Choosing a wedding band - By: Michiel Van Kets

"With this ring I thee wed…"
"I give this ring as a symbol of my Love and devotion"

Most of us dream about marriage from the day we can say, "I love you". Then when that day finally arrives, the first decisions you will make together is choosing that special and original wedding band, a symbol of your love and commitment. That wedding band says your love will last a lifetime.

First, and most important, in choosing a wedding band, is to choose a wedding band design that you love. Next is to use a jeweler that uses high quality precious metals, and gemstones “But what metal should you choose or which gemstone is the best quality?” This article will show you what to look for in a quality ring, and a quality jewelry website.

Finding a ring and jeweler that fit the above criteria is a little more difficult than it might at first seem. Platinum is made with different types and amounts of alloys. Many websites use gold plate in place of solid gold, or 14k solid gold rather than 18k solid gold. Diamonds come in different colors, cut, clarity, and carat. The established jeweler will have superior sources for precious metals and gemstones. They will also have a lot more experience in all aspects of the jewelry business, including customer service.
The metals:
Most religious marital ceremonies accept wedding bands made of any metal to symbolize your vows. Titanium has become the prudent choice due it’s superior strength, and look. Additionally titanium is beautiful with inlays of gold, platinum, and adorned with diamonds.

Titanium is a very strong lightweight metal. You will hear different opinions on one alloy opposed to another, but they are irrelevant to the strength of a titanium wedding band. Any titanium-alloyed band is well beyond the strength needed for making unbelievably durable wedding bands.

If you desire quality gold jewelry - gold plating, electroplating, or gold overlays should not be considered. These methods have only a thin layer of gold over other metals, the thin layer eventually wears off. Pure Gold is 24K, and because of its softness, it is usually alloyed with base metals like copper, silver, zinc and/or cobalt, to harden thus maximize its use for fine jewelry. Most of the jewelry stores in the US use 14K gold. “What does that mean?” well 14K gold is made of 58.3% 24k gold and 41.7% alloys. For high quality with a deeper color and luster, 18K gold should be used. 18k gold is 75% 24k gold and 25% alloys.

Platinum is a soft metal and must have alloys added to it in order to maximize its use for fine jewelry. Unlike gold it must be 95% pure to still be called platinum. The best alloys for platinum are 3% cobalt, and 2% palladium. Platinum’s natural white luster is unaffected by time. Alloyed properly, platinum has a density and resistance to wear that makes it the most secure, protective metal for setting Diamonds.

The gemstone:
"A girl’s best friend" - diamonds – their very mention makes the heart skip a beat. The word ‘diamond’ comes from the Greek word ‘adamas’ meaning unconquerable, suggesting the eternity of love. It is the most exotic gemstone used for wedding bands. This timeless beautiful gemstone comes in many different varieties. The four areas of importance are Color, Cut, Clarity, and Carat. The most important of these by far is the cut. If you get an ’Excellent Cut’ diamond, with Vs1 - Vs2, G - H in color you will have a stunning diamond that will last a lifetime.

Now that you have the knowledge of the qualities to look for when selecting your wedding band, it’s time to find a quality website. Planning a wedding is usually stressful, shopping via the internet makes it a lot easier. You’ll save time and won’t have to deal with things like the weather, traffic, or pushy salesmen. A quality wedding band website can give you a selection that few mall jewelers can provide.

The appearance of a website is the first thing to look at. Does it look professional? Your first impression is a good guide on his one. Next, ensure that the website doesn’t just buy-and-sell wedding bands; make sure the bands are designed and made by the websites jeweler. This is important, if an adjustment or modification is required, a jeweler is equipped to address these needs.

Make sure the jewelry website offers secure payment methods. A website That accepts credit cards must be approved by the issuing credit card company. PayPal is the leader in online secure payments, but make sure that the website has "secure socket layers". That means that when you get to the "Check Out" (when payment is made with your credit or debit card) that there is a little picture of a locked-lock in the bottom right hand corner.

A wedding band is the most important piece of jewelry you will ever purchase, so take your time, and research your options.

Have fun choosing your wedding bands, it is a life changing experience! Congratulations!

About the Author

Michiel Van Kets provides articles for Randy Bushart, who owns Titanium Lovers and has been making jewelry for over 30 years. The website offers various wedding bands in combined metals and adorned with diamonds.

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