What Comes After the Engagement Ring? Wedding Bands and Anniversary Bands, of Course!
Choosing your engagement ring is a big deal–such a big deal that other bridal jewelry often gets lost in the shuffle. However, the engagement ring isn’t the last ring purchase you’ll be making. The wedding band deserves just as much care and attention as the engagement ring–after all, you’ll be wearing both for the rest of your life! Beyond the wedding band, anniversary bands offer yet another opportunity for you and your partner to show each other love.But what are anniversary bands? What sort of wedding band styles are out there, and how do you pick the right one? These are all natural questions to ask during the often overwhelming process of selecting rings for your loved one.
Below, we’ve compiled a beginners guide to wedding bands and anniversary bands. We’ll go over the meaning behind these rings, the differences between them, how to wear them, and some popular styles for both women’s wedding bands and anniversary bands.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Back to Basics: Precious Metals and Diamonds
Ring shopping is a lot easier when you break it down into its simple components. The first, and perhaps most important, is selecting which precious metal to use for your bands. This will have a major impact on the overall look and feel of your ring. It’s hard to go wrong with any of the selections outlined here, but the differences are important to consider.Gold is the most iconic and classic option for a wedding band or anniversary band. Gold doesn’t corrode, but in its purest form it isn’t as durable as platinum. Gold jewelry is therefore actually made from gold alloy, a mixture of gold and other metals such as copper.
The type and amount of additional metal in the alloy changes the color of the gold, which is why gold bands are available in a range of hues. These range from classic yellow gold wedding bands to pinkish rose gold wedding bands and striking white gold wedding bands. None of these alloys is ‘better’ or stronger than another, it’s just a matter of personal preference and taste.
Platinum wedding bands are highly lustrous and more durable than gold, but are only available in a brilliant white color. Platinum is also more expensive than gold due to its rarity.
After selecting the precious metals you use for your band, you’ll want to look at your options for diamonds or other gemstones. Diamonds are far and away the most common choice for wedding bands and anniversary bands. They’re steeped in romantic symbolism, durable enough for daily wear, and just plain gorgeous. As with engagement rings, diamonds on your wedding band or anniversary band can come in all manner of cuts, shapes and sizes.
But if diamonds aren’t your taste, gemstone bands are an increasingly trendy option. Many people like to throw in a bit of color to help accent their diamonds. Sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are all strong gemstones which can withstand everyday wear-and-tear as a wedding band or anniversary band.
Time to Stack Them Up
What Suits Your Style?
It can be hard to determine which anniversary band and wedding ring styles you like. A good place to start is looking at your engagement ring, and the rest of your jewelry collection for that matter.Your wedding band and anniversary bands should match well with your other accessories. Try not to choose something that strays too far from your everyday look. You don’t want to have your old jewelry gather dust because it doesn’t match well with your bridal set.
Another important takeaway is to consider how your wedding band matches your engagement ring. You probably don’t want your rings to be competing for attention or to be two dramatically different looks. Try to pair bands wisely so that your set looks cohesive.
This doesn’t mean every band on your finger has to be of an identical style. For instance, a low key engagement ring can look great with a flashy, diamond studded wedding band, as the two balance each other out.
Wedding Bands
Historians estimate that the practice of exchanging wedding bands began in Egypt around 5,000 years ago. Since then, they’ve come to represent the eternal bond of love. The most popular way to express timeless, enduring love is with a diamond. Diamonds are the traditional centerpiece for engagement rings, but you can add extra sparkle with diamond wedding bands.The eternity band is a very popular way to add diamonds to your wedding band. Diamond eternity bands are impressive displays that set diamonds directly into the band. This style emphasizes the size and brilliance of the diamonds and will therefore typically feature more prominent stones than other similar styles.
In fact, the number of stones chosen can even be selected to reflect something of significance to the wearer. Some eternity band styles allow for more diamonds to be added to the band as you go.
The pavé wedding band is named for the French word for ‘paved’. And looking at the diamond-studded pavé effect, it's easy to see why. On pavé wedding bands, tiny diamonds are arranged in rows meant to evoke the path you and your partner will walk together. This is a great way to maximize the sparkle of your wedding band, and to remind yourself of the beauty of a long and loving relationship.
Anniversary Bands
Anniversary bands are a more recent addition to the bridal stack. Though they don’t have the same storied history as the wedding ring, they can be imbued with just as much love and meaning. As their name implies, anniversary bands are gifted to commemorate anniversaries. There are no hard and fast rules for when you should give an anniversary band, but typically couples reserve them for major anniversaries like the 10th, 15th, 20th and beyond.Over time, many people like to ‘upgrade’ their partners’ engagement rings and wedding bands. This makes sense–they’ll likely have more money on your 20th anniversary than they did back when they proposed! For some, a larger diamond anniversary band can even take the place of the old wedding band, eventually. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a replacement, and many brides wear their anniversary bands alongside their wedding rings.
This brings us to another common question about anniversary bands: how do you wear an anniversary band? Again, there are no set-in-stone rules! It’s all about what the wearer prefers.
While many people wear their anniversary bands stacked with their wedding and engagement rings on the left ring finger, others spread them out across the left hand or even the right hand. You can always play around with different looks to figure out how you want to show off your bands.
Wedding and Anniversary Band Styles to Match Your Look
Band styles encompass the overall shape, feel, and look of the ring. They all have their place and appeals. Some have a tradition that goes back generations while others are more recent trends, but they all look great when done well. Think of a ring’s style like its identity, or its visual language.Stackable rings are a good example of a stylistic decision which changes the entire aesthetic of your bridal set. Stackable wedding rings are made to complement one another, and can be mixed and matched in a variety of colors, shapes, and configurations. Start your stack with a wedding ring and add stackable anniversary bands along the way. As the years go by together, they’re great ways to mark the milestones–after all, who doesn’t love jewelry as an anniversary gift?
Now let’s take a closer look at the ring shape, a key component of the ring’s style. There is, of course, the simple unbroken circle, which is a timeless symbol of enduring love. But there are a few popular deviations from the classic circle which also look great and hold their own special meaning.
The chevron wedding band has a peak meant to be a symbol for prosperity, hope and a new chapter in life. Contour wedding bands are waved, and evoke a long winding journey together. These slight variations from the circle add a subtle design element that really changes the feel and story of your ring.
Find the Wedding Band of Your Dreams with Maharaja’s!
The engagement ring shouldn’t be the last ring you buy. Wedding bands are an equally important symbol of your commitment to one another. Anniversary bands make a meaningful and beautiful addition to any bride’s finger, a reminder of how your love continues to sparkle throughout the years.We hope this guide helped answer some of your pressing questions about wedding bands and anniversary bands. If you’re ready to shop for your own, we invite you to visit us at Maharaja’s Fine Jewelry in Panama City, Florida. We’re here to make sure you find the bands you’ll be proud to wear forever!