There are some basic principles that can be applied to any jewelry purchase, but since wedding rings are special there are extra shopping tips to follow. When buying your wedding ring, you must consider jewelry buying basics, for example, when buying wedding rings you must buy a band capable of lasting for years. Read the 10 commandments below to help you find, purchase and take care of your wedding rings.

1) Choose Your Metal and Style

This might be the only piece of jewelry you will buy together and wear forever, so take the time to talk about what you want and can agree on. Do you want white or gold metal? You want yellow gold, because it will match the bulk of your other jewelry, but your husband-to-be is also wanting to match the white metal of his watch, so what do you do? It’s simple, compromise and search for rings that have a mixture of both yellow and white gold to please you both. Once you decide your metal, you should think about how elaborate you want your rings. WIll you want gems or diamonds?

2) Budgeting is Key

The plainest of gold bands runs around $125 to $200 per band, and ones of more precious metals, like platinum, are closer to $400 or $600 per band. The Diamond Information Center reports the average cost of a band is $742. When you engrave the inside of your wedding band it can cost between $1-8 per character, depending on which font you pick and what method you pick for engraving.

3) Make Time

Don’t wait too long. You should start looking for wedding bands at least two months before the big day. Take time and look for your ring and reconsider all your options. If you are considering a custom piece you will want to allow even more time. It can take as much as 30 days to have a piece engraved.

4) Think Practical and Keep Your Lifestyle In Mind

There’s no point in buying a beautiful ring that doesn’t feel good on your finger or that you’re going to feel you need to remove. You need to remember that you will wear this band everyday. You should try to pick a ring that fits into your life without disruption. Try to avoid wide chunky bands if you lead an active lifestyle instead opt for a thinner band. If you work with your hands, you may want to consider a simple design, rather than a diamond engagement ring that will continually trap dirt. If certain metals or combinations of metals irritate your skin, spend the money and buy platinum rings. The fact that it is hypoallergenic for the average person, due to its purity, makes it a good choice.

5)Do the 20 Year Test

When choosing your ring, don’t be afraid to step outside the box, but make sure whatever you choose is something that you’ll love for years to come.

6) Choosing the Right Size

Note that most people don’t take their wedding bands off, even through summers, winters, exercise, pregnancies, or menstruation, all of which make fingers swell and contract from heat, cold, water retention and weight gain – so be smart, think about the size for all conditions.

7) Know the Quality

It cannot be emphasised enough – with all rings, check for quality! On the inside of the ring, the shank, there should be some markings. There should be a manufacturer’s trademark, a sponsors symbol, the mineral content in fineness and finally which metal – gold, silver or platinum. Make sure it has these markings. If two or more metals were used in the construction of the ring, there needs to be a quality mark for each one.

Cleaning Guidelines

You can clean your wedding rings easily. To clean a ring that has no stones, simply rub it with a soft and lint-free cloth, such as chamois. You can remove tarnish with a solution of soap, water with a few drops of ammonia. Dip a brush into the solution then gently brush the ring. Making sure the drain plug is used, rinse the ring, then dry with a soft cloth. With warm soapy water brush your ring and stones with a soft brush, rinse and dry with a cloth

9) Protect Your Jewelry

You should use care when wearing finger-hugging valuables such as platinum! You can do things to reduce damage to your ring. Don’t wear your ring whilst you are doing rough work or sports as they can nick and scratch it, and don’t wear your ring whilst using chemicals such as concentrated chlorine (found in bleaches, cleaners and swimming pool disinfectants) as they can cause pitting or discoloration. Matte finishes show scratches much more than rough finishes, and platinum, which is much softer than gold, scratches and nicks more easily. Fortunately, it’s simple for your jeweler to restore you ring to its original splendor by reapplying or changing its finish and/or plating.

10) Wear Your Jewelry

Don’t take your ring off because it is easier to lose than you might think. When buying your ring, make sure it’s something you won’t need to remove very often if at all. Have a designated place where you always put your ring when you need to remove it for some reason, and keep it out of your pockets and away from sinks. A cat can help a ring end up down the drain. Removing your ring while you’re traveling is the most dangerous time to do so. It’s when you’re traveling that you’re most likely to set down, lose or forget your ring. The insurance industry states that you have the highest chance of damaging or losing your wedding rings during the first year that you own them.

