A Brief Guide to Buying Wedding Rings
Wedding rings are rings worn by people to indicate their commitment to marriage. A wedding band or wedding ring is simply a finger ring which officially indicates that its owner is married. It’s usually forged out of white gold or some other precious metal, and is typically hammered or cast in gold or some other precious metal. These bands were traditionally worn on left ring fingers because it was believed that the vein passing from this finger goes directly to the heart. Today however, left handers wear wedding rings on right fingers because this finger is believed to be closest to the heart.
Historically, wedding rings were given to the newlywed couple as a sign of commitment, as well as an acknowledgment of love and bonding between the two of them. The meaning behind a ring in this day and age is very different from what it once was. Today, a wedding ring can be purchased for a price in excess of a few thousand dollars, with the prices ranging significantly in different stores. Rings are often studded with diamonds, rubies, or other precious metals; in some cases even having precious stones set into them.
Promise rings are also quite popular today. Many people wear promise rings as a symbol of their love and devotion to another person, be it a spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, or wife. These promise rings are typically made of some sort of precious metal, perhaps gold, silver, platinum, or titanium. While the ring is often a single tone, black and white promise rings are also available. The meaning behind a promise ring is typically something along the lines of “I promise to marry you.” This can mean many things, but it does generally mean “for better or for worse”, and sometimes “forever”.
Gemstones are also used in many wedding rings. Most gemstones come from a group of four stones known as the gemstone family. Rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and amethyst are a few of the most common gemstones used. Most of the time, these gemstones are colorless, although there are a few exceptions. In addition to their colors, each gemstone has its own unique quality, such as translucency, hardness, fire, hardness/solubility, etc. Some of these may appear in various combinations when they are gemstones, while others are one-of-a-kind.
Other metals are also used in the making of wedding rings, including white gold, which is just what it sounds like: a metal that is used in white gold wedding rings, to help with matching the colors of the stones in the rings. Other metals, such as titanium and platinum, are more commonly seen in wedding rings, due to their increased durability. One of the more popular metals used in a wedding band today is titanium, which has an extremely hard, durable, attractive appearance. It can even be custom-made to match your wedding colors. However, because titanium is more expensive than other metals, it usually only suits the rich.
Wedding rings are not only for brides; many people who get married nowadays have both a rings and a wedding band. Many people who are close to both partners prefer to wear two different styles of rings. If you are looking for a gift for someone and you know the style of band they both wear, then a matching wedding band would be a wise choice. The person you are buying for may even want both a wedding band and a matching engagement ring, which is a nice option for those who don’t necessarily like having two different styles of rings.