When choosing your engagement and wedding ring sets there is a lot to consider. Rings are all about personal style and personal preference.
It is great to look at the traditional styles of engagement and wedding rings that are out there. It is also a great idea to look for creative alternatives. Especially if you want something different from the norm.
Below we discuss a few points to help you make an informed decision.
What is a wedding ring set?
A wedding ring set comprises of three rings. The first is the engagement ring which stands for the promise of marriage.
The second ring stands for the actual marriage and the promise of a life together. This is referred to as the wedding band.
The third and last ring of the set is given when one of two special events happens within the marriage. This third ring is called an eternity ring.
One is to celebrate an anniversary, when given for this reason traditionally it is given between ten and fifty years of marriage.
The other major event is to celebrate the birth of the couple's first child.
Engagement rings and wedding band sets
The engagement ring
This is the first significant ring that a woman will get in her lifetime. An
engagement ring is an amazing promise that you want to spend your life with your partner. And that they have also chosen you for the rest of their life.
Generally, the engagement ring is comprised of a sizable gemstone. It is either stand-alone, but can also be set in the middle of smaller stones.
Even though you are free to have a design for your engagement ring. Or to have any kind of stone that features in the ring. The traditional stone used is a diamond.
Some alternatives often used are rubies and blue sapphires.
The most important thing to consider for an engagement ring is your style. This is a significant ring that is worn alongside the wedding band. The engagement ring is also the ring that is shown off. It is the first ring that everyone looks at.
The wedding band
The next ring is the wedding band. This is a special ring as it is shared when saying your vows. It holds the promises you and your partner make to each other for the rest of your lives together.
This wedding band is the promise of love and care for each other no matter what.
This is referred to as the wedding band due to the traditional style of the ring. In most cases, it is a plain metal band or a band that is encrusted in gemstones.
It is also traditional for the wedding ring to match the engagement ring. If you have diamonds set into one you will want the next ring to match that.
You would also want the colours of the metals to match.
Tungsten engagement and wedding ring sets have become popular as they can be made identical for both rings. They are also easily made for the men's and women's rings to match in style.
Tungsten is also a strong metal that is scratch-resistant. They are a comfortable metal to wear. And as a bonus, it is an affordable material.
It is also easy to use inlays, and varieties of colours and stones work well with Tungsten.
The third ring
This ring is also known as the eternity ring. Most people only receive the engagement ring and wedding band set. But lately, it is becoming popular to receive the third ring.
This last ring out of the bridal set rings is called the anniversary or push ring. This
ring signifies an important event in the couple's marriage.
After being married for ten years such a ring can be given. This happens anywhere from ten to fifty years of marriage.
Then the push ring is given after the birth of the couple’s first child.
Some husbands will give their wives such a ring after their first anniversary. Or their fifth or even tenth anniversary. It is really up to the man's discretion.
This ring is normally designed to match the wedding and engagement ring sets.
Following suit of the bridal set rings you could engrave the special event onto the third ring. You could add the baby's initials or fingerprint. Some couples like to set the baby’s birthstone into this ring.
Bridal set rings and wedding ring set
There is only a slight difference here that most people will never know.
The bridal set rings refer to the bride's rings only. Where the wedding ring set refers to both the bride and groom's rings.
Jewellers will generally be able to tell the difference. That being said if you are talking to a normal person they will probably not know the difference. This is not a huge problem but can cause some confusion.
What order do I wear my rings in?
It is best practice to wear your wedding ring first so that it sits closer to your heart.
On your wedding day, you can simply wear your engagement ring on your right hand. This allows the wedding ring to be put on your finger first. Then it is easy enough to place your engagement ring on second.
It has become more popular to wear the rings in the order that the bride receives them. This means that she will keep her engagement ring on first and the wedding band will slide on to sit in second place.
When it comes to the third ring there are no hard and fast rules. Some women choose to add it to their wedding ring sets. Other women choose to wear them separately on an entirely different finger.
There is more freedom from tradition when it comes to the third ring.
Wedding rings white gold set
White gold is a popular choice for wedding ring sets and bridal ring sets. That being said there is a lot of care and maintenance that goes into owning white gold rings.
The rhodium plating generally will last for about six months. This is when the natural colour of the white gold will start to show through the plating.
A large part of caring for your white gold rings is to have them replated or dipped every six months to a year.
General care for your rings would be to soak your white gold in a mixture of soap and warm water for about 20 to 30 minutes.
Then rub your rings dry with a soft cloth to remove any excess dirt. After that, you can freely dry your rings with a clean towel.
When using hand sanitizer it is important to note that the rubbing alcohol can wear the white gold plating down a little quicker.
That being said it will not affect your diamonds or damage their integrity, value or brilliance.
We have touched on white gold, but it is important to know the material you are buying for your engagement and wedding ring sets. It is a good idea to ask your jeweller for advice on how to best care for your rings.
They are the people who are most informed about how metals and stones are affected after a long period of wear and tear.
Wedding ring sets Canada
There was always a rule that you should spend at least three months' salary on an engagement ring. This rule is absurd.
Every woman deserves a beautiful ring, but it should not bankrupt your finances. There are more sustainable things to be spending your hard-earned money on that will benefit your day-to-day relationship.
Most people in Canada spend an average of $3,500 on an engagement ring.
It seems that most people tend toward the traditional look and style of engagement and wedding ring sets.
Sometimes ass the world moves further away from what we knew we hold on to things that were special just because of what they resembled.
Here are some tips to help you stand strong with a decently priced ring:
- An engagement ring is a symbol of spending your lives together. It will be more appreciated if the ring is suited to the bride's taste rather than ugly and expensive. The bride will never know how much the ring costs so it will not relay any affection according to price.
- Do not try to compete with others. Engagement and wedding ring sets are deeply personal. They should only matter to you and your partner. It does not matter what anyone else is doing.
- Do some research. Speak to more than one jeweller. If you make the effort to know what you are buying in terms of size, quality and materials you will be able to afford a beautiful ring without breaking the bank.
As we move further away from tradition and societal norms the easier it becomes to do what we feel is best for ourselves and our partners.
An open and honest conversation about expectations is an easy way to figure out what the best move is.
The bottom line
Basically, engagement rings and wedding ring sets come down to personal style. These decisions do not need to be made alone anymore.
Couples can and should make these decisions together. Both people can then decide what they like and do not like.
Relationships are more like partnerships these days. We can rely on each other for so much more now.
That is something that your engagement and wedding ring sets should resemble. A lifetime partnership that will stand the wear and tear of anything that lies ahead.