There is nothing more beautiful than two people celebrating their love through marriage. And a lot of couples choose Celtic wedding rings to solidify that love. They believe not only in its beauty but the symbolic meanings behind each design.

Celtic wedding rings are available in platinum, white gold, yellow gold and silver. Although the most expensive, many marrying couples prefer the platinum ring because it is the most durable. For those who can’t afford platinum rings, white gold and yellow gold are the next best choice. They’re not as expensive, and they’re the next most durable ring. If budget is a bit tight, silver rings are the ones to choose. Don’t worry, though, designs are not sacrificed and it will still be beautiful.

Marrying couples can also opt to have gemstones with their Celtic wedding rings. Diamonds, rubies and emeralds add more beauty to an already beautiful ring. These gemstones can be used in several ways, including as studs on the band of the ring or as one ring in the center.

When it comes to the design, there are many to choose from for Celtic wedding rings. And it usually differs with the knots used. Circular knots usually mean eternity and a life forever with each other. These are the most popular designs marrying couples choose for their rings. There are also angular knots available, and these rings symbolize stability and foundation.

Most knots represent life, mankind and even spirituality. Square knots, or shield knots, are meant to ward off evil spirits or bad intentions. Spirals signify rebirth or life cycles. The presence of man or animals on a Celtic wedding ring represents the relationship between man and nature or man and man.

Some favorite designs and knots for Celtic wedding rings include the Eternity Knot, the Trinity Knot, the Lover’s Knot and Triskele. The Eternity Knot is any knot that has a closed path with no definite beginning and end. It symbolizes eternal life.

The Trinity Knot is a knot with three points connected into a triangle. Catholic and Celtic beliefs merged with the Trinity Knot. The knot represents the Holy Trinity, according to Catholic beliefs, and the Triple Gods and Goddesses of the Celtic belief. It symbolizes spiritual growth, eternal life and a love that never ends.

The Lover’s Knot is any knot that connects what would otherwise be separate paths. The Josephine Knot, or Granny’s Knot, can be considered a Lover’s Knot. The Triskele has three interlocking spirals. These spirals could represent many things, including fertility, the phases of the moon, reincarnation and creation, preservation and destruction. The Triskele design is located at the center and surrounded with the couple’s initials. It can also be seen as a symbol of commitment and eternity.

There are so many designs to choose for a Celtic wedding ring. The infinity band is a popular choice as it represents eternal and never-ending love for each other’s partner. It has no beginning and no end and is available in silver, white gold, yellow gold and platinum. Its simple design also makes it an inexpensive choice, especially for the ones with a tight budget.

The Trinity Knot symbolizes perfection because it represents the Holy Trinity or the Triple Gods and Goddesses of the Celts. These rings can be dressed up with gold trims or be made as an inset ring to allow for resizing. The Trinity Knots can be placed all around the band or one by one around the band. The Celtic Knot has no beginning and no end and can be dressed up in a lot of ways. You can add yellow gold or white gold trim, add squares in between the knots or have the knots wrap around the entire band.

Who would have thought picking out Celtic wedding rings would require you to make so many choices? Still, it is worth the effort because it symbolizes a partnership and a lifelong commitment. So choosing the knot is important, and if it surrounds the entire band and has gold trims it will serve as a constant reminder of a couple’s love for one another.

If you are planning to pop the question to your girlfriend, what more could possibly help you win her heart other than a diamond. Diamonds are known to be a woman’s best friend and hence today, people are opting for diamond wedding bands over others. A diamond is forever, they say. So if you propose with a diamond, that would be a personalized approach in making your relationship last forever. Wedding rings are very precious. They symbolize perhaps the most important bond that a person commits to another, with a promise to stay forever. So it is important to choose your wedding ring carefully, taking a lot of time and patience.

Fix your budget first. Needless to say, that since it is a diamond, no matter what kind, it will be a little on the expensive side. Do your research on what kind of diamond you want to settle for depending upon your tastes and budget. Your partner deserves the best, so compare prices, look over a variety of options and then only take your decision. Nowadays, rings and love bands are even sold online. Choose a reliable and reputed web site and search for diamond wedding bands. You will be surprised and spoilt for choice.

