The sooner you start shopping for your wedding bands, the greater the odds are that you'll find one that perfectly suits both you and your partner.
It's Never too Early to Select Your Wedding Bands
The sooner you start shopping for your wedding rings the better. Couples who don't shop for their rings relatively early in the planning stages always regret the delay. Some couples even start looking for their wedding bands before they're formally engaged.
There are multiple reasons you should start this process several months before your wedding, including:
- You'll have time to shop around for the best value
- There's a better chance of you and your partner finding a set of wedding bands you love as opposed to settling for something you merely like
- You have the time to customize the ring, which can include things like having them properly sized or getting a personalized message engraved onto the ring
Another big advantage of starting the shopping process early is that it provides you with the time and knowledge needed to set a realistic budget.
"People often don't know what wedding bands cost," Jennifer Gandia, a Jeweller told Bridge magazine, "so shopping before your budget has been stretched will let you consider more options."
The most important reason to start shopping for your wedding bands now instead of waiting until closer to your wedding is because it's a magical experience. You want to enjoy the process, which when done in a relaxed manner actually brings you and your future spouse closer together. When you're rushed, choosing the wedding rings can feel like a chore, something else you have to tick off your list of pre-wedding to-do list.
Sparkling Diamond Wedding Rings Complete Your Wedding Outfit and Make your Day Perfect
When it comes to choosing a diamond wedding band there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind as you look over your options. Most important is matching the diamonds to your engagement ring. Here’s a refresher on the key characteristics of diamonds:
Remember the 4 C's of Diamond Selection
The four C's of diamond selection are very important. They are:
- Cut
- Colour
- Clarity
- Carat
Not all Diamond Cuts are Equal
Many people mistakenly assume that the diamond's cut refers to its shape. That's not strictly true. The way the diamond is cut actually refers to how much the diamond sparkles.
The type of cuts includes:
- Shallow cut
- Ideal cut
- Deep cut
- Fine cut
When the cut doesn't match the gemstone, the light doesn't exit the gemstone properly. Instead of bouncing from the top of the gemstone and reflecting directly into your eyes, the light actually exits from the bottom or sides of the gemstone, causing it to lose its lustre and look like a low-quality diamond.
Good jewellers consider several things when they're preparing to cut a diamond, including:
- The diamond's diameter
- The diamond's crown
- The diamond's girdle
- The diamond's depth
- The diamond's pavilion
- The diamond's cutlet
You want to avoid any wedding rings that have a diamond with a fair/poor or even good cut rating and limit your selection to rings that feature diamonds with very good, an ideal cut or excellent cut gemstone.
Ideal cut gemstones are the most luminous but they can also put a great deal of strain on a young couple’s budget. Many budget-conscious couples chose gemstones that are categorized as excellent cut instead of ideal since the gemstone still sparkles prettily, but the purchase price is lower. It's rare for someone who isn't a jeweller to notice a difference, even when a very good, ideal or excellent cut gemstones are placed side by side.
The Importance of Clarity
Most diamonds aren't perfect. Most have some type of flaw, which are called blemishes and inclusions.
A blemish is a small problem that's observed right at the gemstones' surface. Often this is something that happened to the gemstone recently, perhaps even while it was being cut. Blemishes refer to:
- Scratches
- Pits
- Chips
- Glass/ wisps
Most blemishes, especially those that occurred during the cutting process are found around the gemstone's girdle.
Inclusions are more complicated.
Inclusions are located deep in the gemstone and were created when the gemstone was formed. An inclusion can refer to:
- Cracks
- Foreign minerals
- Air bubbles
- Etc
The clarity grades are:
- F= Completely flawless which is extremely rare and expensive.
- IF=Internally Flawless a diamond with this clarity grade might have a few surface blemishes but will be free of inclusions.
- VVS1-VVS2=Very Very Slightly Included 1 and 2 diamonds with this clarity grade have such minute inclusions that the only way to see the flaws is with 10x magnification.
- VS1-VS2=Very Slightly Included 1 and 2 Still minute inclusions that require magnification to see
- SI1-SI2=Slightly Included 1 and 2 At this grade you MIGHT be able to see the inclusions without magnification, though the diamonds can still be used for wedding rings.
- I1-I2-I3=Included 1, 2, and 3 Diamonds with this clarity grade shouldn't be used for jewellery
Carat Size and Diamond Wedding Rings
The larger the diamonds carat size, the heavier the diamond is and the more it costs. The number of carats you want in your diamond wedding band comes down to personal preference but most often how well it works with an engagement ring.
What material to choose for a Wedding Band?
Ideally, the starting point should be the same material to match your engagement ring but the choice is yours. Often different colours of metals are chosen, representing personal expression.
For partners, the choice to match material is there but needn’t be the case.
Your jeweller will be able to advise all the options available - gold, platinum, steel, carbon fibre, palladium or titanium are common options.
Choosing the Right Platinum Diamond Wedding Ring
Once you've decided that a platinum diamond wedding band is exactly the type of ring you need to make your marriage magical, there are some things to keep in mind while shopping for the ring.
Make Sure the Size is Right
Your wedding ring isn't something that should kind of fit. It needs to fit perfectly. If it's too big, you run a high risk of losing it and if it's too small, you'll never be comfortable and may even damage your ring finger. Request that your jeweller resizes the ring until it perfectly fits your finger. It's far easier to have the ring resized than to try living with a ring that's uncomfortable or trying to replace a lost diamond wedding ring.
Consider Purchasing your Wedding Bands and Engagement Ring at the Same Time
Nothing looks nicer on a bride's finger than a perfectly matched diamond wedding band and engagement ring. The best way to accomplish this feat is by purchasing the rings at the same time. If it's not possible to purchase all of the rings at the same time, at least consider getting them at the same location.
Don't be Afraid to Ask Questions
Knowing what traits to look for in a diamond wedding band is a great way to feel more confident while shopping for diamond rings, but it never hurts to ask questions, especially if you've found something that you like, but think could be a little more magical. Your jeweller has an instinctive knack for making sure you get the best quality diamond wedding ring you can afford as well as a ring that perfectly matches your personality and style.
Your perfect diamond wedding band is waiting for you to find it. Once you do, you'll find that the concept of your pending nuptials suddenly feels very real and very exciting. Contact Jacobs the Jewellers today and inquire about our diamond wedding bands. We have a wide assortment of top-quality diamonds and precious metals that will look perfect on your finger during your wedding day.