Wedding rings

NotAGolf

NotAGolf

NotAGolf

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I bought the missus’ engagement ring from Bluenile and was very happy with the price and quality. Now is the time we both need to start looking at wedding rings. Unfortunately, the range of wedding rings on Bluenile is not that great, certainly for her.

She needs 18k white gold so it’s the same as the ring, but just a bog standard band, no diamond encrusted lark. Around the 3-4mm thickness. Bluenile only does 2mm which is a bit too thin. I’m not entirely sure about want I want, but again just want something plain and simple.

Anyone got any suggestion on where to look? High street prices are pretty ludicrous. They’re about half the price I paid for her engagement ring, but that has a honking great diamond on top! Price is an important factor, <£500 for both rings ideally.

Also, if it’s just a plain 18k white gold band, can there be a difference in quality? Obviously there can be if you’ve got intricate details carved in or jewels on it, but for a bog standard band, surely 18k is 18k right? Or are there different qualities/quantities of coatings you can get?

Thanks for any advice.
 
Go to a local jeweller and you will be able to pick the exact thickness and shape you want.

The difference will be what they use to mix with the gold as obviously 18K white gold is not purely gold, the things they use to mix it will effect the finishe and durability. Your wife will almost certainly want her ring Rhodium Plating so it shines and stays shiny longer this will need to be done regularly throughout it's life to keep it gleaming.

For your ring I'd sugest a 9K white gold as it will be harder wearing and cheaper than the 19K and I wouldn't have it Rhodium plated so it dulls nicely over time.
 
The wedding band for her should be the same thickness (roughly) as the engagement ring. Does she have a 4mm engagement ring?!
 
Maybe I got the measurements wrong then. I assumed the width of her engagement ring was 2mm as that is the size of the corresponding wedding ring on the bluenile website. I'll have a measure when I get home. She has tiny birdlike hands though so she's definitely doesn't need a bloke sized rings!

Regardless of the actual size we tried a few of her existing rings and agreed that a slightly chunkier wedding band would look better next to the engagement ring.
 
Can't help much, but I do have an amusing story; I got mine off Amazon for £13, but paid £7 for next day delivery because I'd left it a bit late (day before our wedding...) Ok that wasn't amusing, sorry for wasting your time.
 
I personally think seeing a master jeweller is going to be more fruitful than trying to do everything online - support your local tradesmen!! ;) Joking aside, you'll get a much more personal (and arguably better quality) service, with the ability to sort things out face to face rather than dealing with things online. You can then try samples or styles to see what works best.
 
MickeyFinns said:
That's an engagement ring. Most peoples wedding rings are usually quite cheap.
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Agreed, i think ours were about 20% of what her engagement ring was. In fact i think mine was more than hers even though hers is platinum because its huge. About 8mm after just measuring it and fairly chucky aswell.
 
I personally went cheap on the engagement ring (she stopped wearing it after wedding day). We then bought two platinum wedding rings. Were £1200 at the time. Just remember, you wear it for the rest of your life (supposed to :p) so it's worth spending that extra IMO.
 
Swarfega said:
I personally went cheap on the engagement ring (she stopped wearing it after wedding day). We then bought two platinum wedding rings. Were £1200 at the time. Just remember, you wear it for the rest of your life (supposed to :p) so it's worth spending that extra IMO.
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I really don't think platinum is worth the extra especially for a bloke unless you have gold allergies, the cost of a decent sized platinum wedding band is a significant percentage of the average wedding cost.

Unless you are a bloke who likes shinny bling the chances are within a year of your wedding you won't be able to tell if the ring was made from platinum or sterling silver as it will be nicely scratched and dull anyway.

Only things I would avoid are 18/24 K gold as it's too soft and will deform and damage and Titanium as it can't be re-sized which you might need over time and a replacement will never be the same thing.
 
a1ex2001 and FF - I'd much rather go to a physical shop and try on varying styles etc, but unless you know of any reasonably priced ones I'd rather deal with the hassle of returning/re-sizing it from an online place and save £££'s. Unless it's local (which it probably wont be as I've looked at all the ones in town), getting any alterations will be just as much of a ballache as returning it online!

I definitely don't want something very shiny, nor am I good at keeping things in good nick (you should see my watch :o), so I'm definitely veering towards 9k white gold, or an alternative. I certainly don't have the pockets for platinum.
 
a1ex2001 said:
I really don't think platinum is worth the extra especially for a bloke unless you have gold allergies, the cost of a decent sized platinum wedding band is a significant percentage of the average wedding cost.

Unless you are a bloke who likes shinny bling the chances are within a year of your wedding you won't be able to tell if the ring was made from platinum or sterling silver as it will be nicely scratched and dull anyway.

Only things I would avoid are 18/24 K gold as it's too soft and will deform and damage and Titanium as it can't be re-sized which you might need over time and a replacement will never be the same thing.
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Agreed. I went with a Palladium band instead, pretty much the same as Platinum and a fraction of the price.
 
LiE said:
Agreed. I went with a Palladium band instead, pretty much the same as Platinum and a fraction of the price.
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Glad I did this too, as I ultimately lost enough weight to ensure the bloody thing didn't fit anymore.

Now it's been lost after flying off my finger during the 1000th wild gesticulation and teleporting to who knows where.

Still, wife doesn't mind, so it's all good. Not a big fan of rings, chains, necklaces etc. anyway.
 
We went to Whitby and toured the local jewellers, the first time she got her band and the second time I got mine. 18k gold both came in under £200.

They don't need to cost the earth.

I have a tungsten carbide LOTR ring that I would've been happy with, cost less than £20 is rock solid and has stayed v. shiny.
 
Got my Palladium wedding ring from http://www.weddingrings-direct.com, quick and easy. Got the wife's rings both from Blue Nile. I did have to return the engagement ring to be re-sized, and apart from insurance it was free, it was very easy to arrange after a quick phone call. I would mention that 30 days or so after I bought the engagement ring, it came down in cost by a few hundred pounds. To be fair Blue Nile refunded the difference, can't complain about that.
 
I have this bad boy:

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Yes, it's titanium so it won't resize - but it's a superb ring, looks awesome and very unusual!
 
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