded to fit around the shape of the stone, while others can be simple, allowing the engagement ring to do all the talking.

HAVE FUN WITH IT

Keen on stamping some individuality onto your band? The world is your oyster: today’s jewellers go well beyond plain metal offerings, conjuring a wide range of ways to make your ring one of a kind. Think everything from fingerprint engravings to the inclusion of your partner’s birth stone.

THINK PRACTICAL

This is a lifelong piece, so keep your lifestyle in mind at all times. Do you or your partner have a hands- on job, or play a musical instrument? You’ll want something that you barely notice wearing – a slim-fit ring with rounded edges, for instance. The more comfortable it is, the less often you’ll have to take it off – and the less chance you’ll lose it.

TAKE TIME TO BROWSE

You might think you’ve decided on your perfect ring, only to try it on and realise it doesn’t suit your hand at all. Leave yourself time to try lots of options.

SUSS A BUDGET

Wedding bands can range in price from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. It all depends on factors such as the metal you choose, and the level of embellishment you’re after. Even if you opt for a simple design, it pays to choose quality – you’ll be wearing this jewellery for a while, and apart from your photos, it’ll be the only thing you keep to mark your big day.

CONSIDER LONGEVITY

Consider the kind of person you’ll be in 20 years’ time, and what sort of ring you might want to wear then. Additionally, think of all the situations you’ll find yourself in: job interviews, social functions – what will you need in a piece of jewellery in all the future life stages to come? W