Wedding Rings: Classic or Designer? The Perfect Choice Guide
We have been wearing wedding rings for more than 5,000 years. Tradition holds that it was the ancient Egyptians who created this ring as a symbol of marriage: the circle, in fact, is a sign of perfect union, represented by the wedding bands of the spouses.
This custom arrived in ancient Rome, along with the habit of wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand (called the “ring finger,” meaning the finger of the ring), due to the belief that a vein ran from there to the heart. The name of these rings also derives from the ancient Romans, from the Latin fides, which means “trust,” “fidelity,” and also “promise.”
Current wedding rings were created by the Church, which made them simpler compared to the decorated models used by the Romans. During the Renaissance, the custom of adding an engraving with the names of the spouses inside the rings spread.
Classic, with Diamonds, Engraved: Tips for Choosing Wedding Rings
Choosing a wedding ring is neither trivial nor obvious. While once people limited themselves to the traditional yellow gold model, today options have multiplied both for those who prefer classic style and for those who want to dare with more unusual choices. Here are all the wedding ring models.
Traditional Wedding Rings
- Classic: it is domed on the outside and flat on the inside, in yellow gold (but also white or rose). The traditional version is 5 grams, but can have variable height and weight.
- Comfort fit: it is the same as the classic one, but with rounded edges; it is suitable for those who are not used to wearing rings.
- French style: thinner and lighter than the classic wedding band, weighing around 3 grams; it is ideal for wearing together with other rings. It is often made in white or rose gold as well.
- Mantovana: contrary to the French style, it is wider and thicker than the classic one.
Designer Wedding Rings
- Flat: it is a flat wedding band, with a square section, mostly in white or rose gold; it is appreciated by those seeking a minimal and contemporary style.
- With diamond: a classic or flat model, with a solitaire diamond set in the center, for couples who want to make their wedding rings more precious.
- Crafted: characterized by a hammered, textured or engraved surface by the hand of an expert goldsmith, it is dedicated to those who appreciate unique and artisanal pieces.
- Black: the titanium wedding band, in simple version or with solitaire diamond, is the choice that breaks with traditional rules and prefers design and originality.
How much Do Wedding Rings Cost and who Buys Them? Etiquette Rules
The price of wedding rings is primarily determined by the cost of gold; to this are added the costs of special workmanship and diamonds, for those who choose a model with solitaire. The average price of a pair of classic wedding rings can range from 400 to 1,000 euros and beyond, based on the weight and dimensions of the rings; wedding rings with diamonds and more elaborate ones obviously have higher prices.
Wedding etiquette says that the groom should purchase the wedding rings, but the rules are not so rigid: often the rings are given as gifts by the witnesses or the parents of the spouses. What matters most, however, is that they are chosen by the spouses themselves, who can thus decide the type of model, the color of the gold or other details, such as personalization. By tradition, in fact, the names of the spouses and the wedding date are engraved inside the wedding rings.