How to choose the perfect wedding ring – the Positives of buying handmade.

Hello my wonderful Beauties! It’s that time of year again… wedding season is here!

Are you in the throes of preparing for your big day? Planning a wedding is an exciting and magical time. There are so many decisions involved in creating your perfect day and among the many choices you’ll make, choosing your wedding rings is a pretty important one.

While the market offers a huge array of options, it can feel a little overwhelming sometimes. In this blog post I’ll be exploring the positives of purchasing handmade instead off the shelf, as well as mentioning a few things worth remembering when picking out your wedding band.

So why choose handmade?

Uniqueness and Personalisation:

One of the most compelling reasons to opt for a handmade wedding ring is the opportunity to possess a truly one-of-a-kind ring.

In the case of most of my wedding rings and unlike machine or mass cast rings, each one is hand forged to order specifically to the clients request. This ensures that no two rings are exactly alike. Even rings in the same size and style will have some differences due to the hand manufacturing and finishing methods used. I am able to offer half sizes for example to make sure you get the perfect fit. You won’t have to settle for resizing of pre-made rings, waiting to things to be in stock or shipped in and paying extra for changes needed to make the ring work for you. It will be made from scratch to your exact specifications.

Often you will also be able to work directly with the jeweller to personalise a design or even create something entirely bespoke. Whether it’s intricate detailing, personalised engravings, or incorporating meaningful gemstones, a handmade wedding ring allows you to create a design that reflects your personal style and tells your love story the way you want to.

Superior Craftsmanship and customer service:

By investing in a handmade ring you can expect that it will have been meticulously crafted and looked over at every stage of production and won’t likely leave a studio until the jeweller is completely happy. They wont be churning out vast numbers of rings as quickly and as cheaply as possible. The person selling you the ring made it, so they’ll understand exactly the techniques and materials used in forging it. If anything isn’t the way you imagined or you need help deciding on what might work best for you, you can feel confident knowing there will be someone there to offer the advice and help you need.

I, like most small, artisan jewellers, see making jewellery as a labour of love. I take pride in my work and you know what? it’s just f!*#ing awesome being given the privilage of making your ring, so I want to get it right and making sure you’re happy is important to me.

Ethical and Sustainable Options:

With a growing consciousness towards sustainability and ethical practices, handmade wedding rings can be a great choice if this is important to you. Most artisan jewellers prioritise the use of ethically sourced materials, such as conflict-free diamonds and recycled precious metals. Every wedding ring I make for example uses only recycled eco silver or gold.

This ensures that your ring aligns with your values, and by supporting independent artisans who often work in small-scale studios, you contribute to a more sustainable and transparent industry. This helps foster a positive impact on both the environment and the lives of those involved in the creative process.

Things to Bear in Mind When Choosing Your Wedding Ring

You only wear your wedding outfit once for a few hours but a wedding ring will be worn every day for the rest of your life. It’s worth making sure you spend the time to pick something that will work for you and investing in something that will stand the test of time. Here’s a few things to think about

Metal choice: What metal you’d like the ring to be made from depends on a few factors. If you have an engagement ring, or plan to wear your wedding band next to another ring, it’s important to make sure that both metals are the same type and carat. Wearing a silver ring with a gold one, or having two different carat golds can cause the rings to get damaged or wear unevenly over time due to the metals different densities. It’s also important to think about your lifestyle and how you will wear your ring. Silver, for example, is pretty soft. If you are hard on your hands it’s worth considering something harder and more durable, such as platinum.

Style and Comfort: As well as considering your personal style when choosing a wedding ring, you need to ensure the ring is comfortable to wear daily. There are so many ring profiles, widths and styles there will most certainly be something suitable for everyone out there. Simpler, narrower bands tend to be easy to wear and unobtrusive, whilst chunkier, elaborate designs can make more of a statement. Does your wedding ring need to sit next to a large stoned or unusual shaped engagement ring? Potentially a shaped band will be needed to match then. Will you be wearing it in a fast paced, busy job (such as a nurse or doctor) or are you less hard on your hands? Have a little think about whether you’d feel happy wearing this ring everyday and if it would fit in to the lifestyle you currently have.

Budget: Set a budget for your wedding rings and explore options within that range. Handmade rings can vary in price depending on the intricacy of design and choice of materials, so it’s essential to figure out what you can spend. I’d always advise to go for the best quality you can afford at the time. As mentioned above you wear a wedding outfit once but your ring everyday so it’s really worth investing in your wedding ring.

Sizing and Adjustments: It’s important to get the size right. The best way to ensure this is to get your finger professionally measured, but plastic ring sizers are a good option for those who can’t make it in person to a jewellers. Plain or simple designs can normally be easily sized up or down a few sizes if needed, whereas designs with stones or intricate patterns may be harder, so be mindful of any potential adjustments in the future.

Timelines: Handmade rings require time to be crafted to perfection. Plan ahead and allow sufficient time for the creation process, taking into account any potential adjustments, hallmarking or customisation requests.

I offer several ring designs in gold if you’d like some ideas, so why not take a look at my current range

Or for an even crazier idea why not consider booking in on my ‘forge your own wedding ring workshop’ and make your own rings?!

Remember, your wedding ring is a lifelong commitment, just like the love it represents. Everything else aside, the most important thing is to find something special that you’ll cherish.