A Guide to Choosing Your Perfect Ring
In the Park Road Jewellery workshop, all wedding rings are handmade by me, Michelle, to your personal specifications. Each ring is a one-of-a-kind piece, made to commemorate your love and be with you every day of your marriage.
I know how important these rings will be to you, so I am here to help guide you through the decisions involved, ensuring you choose wedding rings you will cherish every day.
Book a one-one wedding ring consultation with Michelle to discuss your ideas
What metal should I choose for my wedding ring?
Let’s start simply by working out which metal is right for you. You can read a more in-depth guide to the different metal choices here.
The best metal for a wedding ring depends on your lifestyle, your existing jewellery, your preferred colour, and how you want the ring to wear over time.
Because wedding rings are worn every day, durability is important. Platinum is one of the strongest precious metals I use in the Park Road Jewellery workshop. It is a particularly good choice if you want a hard-wearing wedding ring with excellent longevity and a naturally white colour.
Gold is another traditional choice for wedding rings. Yellow gold has a classic look, white gold gives a bright modern look, and rose gold has a softer, warmer tone. Your choice can be guided by your personal style, your engagement ring, and the jewellery you already enjoy wearing.
Which wedding ring shape should I choose?
When we talk about ring shape, we are usually describing the profile, or cross-section, of the ring.
It may seem like a small detail, but the profile is an easy way to add personality to your individual ring. Take a look at the different profiles below and see if you are immediately drawn to any.
The most traditional style is the court profile. It has a smooth, rounded cross-section that is comfortable to wear and has timeless appeal.
For a stronger, more contemporary look, you may prefer a flat court profile. This option still has a smooth, rounded, easy-fit interior, but with a more dramatic flat outer surface. When I make this profile in the workshop, I soften the outer edge radius of the ring so it retains that striking flat look while still being comfortable and enjoyable to wear.
If you are already wearing an engagement ring, I will measure and study the shape of the shank, then copy it to make your wedding ring a perfect match.
What width should my wedding ring be?
This decision is completely down to personal preference. I can help guide you towards the perfect width, but the right choice will depend on your finger length, the overall look you want, and your personal style.
At the workshop, you can try on different widths and see in person what works best for you.
From my previous projects, a typical men’s wedding ring width is usually between 5mm and 7mm, while a ladies’ wedding ring is often between 2mm and 4mm. However, these are only guides. The most important thing is choosing what feels right for you.
Which finish is best for a wedding ring?
In the Park Road Jewellery workshop, there are many different finishes I can apply to your wedding ring, not only to suit your personal taste, but also to fit your lifestyle.
One of the most traditional finishes is a high polish. It has a beautiful, timeless look. However, rings worn every day will naturally pick up knocks and scratches through general wear and tear, so a high polish may not be the best choice if you have a very hands-on lifestyle.
A hammered texture with a satin finish is one of my most recommended styles for rings that will be worn every day, especially by someone with a practical or hands-on job. The individual hammer marks help disguise small knocks and scratches, making it a beautiful and practical choice.
How can we personalise our wedding rings?
In their simplest form, wedding rings are the perfect blank canvas for us to personalise together.
Hand engraving
Why not add elegant script engraving inside the ring, such as your anniversary date, initials or a special word?
Diamonds and gemstones
You can have birthstones or diamonds set securely into the surface of the ring to represent each other or mark something meaningful.
Finer details
You can also choose something very personal and specific. Previous examples include map details, mountain ranges, and waveform engravings taken from meaningful songs or spoken words. These can all be applied to the surface of individual rings to make them truly unique.
Get in touch today to discuss your wedding ring personalisation ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding Rings
Should my wedding ring be the same metal as my engagement ring?
Ideally, yes. If you have a platinum or gold engagement ring, the best choice is usually to have your wedding ring made in the same metal.
These two rings will hopefully be worn together for the rest of your life, and they will naturally rub against each other through everyday wear. For example, if you have a platinum engagement ring and choose to wear a softer gold wedding band next to it, the platinum may gradually wear down the touching edge of the gold ring over time.
However, if you would love to mix different metals across the two rings, you certainly can. You just need to be aware that the softer metal may show signs of wear more quickly.
Can I have a shaped wedding ring to fit around my engagement ring?
Of course. This is a speciality in the Park Road Jewellery workshop.
We can work together to create a wedding ring that sits beautifully around your existing engagement ring. I will sketch the silhouette of your current ring to create a close match, and I can also carve wax models for you to try on. This allows you to see and feel how the finished ring will sit before it is made in metal.
How long does it take to make wedding rings?
A simple, plain pair of wedding rings will not take as long to make as a more detailed or complex design.
Including hallmarking to prove the metal fineness, a plain pair of wedding rings can take around 4–6 weeks to make. This does depend on how busy the workshop is at the time, but miracles have happened, and I have managed a much quicker turnaround in an emergency.
Can existing or heirloom jewellery be remodelled into wedding rings?
Yes, this is one of my favourite things to do in the workshop.
If you have inherited or sentimental jewellery, and it bears a UK hallmark, I can melt it down and repurpose it into your special wedding rings. It is a wonderful process and allows you to carry those memories with you every day.
If you have unworn or broken jewellery, this can also be a very sensible way to recycle precious metal into your wedding bands. You are providing the material for me to work with, while creating something meaningful and entirely new.
Aftercare
Every ring made in the Park Road Jewellery workshop comes with a complimentary annual polish and re-finish, helping to keep it looking beautiful for years to come.
Rhodium plating is not included in this service, but it can be arranged for a small additional charge.