The maintenance is also low when it comes to diamonds. Once a year, just take your ring to a jeweler and get it polished and your ring will be as good as new for a long, long time. You and your partner can go shop for the ring together as that would mean that you both can choose what you want for your partner. Make sure that the diamond wedding bands come with a warranty. Also don’t forget to get the authenticity of the diamonds checked by a reputed jeweler, beforehand. Diamond wedding rings are known to symbolize the circle of life so step into a new horizon with your partner with a diamond.

Many people out there like to have very unique weddings while there are people who like traditional weddings. Weddings are wonderful ceremonies of joy and love, so why not have unusual wedding rings to make the day even more memorable?

You will be wearing your wedding rings for your whole life, so you might as well have ones that you love to wear and look unique.

One type of unusual wedding ring which is considered a modern twist on the traditional engagement ring is the tension set ring. This kind of ring uses the tension between the edges of an opening in the ring to hold a stone in place. This type of setting allows the stone to shine a lot better and light will pass through it easier.

Also, there are so many different ways for people to style tension rings that there is an endless list of tension rings available. Jewelry creators have lots of creative ways to make wonderful and beautiful tension rings, so you won’t have problems looking for one that you like.

Another kind of usual wedding bands is the hand woven bands. These bands are created by hand in order to create an intricate and beautiful one of a kind pair of wedding rings. Any metal like gold, silver, or platinum can be used.

The designs can be simple and elegant or intricate and detailed. The two rings can even be made from the same braid so that they look alike and have an even stronger connection. These are very durable bands and can last for a whole lifetime.

If you are not interested in wearing metals or if you want to have a set or wedding bands that remind you of nature then you should get wooden wedding bands. These bands are fashioned from wood to create a beautiful wedding ring.

You can use wood balm in order to keep the wood in good condition. These rings are eco-friendly and made from already dead wood. You can also have wedding rings that mix wood and metal to create a balance of modern and classic beauty.

If you have a very creative mind, then you can choose to go to a ring maker and tell them what kind of ring you want. This way, you will have very personalized and unusual wedding rings for your wedding that no one else in the world has. These can cost a little more, but they are definitely worth it if you find a good ring maker.

A platinum and diamond wedding band is a symbol of everlasting and eternal love and commitment. That is very fitting, as diamonds and platinum are two of the worlds most precious and hardest natural substances. They each have a superb hardness, brilliant sheen and white color making them natural partners.

The higher cost of diamond and platinum engagement rings or wedding bands is well justified because, not only will they last forever but they signify that the wearer has reached the top, giving him or her the reward of perfection.

There are an extensive number of possible platinum and diamond ring variations in both engagement rings and wedding bands with each one as spectacular and beautiful as the next. Here are a few of the many beautiful styles available on the market today:

* A traditional or conventional design may be an elegant yet simple platinum wedding band with a milgrain scroll along the edges and a centered, half-carat diamond in the middle. Short rows of smaller diamonds are on either side of the centered larger diamond. This platinum and diamond wedding band is timeless and will always have great beauty.
* A platinum and diamond engagement ring that is sure to be a perfect choice is an elegant but simple platinum, channel set engagement ring with a gorgeous prong set solitaire diamond.
* An exquisite diamond engagement ring in platinum, set with a half carat or carat, round, brilliant-cut diamond centered and flanked by four tapered baguettes is the perfect way to ask for your sweethearts hand in marriage. The platinum wedding band has four straight baguettes.
* A Princess-cut full carat diamond surrounded by six smaller diamonds, set in a platinum wedding band is spectacular, making the woman wearing it feel like a queen.
* A very modern, sleek design for a wedding band that is spectacular is a narrow band of 950Pt platinum. Set in the middle around the entire platinum band is a centered row of round diamonds or baguettes. This ring will sparkle every time you move your finger, making it a spectacular, ingenious platinum and diamond wedding band.
* A wonderful wedding band made of a diamond and platinum that would please any man is a comfort fit platinum wedding band with a quarter carat square diamond set it the middle surrounded by engraving.

