Engagement rings and wedding bands symbolise everlasting and undying love, telling the rest of the world that you have chosen your life partner and want to celebrate that union. Usually, the engagement ring is bought first, and then the process of choosing a wedding band follows. The question is, do you try to match the wedding band with the engagement ring, choose two completely different rings, or even permanently join the two?
In this article, we’ll examine this in more detail, whether pairing the engagement ring with the wedding band is right for you, and what to consider when choosing your forever rings. We’ll look at aesthetics and everyday practicality, to stack or not to stack, and the different types of bands on offer.
Keep reading to learn our Top Tips and some of the most frequently asked questions about matching engagement and wedding rings.
Keeping up traditions – the popularity of pairing wedding and engagement rings
Tradition has a lot to say about engagement rings and wedding bands. Ideally, the engagement ring should include a diamond to symbolise a commitment to everlasting love. The ring itself is usually made of gold—again, a metal that never tarnishes or degrades, so there’s plenty of meaning wrapped up in the choice of metal, too.
The wedding ring is traditionally a simple gold band that stands for an unending and unbroken circle of love between two people. Pairing wedding and engagement rings seems the natural thing to do, rather than choosing random designs that don’t match.
However, the traditional approach isn’t for everyone, and a simple silver ring can have as much meaning to an individual as the biggest diamond or deepest red ruby. While keeping traditions alive is nice, a little variety can inject new meaning and a burst of life into the decision-making process.
When pairing your engagement ring with your wedding band, the bottom line is that it should always be your choice—and a decision that you are happy with. These rings will be a permanent part of your life and on your finger all day, every day. Matching engagement and wedding rings is not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Our Top Tip: Never make a decision based on a picture in a magazine. To make the right choice, you must see the engagement ring and wedding band together on your finger. Do the two rings feel comfortable? Do they look good together? Do the designs balance one another? And most importantly, do you like them?
Pairing a wedding and engagement ring vs choosing random designs
Why pair your wedding and engagement rings? The most common reason is to create a cohesive look between the two, whether that is based on the colour of the stones, the type of metal, or the shape of the rings.
As with all fashions, the trend for pairing rings comes and goes. Always remember that you are perfectly entitled to choose random designs if you want. This is especially true if one of the rings is an heirloom and the other is a new addition.
For example, if your engagement ring was once your mother’s or grandmother’s, it may have a much more traditional design than modern rings. To add your chapter to the story, you may want a contemporary wedding band entirely different from that vintage solitaire ring.
In that instance, choosing random designs creates a deeper meaning as you add something of your own. But you can also look for modern variations that pair with a vintage ring as if they were made for one another, striking a balance between the two and adding a synergy to your look.
A step-by-step guide to pairing rings
Where do you start if you have decided to go for matching engagement and wedding rings? Let’s break it down into simple steps.
Choosing a metal
While it may be traditional to have both rings made from the same metal, there is no reason why you can’t mix things up. For example, white and yellow gold work beautifully together, as do rose gold and platinum. You may not get the same effect by mixing yellow gold and rose gold together, but add a dash of platinum or white gold and you suddenly have a winning combination.
For a more ultra-modern look, don’t discount exotic choices such as Damascus steel, which has an incredible and unique pattern that can be exceptionally striking.
Flush fit – comfort and style
Flush-fit wedding rings sit level with the engagement ring so that the two rest together comfortably on the finger. It prevents the engagement ring from “creeping” over the wedding band, increasing the chance that it may snag or catch and damage the ring (as well as hurting your finger!).
If you have an engagement ring with a prominent centre such as a solitaire ring or an oval design, you can look for a contoured band that sits around the centre setting of the engagement ring.
Open bands are another option that can give a flush fit by letting the central motif on your engagement ring snuggle comfortably into the gap in the wedding band. This is a match made in heaven and looks stunning.
Choosing the perfect ring width
How wide do you want to go? That will depend on your personal choice, but there are a couple of practical considerations to take into account.
Rings with wide bands may feel comfortable on their own, but as soon as you team them with another ring, they may start to feel uncomfortable or bulky. The only way around this is to wear one ring on an alternative finger—not the ideal solution if you want to match your rings together.
If you have very slim fingers, wide rings may look out of proportion to your hands. In this instance, more delicate options may look better and feel more comfortable.
Gems or plain?
The classic wedding band is unadorned – a simple ring of precious metal without any other inclusions. However, you can add gemstones to your wedding band, the most common being recess-set diamonds, so you still have the feel of a band, but there’s a little added sparkle.
If your engagement ring is ornate or brightly coloured and includes lots of diamonds and gems such as sapphires, rubies or emeralds, a better choice may be a plain band. This allows your engagement ring’s full beauty and impact to take centre stage. But if you love your bling, there is no reason why you shouldn’t add some colour to your wedding band.
