Mens Diamond Wedding Rings - Choices and Styles
These days, mens diamond wedding rings are coming more into fashion. It used to be the case that a man most often preferred to wear a plain band of gold, platinum or titanium as his wedding ring - that is, if he chose to wear one at all! But modern styles are changing, and you'll find more men sporting wedding rings decorated with diamonds or other precious stones.
Why Are Men Wearing Diamond Wedding Rings Nowadays?
Men's fashions come and go, of course and the age of the simple, unadorned style in men's clothing and jewelry is a thing of the past in many circles. Once upon a time, a man might wear little more than a pair of cufflinks or a signet ring - and for some men, that will always be their preferred look. But many men enjoy the greater stylistic freedom that has come with modern fashion, which allows them to wear jewelry that complements women's fashions.
Diamonds are always going to have a luxurious and expensive allure, and some people will wear them for the status value they confer. Other men may choose a diamond ring simply to match the style of their partner's band. These days, it's all about personal choice.
As well as their rarity value, there's another quality inherent in diamonds that make them an attractive choice in a wedding ring: their hardness. Long ago, the seemingly indestructible nature of the diamond became associated with power and strength. And in the context of marriage, it's a charming symbol of the eternal union between man and wife - as variously alluded to in phrases such as 'Those who God hath joined, let no man out asunder!'
But making the best choice for a man's ring isn't only about his personal style or look. Men need to take into consideration the way in which their ring will be worn. Most people regard a wedding band as a piece of jewelry to be worn day in, day out, whatever the place or activity. And this can be a potential problem - especially for the man with who has a manual job or an active lifestyle. If an man is likely to subject his wedding ring to considerable wear and tear, he probably should consider not only whether diamonds or other stones are right for him, but also what metal the band itself should be made of.
Having said that, let's look at the factors affecting your choice of a diamond wedding ring for a man.
Choosing Diamonds
Many jewelers talk about the '4 Cs' when describing the quality of a diamond: color, clarity, cut and carat.
Color: This is one of the first things that many people notice in a diamond. One of the most prized diamond body colors is actually colorless - the so-called 'white' diamond. It's very rare to find a diamond without any natural shade or tint - and it's pretty much impossible to accurately judge a diamond's true color when it's mounted in a ring anyway. But a completely colorless diamond (grade D) will command a high price as dictated by its scarcity. Most diamonds have some sort of natural hue, and are given a letter grade up through the alphabet as the depth of the shade increases.
Diamonds also occur in a variety of colors, and these appeal to many brides and grooms. Naturally colored diamonds may also fetch a high price. In addition, technology can produce colored diamonds through high pressure or high temperature treatments, and these will typically be less expensive than naturally occurring colors.
Clarity: Dealers inspect diamonds for flaws inside the stone or on its surface, sometimes under magnification, as another pointer to a stone's value. A diamond is thus graded for its clarity according to its characteristics and blemishes. Another factor affecting value is the location and visibility of the flaw, and a skilled jeweler may be able to hide imperfections in the setting of the stone in the ring.
Cut: Diamond cutting is a technique requiring much skill and experience and has less to do with the actual shape of the stone and more the extent to which it brings out the diamonds brilliance and fire. The lively sparkle and colors that can be seen in a diamond depend on the way the cut causes the light to reflect internally on the facets and back out through the top to the eye of the viewer. Two of the most popular cuts found are the traditional brilliant cut, where the top or 'crown' of the stone is circular, and the bottom or 'pavilion' is conical in shape; and the 'princess cut', which is shaped rather like an inverted pyramid.
Carat: is a measurement of weight, not size (and is quite different from the karat measurement of the purity of gold). Since 1913, there has been general agreement that a whole carat weighs 200 milligrams, or 100 points. Wedding ring stones are often measured in points. Antique wedding rings dating from before that may have been weighed differently, depending on the country in which they were made.
Choosing The Metal For Mens Diamond Wedding Rings
Gold: The perennial favorite for men's wedding rings, gold comes in different alloy mixtures which measure the proportion of gold by karat. Pure gold is 24 karat and is generally held to be too soft for wedding rings, especially where the setting of diamonds is concerned. 18 karat is a good alternative, although as the amount of gold contained is higher than in comparable 14 kt or 9 kt rings, you will likely notice the price difference. The color of the gold is also affected by the amount in the alloy.
White gold is another popular style, and white gold rings often have a plating of rhodium to enhance their finish. Green and pink gold shades can sometimes be found.
Platinum: is another popular metal, although rarer and thus more expensive than gold. It is also heavier. It is used in very pure form for jewelry, around 95% and thus is unlikely to cause allergic reactions in a wearer. It is easily malleable for the setting of stones with prongs.
Titanium: Another metal often used in men's wedding bands. It has a high-tech appeal and combines the qualities of great strength with comparative lightness. It's an excellent choice for men with an active lifestyle because of its durability. Aircraft grade titanium is a popular type of titanium preferred by many customers.
Other metals chosen for mens rings include silver and tungsten.
Picking A Style Of Wedding Band
There are very many different styles of wedding band. Along with cost, an important question is how the ring will look on the man's finger, dependent on his build. Wider rings tend to suit men with larger hands, but it may be less comfortable to wear. Popular ring widths are 5mm, 6mm and 7mm.
As for the setting of diamonds, common styles include prong settings, bezel setting, pavé setting (where a group of smaller diamonds is set together with no metal showing between) or channel setting. The ring itself can be finished in multitude of different ways, according to your taste: high polish, satin or matte. It may be engine-turned or given another style, such as grooved, milgrain, hammering, granulated, florentine, embossed - or, of course, engraved with a special message or wedding vow. Woven or braided rings are sometimes worn, as are two tone rings that combine different metals like yellow and white gold.
The Irish wedding ring family also includes mens rings with diamond settings. Celtic rings are renowned for their knot work and distinctive motifs. Chief among these is the Claddagh wedding ring, in which two hands are shown under a crown or fleur de lys. A gemstone such as a diamond can be incorporated into this design. Puzzle and jigsaw rings are also popular.
Designing A Custom Men's Wedding Band
If you have a particular preference or design in mind, you can have a totally unique wedding ring made. You can purchase loose diamonds or a single stone, pick a setting and metal and put together a handcrafted ring that will uniquely reflect your style and personality - the ultimate in personalized jewelry!