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When you think about engagement vs wedding rings, you probably think about diamonds. However, there’s so much more to rings than diamonds. The ring is about the entire experience.
You want to find a ring that represents your style and personality and allows you to plan a proposal that showcases your feelings for your partner.
This begs some important questions. What is an engagement ring? What is a wedding band? What’s the difference between engagement rings and wedding rings?
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Engagement Ring vs. Wedding Ring
Is the engagement ring the same as the wedding ring? No.
The engagement ring and wedding band both have a significant meaning. Engagement rings are symbols of people’s love and commitment to each other. They symbolize that they will be together forever while wedding bands are symbols of their union.
While traditional engagement rings primarily have at least one large diamond or gemstone that stands out, in this modern engagement ring trend, the focus is on having a ring with bands of different widths and textures. If you’ve set a wedding date and are ready to take the next step, consider one of these beautiful rings!
By contrast, an engagement ring is typically a fairly large diamond ring (though there are other possible gemstones) that a man gives to his fiancé as a token of his commitment to marry her. Usually, the engagement ring costs more than the wedding ring. For instance, you might have one expensive engagement ring and another less expensive wedding band.
In the past, it has traditionally been the bride’s family who chose the engagement rings and wedding bands for the bride and groom. Thanks to changes in fashion trends, many ladies are now preparing to select their bands themselves!
Engagement Rings and Wedding Rings: Cost
Engagement rings and wedding bands are high-value rings. Their prices can depend on many factors like the kind of diamond, band design, style, and setting. Buying a unique bridal set doesn’t necessarily have to cost a fortune because many transparent retailers sell beautiful pieces that won’t hurt your bank account as much.
Engagement rings often feature a large diamond and accompanying elaborate decorative designs such as milgrain or prongs. These types of intricacies are far more difficult to create which is why engagement rings tend to cost more than wedding rings – although, it’s important to note that there are exceptions to this general rule. Wedding rings often have less intricate features such as a plain metal band with small diamonds or perhaps even no diamonds at all!
The average engagement ring costs around $500 but ranges anywhere from $200-$20,000. The average pair spends between $1,000 and $5,000 on the ring. But what if you lost it or damaged it?
Most people do not have insurance for engagement rings so they carry out a loan to buy one. It may seem crazy but many people don’t have any form of credit card at present because they may have just been through bankruptcy. However, this can leave them funding up to 50% more than the original price of the ring since interest rates will be higher without an established track record with credit cards or loans.
The average cost of a female wedding band is around $1,000 while the average cost of a male wedding band is $500. This difference in ring price or value can be attributed to the tradition that men wear their wedding bands on their left and women wear theirs on their right hand. A left-hand ring would probably need more metal to cover it and the higher cost is not just due to the metal used but also to the design.
Some couples choose not to have a wedding band at all because they don’t want to invest in it or simply prefer something different. However, rings are symbols of love and commitment that many people still want as part of their weddings – either as an additional ring or in place of one.
How to Wear Your Engagement and Wedding Rings
Traditionally, many people tend to wear their engagement rings and wedding rings together on the fourth finger of their left hand.
If a person’s wedding and engagement rings are both diamond rings, they might be wearing them on opposite hands to keep with tradition. However, if they have another metal band in addition to their engagement and wedding rings, then they might choose to wear them on the same hand.
Some brides prefer to wear one ring on their left hand and the other on their right instead. These rings are often a symbol of their relationship the person they’re engaged to or married to, or even whatever the bride wants it to mean about herself so there isn’t any wrong way to wear wedding bands!
Do You Need Both?
You may have thought that a wedding band had to match or have the same style as an engagement ring. Surprise, surprise! There are lots of ways to wear different rings on each of your fingers for arrangements that don’t necessarily mirror each other.
The “fashion savvy” bride might rock three or more bands (with varied styles and gemstones) at once, stacking them up high on her ring finger.
She could also turn some heads with a gold overlay option that plays with negative space design by leaving parts of the inner engraving open instead of filled in. Here are a few sensible reasons why some brides opt to wear just one ring:
- Not all couples are into the idea of a huge, bulky ring. They might prefer something that sits more discretely on their finger and makes its presence known only when they want to show it off. A single ring can be an ideal option in such situations.
- There’s nothing wrong to be a scatterbrain but if you happen to lose your car keys, lipstick, or wallet all the time then buying just one ring would reduce the risk of losing it.
- Being able to find a wedding band that perfectly matches the style and color of your engagement ring, might not be as easy as you’d think, especially if they weren’t purchased together. Engagement rings and wedding bands most often look great when they’re purchased together as a set. However, you can still find ways to include both rings in your outfit if they happen to be separate purchases or if you own several other jewelry pieces that could pair with either one of them. You should also ensure that your wedding band matches your engagement ring, but it doesn’t have to be like the two were specifically picked out as a set.
- Engagement rings and wedding bands can be worn as a single, standout ring. Using the funds that would have been used to buy a ring and wedding band, you can get an engagement ring that is unique and stands out among all the other engagement rings.
When shopping for any diamond ring, consider the cut, clarity, color, and carat of the jewel. However, it does not hurt to delve more into learning about them if you feel more confident about making a great purchase. 14K and 18K gold are also both different in their own right, so knowing the differences between engagement and wedding rings can be very useful in deciding which alloy is better suited for your partner’s finger.
Furthermore, understanding popular kinds of rings should help you choose the perfect size and style of engagement or wedding rings for your special day! Don’t be afraid to take some time while shopping around or visiting jewelry stores since this important decision can make all the difference when it comes to choosing the ones that are perfectly suited to celebrate your union.
It’s your marriage and there’s no reason that you have to strictly follow the norm when it comes down to choosing your engagement rings and diamond rings. Make sure you purchase your ring with a theme that captures who you are as a couple so that it has more meaning attached to it, not just some pretty stones stuck on a band of precious metal!