Top Questions to Help You Choose your Perfect Wedding Ring
At Erin Cox Jewellery we often ask our clients the same questions to help determine the best wedding ring for them. So we thought we would share what we think are the most useful questions to ask when purchasing a wedding ring…
What is your job, lifestyle and hobbies?
Your job, lifestyle, and hobbies play a big role in determining the best wedding ring for you. Here are some points to consider:
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Is your work hands-on and manual? If your job involves frequent use of your hands, a harder-wearing, durable metal like platinum might be the best choice.
Do you work mainly on a computer? For office-based work, a more decorative option in a slightly softer but still durable metal, such as 18ct yellow gold, can add a touch of luxury to your everyday look.
Do you need to remove your ring for work or certain activities?
Healthcare Workers: Stone-set designs might not be allowed for hygiene reasons. Opt for a smooth design that’s easy to take on and off frequently. Other Professions: Again, if you often need to remove your ring for work, consider a design that is comfortable to take on and off.
Are you active in sports or hobbies like golf, weightlifting, rock climbing, or gardening? We recommend removing your jewellery during activities involving steel or hard surfaces, as these can damage, scratch and scuff precious metals. However, if from time to time you’re likely to forget, a heavier, stone-free band in platinum may be a better option for added durability.
Do you work with your hands in messy environments? A smooth, stone-free design is easier to clean and maintain if you frequently get your hands dirty.
Do you swim regularly in chlorinated pools? Chlorine can tarnish lower carats of gold, like 9ct, and make them more brittle over time. For regular swimmers, consider removing your ring or choosing 18ct gold or platinum for better resistance to chlorine.
Are you used to or comfortable wearing jewellery?
If you’ve never worn a ring or aren’t used to wearing much jewellery a narrower or lighter weight design may feel more comfortable for you. Our ‘Taw’ design is our lightest weight molten wedding ring for her and our ‘Otter’ design is our lightest weight molten wedding ring for him (although it is a unisex design popular with both men and women).
What’s your budget?
We offer a range of options to suit different budgets:
9ct Gold: Our most affordable choice, made of 375 parts pure gold per 1,000.
18ct Gold: A higher price point due to its 750 parts pure gold per 1,000. With double the gold content of 9ct, 18ct gold is typically around twice the price/value for the same design.
Platinum: Offers exceptional durability and has for many years, been priced higher than gold due to its density and rarity. That said, due to recent rises in gold prices, this may no longer be the case.
We offer recycled gold and platinum as standard and welcome commissions in Fairtrade Gold (POR).
Do you prefer white, yellow or copper toned metals?
As shown below, each of the precious metals we offer feature different hues. Your skin tone and style may denote which metal you prefer.
Please note: It is common for white gold to be rhodium plated to make it appear more bright white. At Erin Cox Jewellery we offer un-plated, palladium-rich white gold as standard. Our 18ct white gold has a gun-metal grey tone which we love (especially on our men’s rings!) and our 9ct white gold has a warm-silvery finish. We believe in embracing whites gold’s natural colour, as who want’s to deal with the hassle & expense of periodical re-plating?! If you prefer a brighter white finish, platinum may be the metal for you.
That said, if you are trying to match a wedding ring with a rhodium plated engagement ring or simply prefer the idea of plated white gold, we can offer rhodium plated white gold upon request.
Explore the various metal choices further in our blog post ‘What metal is best?’
What size are your hands/fingers?
A ring’s appearance can vary depending on the size of your finger. For example, a design that looks chunky on a smaller finger may appear more delicate or proportional on a larger finger. Similarly, wider and bolder styles often suit bigger hands, while slimmer designs may better complement smaller fingers. Our unisex ‘Sid’ style band for example appears heavy weight and wide on the average women’s hand but fairly slim on the average man’s hand.
This is why it’s important to carefully consider the ring’s width and try it on before making a purchase. To help you find the perfect fit, we offer a silver sample service for those interested in our molten wedding rings. This allows you to try the design on and see how it balances on your finger, ensuring it feels and looks just right!
Getting your accurate finger size will also be an important factor when purchasing a wedding ring. Check out our ring sizing guide here for more hints and tips.
Do you wear a watch, other rings, cufflinks or other jewellery?
If you’re deciding on what metal to choose, perhaps consider what other jewellery and accessories you wear regularly. You may want to match or pick up on design elements from designs you already love. For example if you wear a steel watch, perhaps an 18ct white gold or platinum ring would pair with this nicely? Does the steel watch have gold details? Perhaps then an 18ct yellow gold ring would really make these elements sing.
For those of you purchasing a wedding band to sit alongside an engagement ring, the decision on metal may be a little easier. We recommend that any ring purchased to be worn alongside another piece should match to reduce the wear and tear. Different metals/carats of gold feature different properties and hardnesses so matching metals will reduce the potential wear over the years.
Do you want to match with your partner?
Some couples like the idea of matching metals…it does make for some lovely wedding snaps! Even if you don’t want the same style of ring, perhaps consider having a design element which ties both pieces together. Our molten wedding ring collection, for example, all feature organic molten textures.
Do you have gold you would like to remodel?
We provide a remodelling service, starting from £430. This allows you to transform your old gold into one of our molten wedding ring designs. If you supply all the required gold, this can also be a more cost-effective option for heavier-weight 9ct rings or any style in 18ct gold.
For 9ct Gold, remodelling lighter-weight designs may not be cost-effective, as the process is more time-intensive and expensive than creating with new (recycled) gold. So, in this case it is worth remodelling for sentimental reasons only.
Find out more about this process here.
What polish/finish/textures do you prefer?
What's your vibe: high polish, rustic matte, or somewhere in between? Whether you fancy your band hammered or softly buffed, we offer bespoke finishing to reflect your style. Explore some of the finishes/textures we offer in our blog post ‘It’s all about texture’.
Do you want engraving inside your ring?
We partner with an artisan engraver to offer classic hand engravings. Why not personalise your wedding ring with a touch of old-school craftsmanship?!
Do you fancy a bit of extra bling?
Want a little extra sparkle? We can add tiny diamonds, rubies, or sapphires into your wedding band for a bit more pizazz! From a single twinkling accent to a full eternity and everything in between! We are proud to offer a rainbow of diamond and sapphire tones for those wanting a splash of colour. Erin can even add a gemstone on the inside of your band for a secret treasure!
And for those with an engagement ring…What metal is your engagement ring?
As mentioned, to reduce wear and tear we recommend matching your wedding ring metal to your engagment ring. If you are unsure what metal your engagement ring checking the hallmark symbols/numbers against this guide may help…
Does your wedding ring need to be shaped around your engagement ring?
Don’t worry, we have you covered. Check out our blog post ‘Erin Cox Jewellery’s bespoke shaped wedding ring service’ for more inspiration.
Are you planning on adding an eternity ring to your stack?
It’s worth asking this question now as it may affect what width of wedding band you opt for. After all, no one wants to run out of finger space for extra bling! Check out our blog post ‘Designing Forever: Inside the handmade eternity ring process’ for more eternity ring inspiration.
Hopefully, these questions have helped you narrow down what kind of wedding ring may be right for you. If you would like to discuss these points and have a closer look at our molten wedding ring collection, bespoke wedding ring selection or would like to explore the process of commissioning something bespoke, do contact us or pop into our shop during our opening hours and we will happily guide and advise you further!