If you are reading this, you must have found your soulmate and the big day is coming up. Congratulations! While the wedding band is just a small component of your wedding day, it represents the love you and your partner share, both now and in the future. Gone are the days when men had few choices when it came to wedding bands. With so many options out there today, it can be an arduous process to choose which one your man will be happy to rock for the rest of his life. This comprehensive guide will break it down for you to help make this major decision just a little bit easier.

Brief History/Back in the Day

While men have been placing rings on their brides’ fingers since pre-historic times, the male wedding band is a relatively new tradition. It started gaining popularity when World War II broke out. Young men, ravaged by war, wore simple golden bands to remind them what they were fighting for and what they had waiting at home for them.

In today’s modern world, the ring exchange ceremony has become a staple of most Western marriages - regardless of faith, creed, or ethnicity. In fact, future husbands now have a multitude of choices available to them. Lucky for you, whether you are the groom in question or the bride-to-be, we have created this handy guide.

Shopping Tips & Budgets

It is never too early to start shopping for your groom’s wedding band. It is recommended to start shopping at least three to six months before your wedding day. You will need to make sure you have enough time to exchange or resize it.

As with any major purchase, you can immediately narrow down your choices by setting a budget. Wedding rings for men can cost as little as $250 and can go up to $5000 or more. This will be dependent on the use of diamonds or other gemstones, as well as the type of metal you choose.

Traditionally each partner buys the other’s wedding band; however, most modern couples are already living together, combining their incomes and splitting expenses before the big day. There are no hard and fast rules these days about who is supposed to pay or even pick out the wedding bands. In fact, there are a growing number of lucky guys who are even receiving engagement rings these days.

The Groom’s Profession

Your groom’s profession is one of the most crucial factors when deciding what type of wedding ring to choose. Does your future husband work with his hands in a workshop, is he outdoors or indoors where he types on a keyboard every day? Does he work with chemicals or grease and oil? If your future husband is a landscaper, mechanic, chemist, etc., you will need to ensure that the wedding band will not endanger him in some way or get ruined by the type of elements it will be exposed to. After all, you want your husband to be able to wear his ring – so thinking of practicality first – is your best bet.

What does he do for fun?

Is your husband-to-be an adrenaline junkie? Does he go out on his surfboard, climb mountains or teach boxing at the gym? Again, you want to make sure that it is safe for him to wear the ring and that the ring will not get damaged by extreme conditions. Will the ring be compatible with the type of life your groom leads? There are plenty of options out there that are scratch-free and damage-resistant – such as platinum – which is more durable than most precious metals. If your groom likes to work with his hands, he may be better off with a modern metal like tungsten, that is practically scratch-resistant.

Is he flashy? Subtle? Conservative?

Once the practicality and size has been considered, you can start thinking about your man’s personality. Some men appreciate a flashy accessory and may wear other types of jewelry, like gold chains or a pinky ring, while others prefer to make a subtle statement with classic cufflinks and a three-piece suit. Having a strong grasp of his style is key to finding the perfect wedding ring for him. Is he flashy or does he prefer the simpler things in life? Does he enjoy more than a bit of bling, or does he have a subtle swagger?

Conservative/Traditional

Simple, traditional gold bands without any extra embellishment will generally suit men who are not used to wearing jewelry and prefer a more classic, traditional look. You cannot go wrong with a simple gold, titanium, or platinum band. Minimalistic designs remain timeless and will suit men who prefer to stay out of the limelight.

Little Extra Flair

Perhaps your man likes a little splash of color now and then – a simple band might be a bit boring for his taste. The choices are endless – you can choose a different type of metal or color, or a ring with a unique pattern, finish, or gemstone. Adding a subtle difference to a classic style will suit the man who likes a little flair.

Make a Statement/Bold

If your man has his own unique style or is the type of guy who likes to go big or go home – lucky for you there are a multitude of choices – details like sleeves and inlays can make a bold statement with their unique textures. Various colors have become quite trendy for today’s modern man. If your man wants to make a bold statement, then there are plenty of unique, colorful styles to choose from.

How to Fit & Size Your Ring

Along with practicality, comfort is a major deciding factor when choosing your betrothed’s wedding band. It won’t matter how awesome the ring is if it can’t fit around his finger. You don’t want your man to suffer from the symbol of your union. So, before you choose a style, or metal, make sure you get the ring size – as you don’t want to be disappointed if they don’t have a particular ring in your groom’s size.

