Jewelry consultant Ashley Bowen spoke with Glamour magazine recently, answering several questions related to engagement and wedding rings. The following highlights should help those with confusion related to wedding jewelry customs.
1. Should wedding and engagement rings match, or does it matter?
Don’t worry about matching your rings if you don’t plan on keeping them on the same finger. Brides often want to use the left hand for the wedding band and the right hand for the engagement ring. However, a bride may want to wear both of the rings on her left hand, as is typical in the United States. If the ring will share the same finger, you will want them to match.
2. Is it considered disrespectful to change to a different ring in the future?
No, many married women make adjustments to their rings if they feel they no longer mesh with their personality. Granted, generally the one of the two that’s revitalized is the engagement ring. Style isn’t the only reason women want their rings modified. They also may want to change the size, either transferring the same diamond to a bigger ring or switching to a larger diamond.
3. If the bride has been given a family heirloom for an engagement ring, how can she make the wedding band uniquely her own?
Many brides who receive rings that are in yellow gold decide they want to plate it with rhodium, which is a white veneer. These brides need to re-plate the ring annually to retain the white color. However, the process won’t damage the ring and is fairly inexpensive. If you are changing the engagement ring, be sure that the same style choices are reflected in the wedding band if they will be worn on the same finger.
4. Should the groom’s ring be a mutual decision?
As the bride, your opinion should be valued when your husband’s wedding band is selected. At the same time, his perspective is crucial: you want him to feel proud wearing it throughout his life. The many different designs now available for men’s rings make it easy for couples to find a ring they both like. In the 70s and 80s, couples used to get rings with matching styles, but that’s no longer as popular.
Exquisite, yet affordable
At Birkat Elyon, we use the highest grade of cubic zirconia on the planet, to replicate the look and feel of a real diamond. We also set all stones in precious metals: 14K/18K solid gold or pure platinum. Brides appreciate our wedding sets because our practice of hand-cutting and hand-polishing every stone applies our artisans’ master craftsmanship to all our elegant creations.
By Kent Roberts