Recently engaged? Congratulations! You have an exciting year ahead and the big day will be here sooner than you think. Many couples forget to prioritise one of the most important parts of the ceremony, the exchanging of the wedding rings. It is one of the biggest items to tick off the to-do list and you will need time to make sure you and your groom choose a pair of wedding rings you will love forever as this is the one item you continue to wear after the big day for the rest of your lives together. But how do you find the right wedding ring for the groom? Our in-depth guide covers everything you need to know about wedding rings for men.
A Brief History of Men’s Wedding Rings
The early 20th century was when men first started to wear wedding rings. During World War II, men’s wedding rings increased in popularity. Marriage rates increased during that period due to historic events happening in that period. During the Second World War, soldiers were allowed to wear their wedding bands to remember their wives back home and mens wedding rings have remained popular since. Moving forward to the 21st century, the bride and groom exchange their rings during the wedding ceremony to signify their love and commitment to each other.
What Do Men’s Wedding Rings Symbolise?
The shape of a man’s wedding band symbolises eternal love due to the ring’s circular shape. Also, the gemstones and metals used on the band can hold various meanings. Diamonds symbolise everlasting love, while gold represents prosperity and wealth. You can add another layer of sentimentality to your wedding band by inscribing a meaningful quote, initials, a heartfelt message or the wedding date as that little surprise inside that only the wearer can see. When you buy your wedding ring from us, we offer an engraving service, allowing you to engrave that something special and surprise your loved one on your big day.
Which Hand Should a Men’s Wedding Ring Be Worn On?
In the UK, New Zealand, the United States and Australia, men wear the wedding ring on their left hand. However, some men may prefer to wear the band on their right hand. Ultimately, it’s personal preference when deciding which hand you want to wear your wedding ring on as some men prefer to wear it on their less dominant hand if they have a hands-on job etc as they are not as used to wearing jewellery and it might feel more comfortable.
The Types of Men’s Wedding Ring Styles Available
Men’s traditional wedding rings were also known as mens wedding bands, as they were plain with no stones or detailed patterns, they were usually in a court or D-shape to emphasise the circular shape usually in yellow gold. However over the years they have been adapting and now there are so many more choices available for mens wedding rings. Here are a few types of wedding ring styles available for men:
- Classic Wedding Rings - If you want a plain traditional choice
- Patterned Wedding Rings - If you do not want stones set in the ring but want a little bit of detail.
- Two tone wedding rings - If you like the idea of mixing metal colours such as yellow gold and white gold on the band.
- Diamond Wedding Rings - If you want something different and meaningful.
- Gemstone Wedding Rings - If you prefer to have your favourite colour or birthstone within your wedding ring.
What Metal is Best for My Wedding Ring?
There are various factors to think about when choosing your wedding ring, such as:
- Your job (Do you work with your hands?)
- Hobbies - this includes going to the gym or engaging in physical activities, such as climbing.
- Any allergies you may have to certain metals.
- If you want to match your wedding ring metal to your partners
If you buy your men’s wedding band from Diamond Quarter, we offer the following ring metals for you to select from:
We recommend taking your time when choosing the ring metal for your wedding ring, as it is an important decision and you will want to make sure it fits your personality and lifestyle for everyday wear.
Top Tips for Taking Care of Your Men’s Wedding Ring
There are many ways to ensure you keep your wedding ring in the best condition possible. Daily wear and heavy hands-on activities can drastically reduce the pristine look to the metal on your wedding ring. When it comes to taking care of your wedding ring, you should:
- Store it in a soft and dry location, such as a cloth-lined jewellery case or the original ring box when it is not worn.
- Use fairy liquid and water to wash and clean your ring or jewellery recommended cleaning products labelled for that particular metal type. Please do not scrub the ring in hard motions as this can cause havoc with stone settings, light circular motions over any claw settings is always the preferred method to reduce risk of damage.
- Remove your wedding band before doing any heavy hands-on activities, such as home D.I.Y, swimming, gym, sports, gardening or cleaning to remove risk of personal damage, excessive scratching and injury.
Celebrate your big day by ticking another item off your to-do list and choose a stunning set of wedding rings from Diamond Quarter. Have you wanted to create a bespoke men’s wedding ring that’s unique and sentimental to you? Book an appointment at our showroom in the heart of Golden Square in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter today. Our diamond experts will be there every step of your journey to find you the perfect mens wedding ring you will treasure forever.