How to Choose a Wedding Band

As you begin searching for your perfect wedding band there are are several factors that may be of importance to you in choosing the right look. After all, the ring you choose will be a lifetime decision. This simple guide will give you some ideas of what to look for and help you choose the ring that portrays you and your style.

When choosing a style there are five main aspects that play a role in finding the right look: Color, Karat, Design, Width and Metal

Color
When it comes to gold wedding bands there are three different colors that are typically available, yellow, white and rose. When people think of gold, most likely they think of yellow. Yellow gold is the natural and the most preferred color although it may or may not be the best look for you. Equally as popular is white gold, a neutral, cool color and a great alternative to platinum or palladium, Currently, one of the most popular colors trending in gold is rose gold. Rose gold has a warm hue to it and is noted as the most romantic color of gold. .

Choosing a metal color for your wedding band that best accentuates your skin tone, your wardrobe and even hair color may probably be the best look for you.

Karat 
When it comes to gold, most wedding bands are available in 10 karat, 14 karat , and 18 karat. The difference between the Karat gold levels are the amount of gold that go into making the wedding band. The higher the Karat of the gold you choose, the higher the value, the quality and the shine you will receive. The Karat choice is usually based on ones budget or preference.

Design
For design there are two ways to go; carved or plain. While plain bands have no decoration, there are still several choices to make. The band can be flat or rounded, comfort fit or not and a choice of widths. Additionally, there may be an option for a different finish. Several finishes include satin, polished, matte & stone. Carved bands have a number of designs including grooves, milgrain, cuts and various patterns. This simply comes down to a personal preference. Often there will be a choice of finish or even a blend of finishes.

Width
Most wedding bands come in many widths usually from about 3mm to 8mm and may even go up to as wide as 10 mm. The width of the ring is important for several reasons. If you are planning to have your ring carved or engraved, it is best accomplished on a wider width ring.  Alternatively, a narrow width band may be more suitable for those with smaller hands. The best thing to remember is what is comfortable for you.

Metal
Choosing your metal may be the easiest of the five aspects since the type of metal used will impact your color options and your price range. The most popular precious metal choices for wedding bands are gold and platinum although there other precious metals, such as palladium that may be used. While gold gives a choice of colors, platinum and palladium are only available in the natural color white. Both gold and platinum are relatively soft in there pure form with gold being the softest of the two metals. The two metals get their strength when certain alloying metals are added. Platinum is known to be the stronger, more durable and more expensive of the two metals. Palladium however may be a great alternative for those who prefer the price of gold with some characteristics of platinum.

In any case, the most important part of deciding on the perfect wedding band is to have fun trying on different styles, widths, colors and precious metals. This will help you discover just the right style and from there you will be able to shop for the best price.