Wedding Ring Budgets
How much should you budget for your wedding rings?
The price of a wedding ring will depend on how much precious metal is used to make it and if there are gemstones in it. The narrower and smaller the ring size, the less expensive it will be. Men are often surprised to find that their wedding rings cost more than their partner's because they don't realise how much more metal goes into their ring which is usually larger and wider than a bride's wedding ring.
Wedding magazines are often out of touch with the real costs of buying wedding rings and looking online can be confusing comparing different products that look very similar, so here's all you need to know to work out your wedding ring budget.
Silver Wedding Rings
Silver wedding rings can cost from around £50 to £500 depending on the design.
Silver is softer than other precious metals and can tarnish when worn. Some people can have a reaction to silver if their skin is acidic and this can leave a black or green mark on their hand. To avoid this, silver can be rhodium plated.
The ring on the left is silver and the ring on the right has been plated with rhodium. The cooler shade of white is exactly the same colour as white gold as white gold is also rhodium plated.
Rhodium is from the platinum group of metals. It is hard and durable and stops silver from tarnishing. However, it is applied in a thin layer so, over time, it will wear off and it can be expensive to have it replated.
Gold Wedding Rings
Gold wedding rings can come in different levels of purity. The more gold, the more the ring will cost. 9 carat is the lowest purity. It can also come in 14 carat, 18 carat or 22 carat.
Don't confuse the carat of gold with the carat of diamonds. Carat when used to describe diamonds means their weight but when it comes to gold, it indicates the purity. It is unnecessarily confusing to have the same word to mean different things but that's just how it is.
Gold is actually quite a soft metal so it is alloyed, which means mixed, with other metals to change the hardness, colour and properties of the gold. 22 carat gold will dent easier than 18, 14 or 9 carat gold. In the UK, 9 carat and 18 carat are the two most popular metals but our rings can also be ordered in 14 carat gold if you prefer.
Gold wedding rings can cost from around £150 upwards.
Platinum Wedding Rings
Platinum wedding rings used to be the most expensive option but recently, platinum has been a less expensive option than 18ct white gold.
Why is platinum less expensive now than 18ct gold? Platinum prices fell when diesel cars were banned. Platinum was used in diesel catalytic convertors so the fall in demand resulted in a drop in price. Gold however, has increased in price over recent years due to economic uncertainty so platinum is great value now and the best white metal to choose for wedding rings.
Strangely, platinum is not referred to in carats to describe the purity but in parts per thousand. 950 is the mark for platinum, which means it is 95% pure.
Platinum rings start at around £350 upwards.
So how much should you budget for wedding rings?
Wedding rings under £600
If you want to spend under £600 for two wedding rings, silver is a great option. You can have a wide choice of designs that you can personalise within this budget. These two rings are from my Hero collection which have been personalised with a black diamond in the groom's ring and a white diamond in the bride's.
My bespoke mountain rings can also be commissioned in silver. You can choose your mountain range and the number of stars and shape of the moon.
If you are looking for two gold rings under £600 then narrow 9ct rings would be a good choice.
Wedding rings under £1000
If you want to spend under £1000 for two wedding rings then combinations of silver and gold or 9ct gold would be a great option.
This budget allows you to go for wider rings or to add some gemstones or small diamonds.
Choose from silver, 9ct gold or narrow platinum rings too within this budget.
Wedding rings over £1000
If you want to spend over £1000, you can have something that is shaped to fit around an engagement ring with diamonds.
Setting a budget of over £1000 for wedding rings also allows you to commission a unique ring that can have personal meaning for you in any metal that you want.
You probably have a lot of questions about wedding rings and we're here to help so get in touch anytime and we can help to make the process of buying your wedding rings fun and exciting.
Important things to keep in mind when shopping for wedding rings.
Trying to compare wedding rings online to see what is really the best value is difficult, even for an expert.
Check the depth
Wedding rings can be described by the terms lightweight, medium weigh or heavy weight but unlike carats of metal, these terms are not regulated and aren't that helpful. For example, an online store described a wedding ring as medium weight and when I looked at the dimensions, the ring was 1mm deep which is lighter than our light weight ring.
If the ring isn't deep enough, it will appear good value because it uses less metal so the price will be lower. I wouldn't recommend going for a wedding ring that is less than 1.4mm deep because you want the ring to last and a 1mm ring in 9ct white gold or silver will be very easy to damage.
Check where it is being delivered from
Since Brexit, goods coming into the UK have additional charges added by the courier. You won't know about these until the rings are delivered and this could add an additional 20% to the price. It's best if you are in the UK to buy from a UK based company as there will be no additional charges on delivery.
Make sure it fits
A ring has to fit perfectly to be secure. Slightly too loose and you could risk losing it when you are out walking if your hands get cold or if you are swimming. A little too tight and it could feel very uncomfortable or be difficult to put on or take off. If possible follow my guidelines to ensure you get the perfect fit.
You can browse our exclusive wedding rings for men and for women on our website and arrange to come in see them in person at our studio in Ayr.