Everyone has probably put some thought into weddings and marriage at some point in time.
Some couples want a big fancy affair complete with a tiara for the bride, trumpets blaring a diamond the size of a grapefruit, while others are perfectly content to exchange vows in a garden with just a few friends and perhaps: no wedding rings? This may shock people with a more traditional mindset as to what goes on during a wedding ceremony, but some couples just do not want to wear rings. The following will look at both sides of the coin.

Rings: Love Them

Rings have been a part of wedding and marriage symbolism thousands of years. Their tradition is well known and beloved by many, and there are couples who simply cannot imagine having a wedding ceremony without rings. Rings are circular and never ending, thus representing the bonds and vows of marriage.

Not only is there the historical symbolism; couples like to be able to look down and see a daily reminder that they are a part of a union, a family. Wearing wedding rings also sends a message to the public, those who may not know you, about your relationship status and availability. Not that there should be a reason for one person not to approach another, many respect the ring on one’s finger and will not attempt any pick up lines.

For brides to be, specifically, receiving an engagement ring can be a special occasion. She can be fawned over and her ring ogled by friends and family, and she can look forward to knowing that she will soon be adding another ring to compliment her engagement ring as well as her husband’s wedding band. For men, a wedding band may be the only piece of jewelry that he regularly wears, making it all the more special.

Wedding rings have an ancient history. Couples in ancient Egypt used to exchange rings made of reeds as a symbol of their undying love. The wedding ring comprises the most traditional aspect of a marriage. Being the most important part of a wedding ceremony, it symbolizes a couple’s promise to love and honor each other for the rest of their lives.

Modern wedding rings are usually made of precious metals such as gold and platinum. Most couples wear it on the fourth finger of their left hand, also known as the ring finger. The pratise of wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand is based on the age-old belief that this finger has a direct connection to the heart. A vein, believed to originate in the fourth finger, is believed to lead to the heart. After researching the circulatory system thoroughly, medical scientists have said that there is no truth in this belief. In spite of this, the practice of wearing the wedding ring on the ring finger prevails although some people have now started wearing their wedding rings on their right hands.

Wedding rings are emblematic of everlasting love and commitment, which is why you should purchase a ring made of top-quality material. Your ring should last as long as your marriage and that is several years.

Consider the following factors when you go shopping for a wedding ring:

1. Budget
Fix a budget for your ring. If you know the limits of your budget, you can save plenty of time choosing from a collection of rings within that price range.

2. Material
Wedding rings are made of a variety of material. Determine the type of wedding ring you would like to purchase within your established budget.

The most traditional wedding rings are made of gold. You can purchase a ring of yellow, pink, white, or green gold. Different qualities of gold are also available.

Platinum is the finest, rarest, and purest of all precious metals. In addition, it is strong, heavy, and resistant. Platinum wedding rings are good for daily wear because they are hypoallergenic, resist tarnish, and don’t wear off easily. However, platinum is costlier than gold.

Diamond wedding rings are vastly popular because diamonds are the loveliest, hardest, and most expensive gems ever known to humankind. Their dazzling purity, beauty, and durability is symbolic of eternal love. The amount you will have to spend on a diamond, however, depends on its cut, color, clarity, and weight.

You can also purchase rings of titanium, nickel, silver, tungsten carbide with precious stones such as ruby, emerald, sapphire, and topaz set in them.

3. Style and Design
Select the appropriate style and design. Wedding rings are available in a number of designs such as Celtic or Irish, vintage and antique rings, designer rings, custom, traditional, beaded edges, and engraved rings.

Visit a number of stores before you make a purchase. Compare various patterns, designs, materials, qualities, and the price ranges.

Seek the advise of an expert. A jeweler of great repute can give you excellent advice on the purchase of wedding rings. Remember that your wedding ring, while reflecting your character and personality, should fit comfortably on your finger.

A wedding ring is not just an accessory. It is a traditional symbol of love and commitment. So purchase your wedding ring with care.

