A Couple's Guide To Relationship Rings

Love is a universal emotion, and everyone gets to experience it differently. When expressing love and commitment in the different stages of a relationship, couples find ways to make it unique and truly memorable. 

Giving or exchanging rings is one of the quintessential gestures of commitment in romantic relationships. Rings come in all designs, colors, materials, and price points. Do you need help in picking out the best ring for you and your partner? 

This article has summed up some tips you need to consider when shopping for one. Read on!

Wedding Rings

Wedding rings or bands are a simpler version of the rings given or received by couples during their wedding ceremony. They are worn together by the couple, on the fourth finger of their left hands to signify their love and life-long fidelity. 

During the planning stage, wedding ring shopping can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Remember to stick within your budget and take the time to try out the different style options from your jeweler. Some ring metal choices include gold metals (yellow and white) and white metals (silver, platinum, palladium). You may opt for a simpler design with smaller stones. 

We all know that marriage is considered a milestone in a person’s life. Thus, if you are at this point in your relationship, selecting suitable wedding rings should be done earlier in the planning process to allow for changes and modifications. 

Engagement Rings

Engagement rings date back to the Egyptians who chose circular shapes to symbolize eternity. Traditionally, engagement rings were mainly made of white gold or platinum bands set with diamonds.

This ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand. Most people believe that a vein runs directly from this finger to the heart, making it suitable for an engagement ring. This tradition has been kept alive to date.

Diamond rings are a popular choice for engagement rings and even as a personal accessory.  Natural diamonds are more expensive than lab-grown diamonds, but because they have the same composition, they are a budget-friendly alternative.

When getting a diamond ring, you will need to keep the 4 C’s (clarity, cut, color, and carats) in mind as these mainly determine the price of the stone. The clarity of the diamond is based on the level of its purity and determines the visual appearance of the stone. The color grade measures how little color it reflects. Thus, the lesser color, the more expensive it becomes. Diamonds are now available in a variety of colors, including black, blue, red, yellow, and orange, giving you the option to choose the aesthetic while staying within your budget.

Cut refers to the proportion and symmetry of the stone. In essence, this determines how much the diamond sparkles. Some of the most well-loved cuts include marquise, oval, emerald, pear, heart, princess, and round. Carats, on the other hand, refer to how heavy the diamond is. 

Although the traditional notion was that you should spend two months' wages or more on an engagement ring, couples have moved towards getting affordable alternatives. Nowadays, gemstones such as sapphires and rubies are also becoming well-received. They are also timeless and add a distinct character to the ring. 

Another key point to remember if you are buying an engagement ring is the setting. The setting is critical as it determines the overall look of the ring as well as the suitable stone that would go best with it. Vintage, solitaire, classic, and halo are the most popular sets.

When choosing engagement rings, keep in mind what your partner will love. Pick a ring that will best suit your partner’s personality and style. 

Couple Rings

They are also known as promise rings and are exchanged by couples after dating for a while to show their commitment to the relationship. And unlike engagement rings which need a lot of consideration of their design before purchase, promise rings don't have to follow the same rules. 

You can customize them in any creative way. You can opt to experiment with different diamond designs and other stones to add uniqueness and personality. Couple rings tend to be smaller but often use precious metals such as gold and silver. The gemstones are also less noticeable and subtle.

In contrast to wedding and engagement bands, which must be worn on a specific finger, couple rings can be worn on any finger.

Eternity Rings

Eternity rings can be used after marriage as a renewed reminder of your vows or after the birth of a new child. For eternity rings, there are no rules for which finger they go to. Most people opt to wear them on their left ring finger with both the wedding and engagement rings.

You can have them in full, with stones that complete a circle, or in half, where half the band has rocks and the remaining half is plain.

They are also available in a band of precious metal, including white gold or platinum with diamonds or gemstones set into it.

Bottom Line

Every relationship has different levels of love and commitment, and rings are a great way to symbolize this. For young lovers that have been in a relationship and hope to show their loyalty, they can exchange promise rings.

But for a couple that wants to progress their relationship into marriage, an engagement ring will make that dream come true. And when two people love each other enough to promise to spend their lives together, they marry and exchange wedding rings. Moreover, couples who have stayed in their marriage for a while can have a vow renewal ceremony and exchange eternity rings.

Indeed, rings truly make for a versatile accessory that is well worth the investment.