You’ve decided to tie the knot and now you’ve got some wedding
band shopping to do. Your wedding band is a ring your going to
wear all the time so it’s important to choose a ring you “really
like,” one that truly “touches your heart.”
A reader survey completed recently in Bride’s magazine found 80%
of respondents wanting a “traditional” wedding. In todays world
what defines traditional is wide open for interpretation. Many
weddings will have the traditional core but be customized to the
bride and grooms personal tastes.
Traditional usually means white gown, church ceremony, full
reception, completed with a honeymoon getaway. When it comes to
wedding bands tradition and modern style are quickly entwining
to produce some fabulous new wedding band styles. So you ask,
what is the hottest styles in wedding bands?
Well, one think is for certain. Diamonds are still a girls’ best
friend and are very quickly becoming a guys best friend too! In
the past few years there has been a record number of diamond
wedding bands being purchased for guys. Men have finally figured
out what women have always known about diamonds. Diamonds are
elegant, classy, and sophisticated. The most popular bands are
flush settings in gold, platinum, or titanium. Usually the
diamond is one carat or less. Another popular setting is small
diamonds placed geometrically around the entire band.
So they say what’s good for the goose is good for the gander
right? That’s why today’s brides have no problem wearing
matching bands to their new husbands. After all women have
always had the finer taste for the beauty of diamonds. Today
brides and grooms have many choices.
They can buy matching bands or similar bands that accent each
other. Designers are now producing coordinating engagement rings
and wedding bands. So rather than choosing a set, you can now
mix and match. This allows for more personal taste and for more
uniqueness.
Both titanium and platinum are very hot. Both brides and grooms
are jumping on the bandwagon for something different that the
traditional yellow gold of the past. Guys and gals alike
appreciate the beauty of platinum and the wearability of
titanium. Today’s platinum is no longer mixed with yellow gold.
Today high polished platinum is a star all by itself. The
popularity of titanium wedding bands is also growing leaps and
bonds. Titanium has the same look as platinum with two
advantages it’s considerably cheaper, and its much more durable
than platinum.
Jewelers today are borrowing design ideas from the past.
Delicate scroll work and intricate patterns are very popular.
Designs from the Art Nouveau and Edwardian period are very
popular with their flowing geometric designs. Designs are no
longer stiff but flowing and fluid. Custom designer wedding sets
have become very vogue. Today wedding sets are chosen with the
same thought a woman puts into purchasing clothing. Women are
much more in tune to their entire fashion statement and since
their wedding rings are worn all the time they want their rings
to reflect who they are. They also like to choose wedding rings
that will work with other jewelry pieces they wear.
The most popular diamond shape is the round brilliant cut,
however many women are choosing some of the more non traditional
cuts for their engagement rings. Emerald cuts, baguettes, and
marquis cuts have grown in popularity in the last few years.
Today’s choices allow both bride and groom to combine tradition
with choices that reflect their personal tastes and their own
personalities. Never has their been a time in history when the
design of wedding bands and engagement rings was so intricately
tied to the individual who would wear it. Price, selection, and
style are as wide as the imagination.
© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.