Written by Menswear Style in Tips & Advice on the 4th April 2018

There’s been a tangible shift in men’s jewellery trends in the past few decades. Gone are the days of grooms simply picking out a polished wedding band just days before the wedding ceremony. Men’s wedding ring styles have seen the classics updated with textures and colours. However, it hasn’t stopped there. The goal post has moved into new territory on what’s possible to seal the deal on your special day! With celebrities such as Ed Sheeran and Ryan Gosling embracing jewellery, wedding bands are fast becoming more than just a symbol of your marital status – they’re becoming a style statement.

There are a couple of factors to consider before selecting your wedding ring style. After all, it’s the one item of jewellery that you’ll wear every day, for the rest of your life. Consider your occupation and lifestyle. Perhaps you’re a chef, construction worker or you’re a regular weight lifter? If your job or hobbies put a lot of daily pressure on your hands, you might consider choosing a ring with a metal finish that will minimise scuffs better than a polished band. Get the correct ring size; having your ring size measured should be done when you’re calm and your body temperature is normal as the size of your fingers can differ in varying temperatures. So, no rushing to the jewellery store in middle of the hottest day of the year! So, here’s what you can do in terms of style.

Classic 

Classic wedding bands have evolved over the past years to include different shape profiles when viewed in a cross section. For the most comfortable fit, court and D-shaped styles are the way forward. Court shaped bands are straight all the way around on the top and bottom, softly rounded on the inside and outside of the band. Like court shaped bands, D-shaped bands are straight all the way around on the top and bottom but differ because they are flat on the inside and curved on the outside. For clean and modern profile, flat and bevelled styles take the prize. Flat bands are flat on the inside and outside of the band. Bevelled are similar to flat with narrow polished edges on the outside of the band.

Metals 

For those interested in a white metal, we recommend platinum because it’s naturally white unlike white gold. Gold is naturally yellow in colour and is mixed with other metals like silver and palladium to give it additional strength. To give white gold its bright appearance, it needs to be plated in rhodium, a member of the platinum family of metals. Depending on wear and tear, your ring will need to be replated every 1-2 years to maintain its original appearance. Can’t decide on just one metal? Now you don’t have to! Mixing metals is now very on trend with many wedding band styles available in two or more metals combined. Rose gold’s warm tone looks fantastic on all complexions and mixed with platinum’s iciness, is a match made in heaven.

Metal Finishes 

Now that you have found your wedding band, why not add a texture to personalise the finish? To apply the finish, a jeweller with take a plain wedding band and hand apply the finish using a wire brush or hammer. The most popular finishes are matte, brushed, hammered and satin. Like mixing metals, you can also have different finishes on the band which provides a bold contrast.

Engraving 

In the age of personalisation, the classic symbol of fidelity is the perfect canvas to customise. Bands can have a message inscribed on the inside or outside of the band. Some typical engravings are words of affection, relationship milestone dates; initials or even mythical languages. Have you ever thought of having your partner’s heartbeat or fingerprint pattern engraved on your band? Laser engraving allows you the ability to capture this organic element onto your ring. Interested in adding a vintage element to your band? Engraved patterns like vines, scrolls and sheaves of wheat can be hand carved into your band by skilled artisans to produce the perfect finishing touch.

Gemstone Set 

Gone are days when only the ladies get gemstones! Men are embracing diamonds and coloured gemstones in their wedding band designs. Diamonds–the hardest gemstone on the planet–are the perfect choice for their rarity and durability. Besides white, diamonds come in black, blue, orange, yellow and pink. Sapphires follow closely behind on the hardness scale and they’re available in most colours. Gemstones can be set on the outside or the inside of wedding bands. A popular trend is to set your partner’s favourite gemstone or birthstone inside the band incorporating an engraving around the gemstone(s). If you ever wanted to score romance points with your partner, this would be a winner!

Now that you’re armed with today’s most popular customisations, go out there and embrace your inner creativity to create the perfect wedding band for you.

A look at Engraving, Gemstone Sets and Metal Finishes in this comprehensive Guide to Buying a Men’s Wedding Ring.