Useful Wedding Band Information about size, metals and design choices.

Which profile is right for me?	Many people really do enjoy the look, feel and extra heft of the comfort-fit styles. Some people however find a less thick band more comfortable. Flat and half round bands sometimes cost less, since they often weigh less. Ultimately the design and feel usually wins you over.

Should wedding bands match?	While some couples do enjoy matching sets, many do not select matching bands. Tastes and situations are frequently different. Men often prefer simpler or larger designs, and women often have to consider how the new band will look next to her engagement ring. Perhaps the work environment dictates a certain style as well. If you like matching bands, we believe you will find some nice sets in our collection, but if you choose to wear different styles don't feel as though you are breaking a rule.

How wide should my band be?	This is obviously a personal choice. Taste, hand size, comfort fit and other concerns affect how wide your band should be. 4mm to 8mm is common for men, with 5mm or 6mm perhaps the most popular. Women may choose a narrower design, especially if it is fitting next to an engagement ring. Sometimes the lady prefers a band much wider than the man's. Bands with side "rails" tend to appear "visually slimmer" than their actual width. Some people are sensitive to the alloys mixed in their jewelry and have allergic reactions. If you have had any problems of that sort you may want to consider a narrower band. Wider bands tend to hold moisture, soap and cosmetics that can bother sensitive skin. Comfort fit bands tend to "breathe" better than flat or half round bands.

which metal is right for me? What does "white gold" mean?

	14K Gold ~ Whether yellow, white, rose or any other color, 14K Gold is the most popular metal used in jewelry in the United States today. It is about 58% gold, mixed with other metals to enhance color and strength. It holds up well to daily wear and has the color that most Americans prefer. The color of white gold is achieved by mixing paladium and other metals with the gold to create the white metal look. White gold is stronger than yellow gold and often used to hold diamonds. Many yellow gold rings still use white gold prongs to hold a diamond, since it is stronger and blends nicely with the diamond. Unfortunately white gold still has a slightly yellow tint to it, so most white gold jewelry is given a rhodium plating. Rhodium is one of the platinum group metals, so when you look at white gold jewelry you are often looking at a platinum finish. Some of the antique style bands with an oxidized finish don't have rhodium plating. Generally the rhodium finish lasts for years, but may need to be re-applied again. It is a simple and inexpensive process that is often routinely done by most jewelers along with any white gold ring sizings or repairs.

	18K Gold ~ Popular in Europe, this gold mix is 75% gold, also mixed with other metals to enhance color and strength. This higher gold content makes it more expensive than 14K, and the more yellow color prevents it from blending well with other 14K jewelry. Still, it is enjoyed by many for it's purity, and the extra yellow color makes a good strong contrast to platinum in mixed metal designs.

	Platinum ~ The luxury metal, pure beauty and extraordinary strength. Platinum has a specific gravity roughly 70% higher than gold so it's heft is remarkable. Platinum is actually a group of metals. Platinum jewelry is made of a mixture of platinum metals for best look and durability. It is 100% platinum, not mixed with other metals like the Karat golds. A platinum piece of jewelry is very strong and will usually last much longer than a similar piece in 14K gold. Unfortunately, it takes roughly 70% more metal to make a 14K ring in platinum, so the initial cost is high.

	Sterling Silver ~ A favorite for many, some of the most interesting designs we have are in sterling silver. Silver is a softer metal than gold or platinum, so it can't handle rough wear very well. A silver band should not be expected to last a long time, especially if someone works hard with their hands. That's why you rarely see a diamond held in a silver setting. Active people often choose white gold or platinum as an alternative.


	Titanium and Steel ~ metals that are increasingly used more and more in jewelry. Titanium is incredibly strong and yet feels extremely light. Steel is also very strong but has a little more heft. There are no traditional jewelry metals that come close in strength and durability. Both are often seen as a dull gray, but sometimes polished to a platinum look. Other precious metals are mixed as accents in many designs. Titanium and steel are so strong that almost no jewelers have the means in their shops to work with it. The metal's strength means that your band will probably hold up forever, but if your finger were swelled for some reason, it could take some heavy duty cutters from an emergency room to cut and remove the ring. Those at risk wearing jewelry in their profession or other activities should especially not wear such a super strong band while engaging in these activities. Because sizing these bands after they are made is nearly impossible, it's important to be measured to determine the correct size. Most any jeweler is happy to do this for you at no charge. Correct finger size is truly the only problem that our customers ever experience. Everyone is always happy with the bands themselves but it's very disappointing when things don't fit. It can be expensive and cause delays as well so if you get the finger size right you will almost certainly be very happy with your ring. The titanium and steel bands that we sell can be sized at a later date by the maker for a reasonable fee. This is a very good thing because if the maker of your band is not willing to make it fit you, then you will have to discard the band. No jeweler could do it for you. Since most of our customers do eventually require a larger ring size, we feel it's important for you to know how important this can be later. Avoid buying a ring that is non-sizable, unless it's inexpensive enough to discard if needed.



Why do some designs have black backgrounds Will it last?	This is called "antiquing" or "oxidizing". There are a number of processes used to highlight the designs in jewelry with a dark background in the recessed areas. It imitates the pleasant tarnishing effect that some silver jewelry has after being worn regularly. Often the entire piece will gradually tarnish, but the higher areas are constantly polished by daily wear so that only the recessed areas remain dark creating a nice contrast to the design. Creating this effect on gold jewelry is more difficult, since gold is a noble metal and cannot tarnish or corrode at all. The other metals mixed with the gold however are able to respond to an acid that we use to create the tarnished effect. Some makers use a black paint-like material to imitate this oxidized look. Besides being unnatural looking, this painted on material doesn't seem to last well at all, and will tend to flake off in an ugly way. The acid method we use has the best look and adherence. How long the oxidation lasts depends on the design of the ring and the activity of the wearer. A ring with deeply cut designs in tight spaces will tend to hold it's oxidation very well, since ordinary wear doesn't reach into the oxidized areas to rub it off. A ring with very shallow engravings or with big wide oxidized areas will not last as well. Of course, a physically active person can expect more wear on their ring and it's finish.

Engraving	We do offer engraving. There is no charge for engraving the inside of gold or platinum wedding bands. Sterling silver bands can be engraved for $5. The style is a simple slightly italic block lettering. There are about 10 to 29 total characters and spaces available on the inside of a wedding band, depending on the finger size and placement of metal and maker marks inside the ring. Feel free to inquire. Engraved items are non-returnable.

What does "pierced" mean?	A pierced design has actual openings in the design allowing you to see through the ring. Filigree is a delicate example, although some bolder designs are pierced as well. An engraved design isn't pierced, since the design is more or less only "scratched" into the metal's surface.