Couples will spend a lot of time looking at wedding rings before they decide to make the purchase, which is good because these rings are meant to be worn for the rest of your lives and you’d better make sure you like them. The traditional ring is a simple gold band. The men’s wedding ring can often be a little wider than the woman’s. In recent years people are beginning to experiment with a range or ring styles.

Rings can be made of many kinds of metal, gold, silver, copper, stainless steel, platinum and titanium. You may have even heard of the very new and risqué fad of wearing a ring made of bone cells which were taken from your spouse to be and cultured into the shape of a ring. Platinum is growing in popularity as it’s hypoallergenic and very strong, but it’s also rare and very expensive. Titanium or steel can add a modern look to your rings and titanium has a plus of being very light in weight. Steel will also be easy on the wallet.

Rings are also being engraved in patterns and styles from ancient cultures. There are Celtic patterned rings, Greek Key patterns and Etruscan patterned wedding rings available for those getting married.

If you are purchasing wedding rings with diamonds or other stones be sure to have them checked over by an independent jeweler to make sure you are paying the right price for the stone. Any diamonds over one carat in size should come with some form of documentation. Lastly when out purchasing your rings make sure to have them properly fit and ask the jeweler if the type of rings you are purchasing can be increased or decreased in size years later with out damaging the ring.

Rings have been exchanged as a symbol of the bond of marriage for so long, and in so many different cultures, that the origin of the practice is obscure. Certainly, the circle of a ring represents undying love and the continually renewed vows of the married couple. Circles have long been archetypes for not only timelessness, but also wholeness and homecoming. The circle also speaks to the constant round of the heavens, as well as the eternal return of the seasons, marked by cyclical ritual and celebration.

Rings in general have a deeply rooted magical significance. Enchanted rings figure in many ancient folk tales. Incantations and spells for the protection of the wearer of rings are common motifs. Today, in traditional religious ceremonies, Christian and otherwise, the wedding rings are blessed by a minister or priest, thus continuing the symbolic practice of imbuing rings with protective powers.

Celtic wedding rings are often gorgeously decorated with geometric knot work patterns that have a long history and central place in Celtic art. These patterns are strongly vegetative, suggesting tendrils and vines. In fact, in much of Celtic art, including the famous illuminated Bible, The Book of Kells, these Celtic Knots emerge from or transform into vegetative foliage.

Wedding rings have most commonly been worn on the third finger of the left hand. Speculation has it that this is because the Romans believed that a vein ran directly from this finger to the heart. An alternate suggestion for this tradition is that each finger on the hand is associated with a planet in the ancient systems of astrology, and the ring finger of the left hand was associated with the Sun. In this way, the wearing of a wedding ring on that finger signifies the public proclamation of the union in the daylight, in other words, the conscious and clearly visible world of human community. This correspondence is perhaps even more strongly emphasized by the general tendency to craft wedding rings out of gold, which is symbolically the metal of the Sun throughout folk history and across cultures.

Wedding rings are symbols of union when two people engage in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Sometimes, each ring is engraved with the wedding date and the name of the two people getting married on each ring. The wedding ring is usually placed on the fourth finger of the left hand, a tradition that has been passed on from ages. It is believed that the fourth finger symbolizes “vena amoris” or the vein of love.

One of the items that you must not forget for you wedding is the wedding rings. These are generally made from gold and some will have diamonds or other gemstones in them. You will normally be cringing when picking out rings, but there are places where you can get inexpensive wedding rings to allow you to breathe a little bit easier.
Look online and you will find a magnitude of bargain jewelry stores that sell wonderful quality wedding rings. You can also find auction sites where you can bid on rings and get them for the cheapest prices around. You will have to look at the size of the ring and the gemstones to make sure it is the exact one you want, because sometimes the pictures can be deceiving.

You can find cheap rings at most jewelry stores when they have sale on and offer a large discount. You can also get ring sets which are cheap and sometimes if you purchase an engagement ring you will get the matching wedding band as well. Men’s rings are usually cheaper and you can get gold, titanium and platinum rings.

Finding a cheap wedding ring may be something that seems unromantic but if you can lower the costs of your rings, you can also have more money to spend on your wedding ceremony and reception. If you have a family heirloom this will also be amazing to use for wedding ring. It will be personal and special.