Start with a Setting 
Start with a Diamond 
Round 
Oval 
Emerald 
Pear 
Round 
Oval 
Emerald 
Anyone who has planned a wedding knows that it can be a pleasant and romantic time filled with excitement and hope, but the main challenge is not getting bogged down in the minutiae of the journey to wedded bliss. Can you cross off one expensive and stressful item off your list? Finding the ideal wedding band to finish your bridal ensemble. Everything you need to know about this complex set of rings, including when to wear them, how to wear them, and how to choose the ideal wedding ring to complement your engagement ring, will be covered in this article.
What is a Bridal Set?
If the phrase “bridal set” is unfamiliar to you, it refers to your engagement and wedding rings when they are worn as a set after your wedding. Occasionally, this is referred as a “wedding set,” but this might also refer to your engagement ring and your wedding bands as well. To avoid confusion, be sure you and your jeweler are using the same terminology.
What is the Difference Between an Engagement Ring, Wedding Ring, and Bridal set?
The show-stopper is the engagement ring, which often (but not always) has a sizable diamond or gemstone in the center. Both partners wear wedding rings, also known as wedding bands, which are typically more understated and streamlined than engagement rings. The wedding ring and engagement ring are worn together as a bridal set.
When do you Wear your Engagement Ring and Wedding Band?
The purpose of an engagement ring is to be worn from the moment it is proposed to you until your wedding day and beyond. It is the first tangible proof that you have found the person with whom you want to spend the rest of your life. It acts as a commitment pledge. The wedding band is a symbol of the legal link of marriage that is added during the ceremony and is worn for the rest of your life. Many people start wearing the two rings as a bridal set at the wedding, but each person is different. For post-ceremony daily life, some brides prefer the simplicity of wearing just the wedding band, and other brides even choose to wear just an engagement ring with no additional wedding band. Really, it’s up to you.
Will you Wear your Engagement Ring on the Big Day?
It’s likely that you will want your engagement ring to be present at your wedding if it is a show-stopper and has great sentimental importance. Good news, too! Absolutely, you may do so (it is YOUR day after all). If you choose to wear your engagement ring during the ceremony, it is often placed on the right hand’s ring finger to free up space for your wedding band on the left hand’s wedding ring finger.
What price ranges do wedding ring sets fall into? It’s a loaded subject in some ways since how one defines expensive is important.
In 2019, the British chain of discount stores Poundland made headlines by selling engagement rings for £1 (US$1.40). A proposal ring for less than $2? You read that right. The idea seems to be that the value of the ring shouldn’t be used to define true love.
However, the genuine product is not cheap. The typical American couple spends $500 on the groom’s wedding band and approximately $1,000 on the bride’s. Just the wedding bands are mentioned here. A common engagement ring costs $5,500, according to The Knot 2020 Jewelry and Engagement Study.
So realistically, what is a good and affordable compromise that doesn’t look awful or scream fake when considering the cheaper wedding ring sets? The solution, as we will explain later, is priceless sterling silver mixed with fine diamond imitation. If done correctly, these rings can resemble engagement rings with diamonds worth $20k yet only cost about $100.
Do you want to know more? Please read on after this. We’ll offer advice on where to look for stunning but affordable wedding and engagement ring sets.
How To Pick Wedding Rings Sets
It helps to set some ground rules before you start shopping for ring sets. This will help you shop for rings on a budget without feeling overwhelmed.
Set Your Budget
It used to be customary for men to propose by spending two or three months’ worth of pay on a ring. Fortunately, that rule is no longer applies. You should be able to set your priorities and your budget, though.
Start by examining your cash flow, expenses, obligations, and anticipated wedding costs. Determine how much of your savings you can afford to spend. From there, you may choose your pricing point and steer clear of any rings that are too expensive.
Consider your own priorities as well. Many couples shop around for the least expensive wedding ring sets because they intend to put the majority of their funds toward a down payment on a home. This is smart since having a permanent home is much more significant than having a ring. In addition, property gets more valuable with time. A diamond ring, on the other hand, frequently loses 50% of its value merely by leaving the store, yikes!
Compare Prices & Packaging
Don’t be afraid to compare costs once you’ve located rings that fit your budget. There are numerous jewelry sellers, including big jewelry chains like Elleroses, Etsy, Amazon, and neighborhood jewelers. Don’t be scared to double-check your options and bookmark pages.
Remember to take into account additional costs, such as shipping, sales tax, and shipping insurance. Please keep in mind that the cheapest wedding ring sets frequently don’t come with a box when comparing costs online. As an alternative, some vendors charge more for a ring box or deliver the worst ring box or pouch.
The lesson is straightforward: Don’t discount the significance of ring packaging. When you give your future bride the ring, she will immediately notice the box. It will reflect the ring’s quality and craftsmanship, adding (or, sadly, taking away) from the overall Wow effect.
Don’t Buy
For instance, almost all colored gemstones receive treatment. In finished items, which are often found in shops selling affordable wedding ring sets, completely “natural” gemstones are uncommon. By the way, “completed jewelry” designates a piece that has been fully put together as opposed to a ring setting that is awaiting a center stone.
It’s okay to use synthetic or even heat-treated gemstones. Avoid stones that have been exposed to colored glass or silicon irradiation.
Avoid purchasing a gray paperweights infused to look like rubies or sapphires, even for the most affordable wedding ring sets. Additionally, please refrain entirely from purchasing rings with colored glass or crystal as the center stone. The cause is that glass and crystal both chip and scratch too easily and look terrible very quickly.
Jewelry is not an investment, keep that in mind. Moreover, keep in mind that buying jewelry is not an investment. Stocks or real estate are better investments. Wedding rings are among the pricier pieces of jewelry. No jeweler will promise to purchase an engagement or wedding ring back from you after a year at a price that is 5% more than what you originally spent. A jeweler is lying to you if they claim that jewelry is a smart investment. Always purchase within your means.
Finally, keep in mind that store lighting makes stones sparkle more. View the stones in low light to see how they appear. In the sunlight, every stone will dazzle, even imitation diamonds. Consider Lab-grown diamond if budget is limited.
There are many different elements that go into determining a ring’s final price, but they all come down to the same obvious truth: the more intricate a ring is, the more expensive it is. In other words, a wedding ring will cost more the more time and costly material that went into making it.
The time to buy gold or platinum is not now if you’re on a tight budget. However, there are several equally stunning but less expensive metals to choose from. Modern metals like tungsten, titanium, and cobalt are not precious metals, they lack the prestige and intrinsic worth of precious metals like gold, silver, or platinum. Sterling silver is the best option if you want a valuable metal that is inexpensive. Particularly when plated with rhodium, 925 silver resembles white gold in appearance. In fact, 925 silver sometimes shines even more brilliantly than white gold.