3 Tips for choosing the best engagement or wedding ring

While February might be the season of love, April is famously the season of wedding and engagement planning. With so many wedding fairs coming up to prepare lovers to tie the knot, one is spoilt for choice on how to best organise a wedding that your partner will remember for the rest of your married lives. Speaking of weddings and engagements, we must not forget the one most important thing that ties the couple together, from the initial engagement to long after the wedding — the rings.

Both engagement rings and wedding rings are different and yet highly essential in both purposes: one to initiate the start of something beautiful, and the other to permanently tie both parties together in sickness and in health. Many couples tend to stress over the engagement rings more than the wedding rings, but forget that both play an essential role in the whole marriage.

Some couples may use the same ring for both purposes, which is a rather innovative idea and also brings in a new perspective of not going for traditional wedding ring designs, that are generally more simple compared to the complexity of an engagement ring. It is also more cost-efficient for couples who are saving for the honeymoon, or simply prefer not to have to consider a whole new ring design twice.

Of course, each ring is unique to each couple regardless of whether it is a custom made ring or ready-to-wear, as long as the purchasing party has their partner in mind. A "yes" is definitely already in the books for this lucky guy. However, some men might not be the most savvy in picking ring designs, not because they do not know their partner well, but simply because they might need more tips on how to best choose the right ring. A ring that not only matches their partner's dress aesthetics (one of the key considerations when taking engagement photos) but is also suitable for them to wear out, and includes little considerations about the actual relationship.

Similarly, most couples prefer to wear their wedding rings on a daily basis and not the engagement ring, usually due to the simplicity of the wedding ring compared to the latter. 

However, this does not mean that the wedding band needs to just be a gold ring with no design. There are still wedding ring designs that contain intricate gold design elements that reflect the wearer or the couple without drawing too much attention.

That being said, here are 3 tips to choosing the best engagement ring and wedding ring for your partner, and how to discreetly pair the two up in terms of ring design elements:

1. Understanding Your Partner's Interests

Of course, if you are already planning to propose, you would be very aware of your partner's likes and are comfortable with them enough to want to be together for the rest of your life. However, how do you incorporate these interests into both the wedding ring and the engagement ring?

If your partner is a horse lover, consider western style silver ring for a wedding ring, such as the Kiley Contemporary Horseshoe Ring, which is adorned with a blue cubic zirconia stone that could potentially be your partner's favorite or their birthstone. These silver horseshoe rings are suitable for daily wear and yet are detailed and well-designed to still be a unique conversation starter. 

You can also consider a ring with multiple horseshoe designs, such as the seven horseshoe ring, for a more simplistic design that brings good luck to your partner and your marriage These rings are also suitable as both engagement and wedding rings due to their simple ring design and unique structural element.

2. Choosing the right ring metal

After settling on a design, it is time to decide on your ring material. You might have noticed the different kinds of metal your partner wears on a daily basis. If they often wear gold, you will not go wrong with a gold ring; and vice versa for a silver ring, white gold ring, or any other metal.

Many jewelers will carry more than one metal option for all ring designs. For example, the Offset Horseshoe Nail Ring is available in both White Gold and Yellow Gold. While this particular ring is not available in silver, white gold is a good option to consider due to its close shade. 

Pure 24k gold rings are also a good choice for their longevity and value. Not only will your partner be able to wear it out every day without worry about its color fading, but it will also give them the chance to show off to their friend group. The Offset Horseshoe Nail Ring also comes adorned with diamonds, increasing the above value even more and also demonstrating the strength of your love for each other, with diamonds being the hardest on the scale.

However, if you are looking for a silver ring for a horse lover, consider the Cognac Buckle Ring in sterling silver for a perfect engagement ring. Not only is it made with pure silver, but it is also adorned with gemstones for an extra pop of color. Alternatively, the Horseshoe Nail Ring is a suitable choice for a wedding ring, with a simple silver band design engraved with intricate details that is not just a basic band but with a subtle nod of design.

3. Budget consideration for both an engagement and wedding ring

Finally, after you already have the vision of a perfect engagement ring in mind, it is time to finally procure the ring for your partner and make that final step to becoming one forever. Realistically, purchasing both wedding bands and an engagement ring will be costly; the average amount spent on an engagement ring in the U.S. is around $5,500 to $6,000, while the average wedding ring costs between $600 and $1,200. In essence, a couple could easily spend over $7,000 on rings alone. Purchasing only one ring might save you more money for a house, a family, or even a honeymoon in the Maldives. How are you going to decide if you want only one, or both?

Firstly, this is a conversation to be had with your partner before you pop the question, considering budgeting will be an activity for both of you once you become one family. If you have not yet had this conversation, it would be a good idea to start from there. Studies show that nearly 69% of couples go over their initial wedding budget with rings being one of the top unexpected expenses. If you have had the discussion with your partner and they are all good with both, then congratulations — it is time to head out and make those two big purchases.

Maybe you now have a better idea on how to best pick out the best engagement ring or wedding ring for your partner, and we cannot wait to see what you check out with us. If your partner is into a design that is not readily available, or you have a specific custom design in mind that represents a special occasion for you and them, do consult us and let us custom design a bespoke ring for you both.