7 Tips to Guide You in Choosing the Right Wedding Rings

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An engagement or wedding ring will most likely be the most important and expensive jewelry purchase you will ever make. Whether you're looking for wedding rings for yourself or your partner, or the ideal engagement ring to surprise your wife-to-be, this piece of jewelry will be worn every day. With such huge stakes, it's critical to select the ideal ring.

But how can you know which ring is best for you or your partner? While your Pinterest board may be filled with rose gold bands and large, showy diamonds, it can be tough to determine what actually fits. Here are seven factors to consider before making a lifelong commitment to a ring.

1. Lifestyle

Think about your daily activities. Do you spend a lot of time working with your hands, which may force you to take off your ring? Or perhaps you work in an office where your ring is secure on your finger? If the gemstone is likely to become lost, snagged, or scratched as you go about your daily activities, you might pick a flatter shape.

2. Price

Create a budget and stick to it. Your wedding rings are significant, but if you have to choose between your grocery budget for the next six months and another karat, it is probably not the right ring for you. Remember that add-ons like engraving may cost more, so incorporate them into your budget.

3. Shop Together

Being surprised by the right ring is every girl's fantasy, but your spouse may not know your style as well as you think. If you have a specific ring style in mind or are unsure about what type of ring you want, arrange to go ring shopping together. To maintain some of the shock factor of a surprise proposal, don't make a purchase; instead, show your spouse the style you want. He can always return and make a final purchase.

4. Consider the Future

Remember that your current style may not be the same as your style in thirty years. Ignore current trends because you will most likely be wearing these wedding bands for decades after they were purchased. Stick with something timeless or something you've always enjoyed. Don't choose a style based solely on its current popularity.

5. Remember Maintenance

Your ring will need to be cleaned, and regardless of how careful you are, it will most likely require at least one repair over its lifespan. When choosing a ring, consider how easy it is to clean and how expensive it may be to repair. If the ring has many intricacies where dirt can accumulate, you may spend a significant amount of time cleaning it in the future. Similarly, if your ring has an intricate design that can only be repaired by a specific jeweler, you may face a higher maintenance price if it ever needs to be repaired.

6. Try Something New

You may believe you know what you like, but you won't be certain till you try everything. Even if you've always wanted a gold band or a square cut diamond, you can try it on and realize you dislike how it looks on your finger. Check out all of your possibilities. You never know what you'll fall in love with.

7. Take Your Time

Purchasing your wedding ring, like the rest of your wedding preparations, is a thrilling experience. However, keep in mind that you are planning for the rest of your life, and the decisions you make today must be made with a lifetime commitment. You're spending a lot of money on this ring, so don't write a check for the first one you fell in love with. Take your time choosing it, and once you've found what you believe might be "the one," give it some thought before you buy. After all, you'll have to see it every day.