Our Top Tip: Match your gemstones. If your engagement ring features sapphires, matching sapphire inclusions in your wedding band will give you a balanced effect.
Types of wedding bands to consider
There are so many styles of wedding bands on offer today that it’s worth taking a quick look at each so that matching your wedding band and engagement ring is a little easier.
Stacking bands
Stacking bands are super-popular and are a natural choice if you want to add to your rings with an infinity ring later on. They’re customisable and comfortable and come in a vast range of designs, gemstones, and even textures, so you can truly mix and match.
Contoured bands
If you want your rings to fit snuggly on your finger, a contoured band is a great choice. The wedding band matches the curvature of your engagement ring so that the two sit comfortably together. The most common type of contoured band is a Chevron shape that accommodates the central setting on your engagement ring.
Classic bands
Timeless, eternally popular, and still the most common choice for wedding bands, the classic plain metal band is ideal for those who want a simpler, cleaner and more traditional look. Classic bands come in a variety of metals, the most common being 9ct or 14ct gold.
Notched bands
These have a small cutout or groove that lets the engagement ring sit perfectly alongside the wedding band. If you want to join your rings with solder permanently, notched bands work well and are easier to join than other designs.
Open bands
A contemporary design that is becoming increasingly popular, open bands have a gap that is usually adorned with a gemstone held in using the force and spring within the metal (it’s far more secure than it sounds!). Remember that open bands cannot easily be altered if you need to resize your ring.
Custom bands
Finally, if you want a one-off, bespoke piece, you can create a custom band with a jewellery designer. You may pay a little more, but custom, matching engagement and wedding rings will be unique to you.
Choosing the right wedding band to go with your engagement ring
Our Top Tip: Keep it subtle. Don’t overpower the Solitaire by embellishing the wedding band too much.
Ring fit and size
Your engagement and wedding rings will spend years—if not decades—on your finger, so they must fit correctly and be comfortable. Too loose, and you risk them falling off and getting lost. Too tight, and they will feel uncomfortable and be difficult or even impossible to get off.
If you don’t know your accurate ring size, ask your local jewellery store to measure your finger (remember, it’s the ‘ring’ finger on the left hand!). Any jewellery store will be happy to do this for free and with no obligation for you to buy matching engagement and wedding rings from them.
Our Top Tip: Check that you can adjust the fit. Some designs, especially open band styles, are far more difficult to resize. If you need to have your ring adjusted, make sure it is possible before you commit.
Practical considerations – all-day wearability and comfort
Your matching engagement ring and wedding band are not just for special occasions. These are rings that are going to be on your finger 24/7, 365. So they must be comfortable, tough enough to cope with a knock from the occasional dunk in the washing-up bowl, and easy to care for. A regular wipe with a jewellery cloth should keep your diamonds sparkling and your rings looking like new (neither platinum nor gold tarnish). If you notice a stone has become loose, get it repaired sooner rather than later before you lose a precious gem.
Our Top Tip: Choose a lower carat. 9ct gold has a more ‘antique gold’ colour, and as it is not as soft as higher-carat gold, it is less likely to scratch or deform, making it ideal for everyday wear.
Frequently asked questions
Are wedding bands supposed to match engagement rings?
Not necessarily. You can match your wedding band with your engagement ring but it’s not a requirement. There is no hard-and-fast rule when pairing engagement rings and wedding bands; it is down to personal choice.
Can I choose a completely different style?
Of course! This is your ring, and it is special to you, so at the end of the day, nobody else’s opinion matters but yours. If you want it to match, then that’s great. You’ll find lots of advice above on how to pair a wedding band with different styles of engagement rings. But if you want to go with something completely different, go for it!
How much should I spend on a wedding band?
Again, that is up to you. This is a ring that will be an important part of the rest of your life, so spending a little extra on it ensures you get a good-quality ring that will stay looking beautiful for years to come. Work out your budget, and remember to factor in not one but two rings—one for each partner.
How to keep an engagement ring and wedding band together – to solder or not to solder?
Most rings spend their lives as separate entities, but you can ensure that your matching wedding band and engagement ring are permanently joined by having them soldered together. A professional jeweller can do this for you.
However, remember that it may depend on the type of gemstone you have in your rings, as some do not react well to heat and can actually go black.
Insure your engagement ring and wedding band with TH March
And finally, don’t forget to insure your engagement ring and wedding band with us. At TH March, we provide specialist insurance for those precious pieces of jewellery. Rather than grouping your rings with your home insurance (which may not pay you the full commercial value for your rings), you can insure them individually with us against loss, theft or damage.
Contact us using our online form for an instant, no-obligation quote today. Or call us and talk to one of our team members, who will be happy to help. For complete peace of mind, contact TH March today.