We would recommend getting his finger measurements done professionally – keeping in mind that various jewelers will have different measurements. If you must do it at home, you could tie a string around his finger and mark it with a pen. Try to do it later in the evening, as our body naturally expands later in the day. Further, we would also recommend having your groom test-drive it when his hands are at a mild temperature.

Do not to assume that the two corresponding fingers on both hands are the same size. Always measure the finger the ring is intended for. It is also important to note that a lot of men find that they measure between 2 sizes as our fingers aren’t perfectly circular and don’t always adhere to perfect geometric sizes. Obviously, we recommend selecting the bigger size, so it doesn’t slide off his knuckle.

When measuring your fingers, be sure to measure your knuckle as well – especially if your knuckle is wider than the rest of your finger. It sounds basic, but you would be surprised at how many forget this step. Remember that it is harder to wear rings with a deep band width unless a man has larger hands, so keep this in mind when picking out the size of his ring. As an approximate guide, narrow rings start at around 4mm wide, medium rings are about 6 mm and a wide ring is considered around 8mm or more in width.

A few more tips when finding the right ring size:

• The average men’s size is a 10. A woman’s average ring size is 6.
• The ring finger on the hand you use to write with will be approximately a half size larger than your other hand.
• Always move up a half size from your measurement for comfort.
• Different countries have different ring size systems – so keep this in mind if ordering online. The US uses a number scale from 1-16. EU measures the circumference in millimeters. The UK uses letter sizes from A to Z. Japan uses a number scale from 1-27.

The Shape & Band Width

The shape of the edge is another major consideration in terms of the ring’s comfort. Most people prefer curved edges, which allow the band to shift smoothly across the finger, rather than straight edges that can cut into the skin. Most people also prefer a curved inner surface because it reduces the amount of friction and the amount of metal that encounters the skin.

The profiles or shapes of the rings themselves come in the following:

• Court Style: Along with the D-shaped band, the court style is the most common. This shape boasts both rounded exteriors and interiors. Shaped like an almost perfect circle, this is one of the most comfortable as well as elegant.
• D-Shaped: Like the court style, the D-shaped has a rounded exterior but has a flat interior. It is shaped like the letter “D”. This style boasts a much snugger fit.
• Bevelled: The bevelled profile has a somewhat angled exterior with a flat interior. This requires a wider band and makes for a striking, distinguished look.
• Flat Court: The flat court ring boasts a rounded interior like the classic court but has a flat exterior. This creates a modern, sleek and streamlined look for the contemporary groom.
• Concave: This look is considered one of the more elegant, as well as comfortable styles, showcasing a curved outer surface and a round interior surface.

Band width

It is harder for men to wear rings with a deep band width because they are not only a tighter fit, they also cause more friction – given that more metal is in contact with your skin. As an approximate guide, narrow rings start at around 4mm wide, medium rings are about 6 mm and a wide ring is considered around 8mm or more in width. The average size of a man’s wedding band sits between 5mm – 7 mm. Guys who have larger hands will suit a band that is wider, simply due to the proportion. Ring width is more a matter of taste and style – the wider the band, the bigger the statement.

Metal

Choosing the metal is arguably the most key factor when choosing a ring for your groom to be. This will determine the cost, durability, maintenance, color, and style. First any allergies must be considered - for example, white gold bands include nickel which is a common allergen. Metals can be separated into two basic categories – precious metals and modern metals. While silver is considered a precious metal, it is not as expensive or as traditional as gold. In fact, precious metals are generally more expensive, easier to resize, and more prone to scratches and damage than modern metals like titanium or tungsten.

Gold

Despite there being a plethora of metals available on today’s market, gold wedding rings are still some of the most popular wedding bands available. There are two main factors to consider when choosing a gold band. Gold is often mixed with other metals – so there will be differing purities to consider. 24 carat gold means that the ring is made up of 100% gold. Bands are generally available in 24, 22, 18, 14, and 9 carat gold.

Purity is not the only consideration when choosing a gold band. Gold is one of the softest metals making it prone to damage, but easier to resize should the girth or shape of your finger change over time. Because of its malleability, jewelry is rarely made from 100% gold. The most popular has a purity of 91.6% - otherwise known as 22 carat gold. This type is ideal because it is the least susceptible to damage, but also has the most amount of pure gold. If you are choosing to have gemstones included on the band, 22 carat gold will be too soft – 18 carat (75% gold) will be better as it is a bit harder. It is important to note that color has nothing to do with gold’s purity and gold comes in a vast array of colors, so you and your partner are spoiled for choice.

Yellow Gold

Yellow gold is easily the most traditional metal used in wedding bands. A yellow gold band wedding band is resistant to tarnish, corrosion and rust. Its naturally warm tone looks good against practically any skin tone.

White Gold

White gold is made from a combination of gold and white metals like nickel, silver or palladium. While it delivers the same shine as a platinum ring, it does not have the same weight or the heftier price tag. You may need to have your white gold wedding band plated with rhodium every few years to maintain its luster, but if cared for properly, white gold can remain in mint condition for many years.

Rose Gold

Rose gold is made from a mixture of gold, copper and silver – giving it its romantic, blush hue. Rose gold looks especially good on darker, deeper skin tones and is perfect for any type of gemstone. Rose gold is versatile and can be worn with other gold or platinum jewelry.

Other Colors for Gold

Rose gold is made from a combination of silver, copper, gold, and other alloys. It has a lovely, romantic color which looks good on warmer or deeper skin tones. Gold also comes in red and bronze. There is bound to be a color for every type of skin tone and personality.

Platinum

Platinum has steadily become the most popular choice over the years due to its natural white sheen and durability. It is heavier than gold and requires much less maintenance than its white gold counterpart. It is one of the rarest and resilient of precious metals – making it also one of the most expensive choices. It can serve to highlight any gemstone and will never fade, rust or become discolored. As a bonus, it is also hypoallergenic.

Modern Metals

There are a wide range of modern metals available for your modern man – whether he has simple or exotic tastes. Besides being relatively less expensive, modern metals are much more durable and are virtually damage proof for the men who work with their hands or live an active lifestyle.

Titanium

Titanium is strong enough to use in space, it should be strong enough to withstand anything your groom to be is up to. It is hypoallergenic, resistant to corrosion, and much lighter than you would think – given it is one of the hardest metals known to man. Titanium has a natural grey-white color, but through oxidization, you can make it into any color that you want – making it one of the more unique choices for wedding bands on the market today.

Tungsten

Tungsten metal is not strong enough to be made into jewelry, it is combined with carbon to create tungsten carbide – which is an incredibly strong material. This affordable, forged metal is strong enough to last a lifetime. Its subtle gleam will suit guys who have an active lifestyle but like to stay under the radar.

Palladium

Palladium is part of the platinum family but is much more affordable. It may be a bit more costly only because the material itself is so difficult to work with. Just like the other modern metals it is virtually indestructible. It has a darkish gray shine setting it apart from the others.

Tantalum

Tantalum has the fourth highest melting point of all known metals. Named after villains from Greek mythology, tantalum is shatterproof, extremely dense, corrosion-free, but also extremely malleable. Tantalum wedding rings have a greyish, blue tint to them and are also hypoallergenic.

Zirconium

Wedding rings made of zirconium are steadily growing in popularity. One of the more affordable of the modern metal options but just as strong and durable as the other metals, Zirconium comes in a sleek black color. This beautiful, deep color is permanent and requires no polishing or maintenance.

Gemstone

Traditionalists might balk at the thought of gemstones in their wedding band, but if your man likes a bit of flair, you will not be disappointed at the choices available to you today. Diamonds are for women and men! Whether you want an elegant diamond in the center, or a small number of sapphires, amethysts, or even rubies in a distinct pattern on the front or inlaid along the entire band, there is something for everyone. However, if your partner leads an active lifestyle or works with his hands, these types of rings might not be suitable for everyday wear.

Style & Finish

There is an abundance of contemporary styles and finishes which ensure that your groom will not be disappointed. Engraved wedding rings – whether with Celtic braiding or a personalized message – are quite popular among couples. Different textures can also add distinction – like hammered metal rings that can appear more rustic than say – brushed metal which gives off a flat matte finish. Rings can be sandblasted or given a satin finish for a sleek and shiny look.

Contemporary wedding bands can also be made with two distinct types of metals - like white and yellow gold. There are also link edge wedding rings that look like a linked chain made with one or several types of metals. Whether you want a plain, patterned, polished or matte ring with a shining finish or if you want it surrounded by beautiful gemstones, there is guaranteed to be a look that suits your groom. Let us explore some of the different profiles (the outside shape of the ring) you can choose from.

A Reputable Jeweler

Reputable jewelers not only will be able to answer all your questions but will ask you questions about what you need and want. They will also respect your budget and take the time to explain things to you in detail. A detailed warranty and return policy, as well as certifications from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) on certain gemstones like diamonds.

At Hamilton Jewelers, we take pride in our stellar reputation and our commitment to providing our clientele with jewelry they can cherish for a lifetime.

We can help you find the perfect wedding band for your groom-to-be.
Let us help you choose the perfect emblem of your enduring love.