Choosing Your Bridal Jewellery

Unless you plan to wed a diamond importer or jeweller, chances are that both of you have little experience in choosing precious metals. Your wedding bands are built to last a lifetime so proceed with caution.

When choosing your wedding bands you need to decide upon the following:

• Which is your preferred metal?

• Do you want it to match with your engagement ring?

• Do you need to have an indent to allow your wedding band to sit flush with your engagement ring?

• Is it important to you that both your wedding rings match, or are you happy for them to differ?

• What strength of metal do you wish to choose?

• How much do you wish to spend?

Metals can be a little daunting. Ask your groom, he has already had a quick education when choosing your engagement ring. The three most popular metals for wedding bands are gold, white gold and platinum. However, titanium has been proving an increasingly popular choice with Grooms.

Yellow Gold - This is the most classic form of gold - it’s the one you see pirates’ chests filled with. It is measured in carats; 24c is gold in its purest form. Whilst very pure at this stage it is also very soft. To strengthen the gold it is generally mixed with other metals, the amount of which is indicated by the carat. eg 18c = 75% Gold, 25% other metals. The type of metal that it is mixed with it can change the colour, for example, when mixed with copper, radiates a rose coloured hue. This is known as rose gold. Yellow gold is the traditional colour of wedding bands, however its popularity has been somewhat over-taken by White Gold and Platinum in recent years.


White Gold - White Gold works in a similar fashion to rose gold. Yellow gold is mixed with silver, nickle, copper and zinc. It is then plated with rhodium, (from the platinum group of metals) to give it strength and its white colour. This leaves it highly reflective and not subject to tarnish. It is also less expensive than platinum, however the finish is subject to wear and may need to be re-plated over time.

Platinum - is denser and stronger than its gold counterpart. This means that a ring of the same size can be up to 40% heavier than that made from gold. It is measured in parts per thousand. Usually this will be 850-999, representing 85% - 99.9% platinum to metal mix. Generally this is represented by a hallmark. It is the most pure and rare of the three metals. It has a deeper luminescent colouring than its white gold counterpart. While it is durable, it will require cleaning and the initial outlay may be up to two times more costly than its counterpart.

While traditionally wedding bands are a solid circle of pure metal, it is increasingly popular to have them embedded with small diamonds to correspond to the style of your engagement ring. The style of band you choose is entirely down to personal choice. It is worth taking plenty of time to chat with your jeweller, or ring designer before you make your final decision.

Bridal Jewellery

Bridal jewellery can make or break your entire wedding ensemble. Your bridal boutique should be able to advise on the style of jewellery that will best suit your dress. However, some general rules apply. If your dress is highly embroidered or embellished, you should look for elegantly simple, classic accessories such as pearls, or glass beads. Classic simple styles can opt for a statement piece, such as a large necklace. The style and shape of your jewellery is dependant on the shape of your face and the top of your dress. If you are choosing to wear a hairpiece either in place of, or with your veil, you need to think of the hairstyle that you will have on the day. Sometimes it is as effective to have a statement hairpiece at the back of your head to glisten in the light as you take your vows, as one at the side or front of your head. If you have your ears pierced it is worth looking at a good set of earrings. Well chosen earrings will not only frame your face but they can also lengthen the neck and really make your eyes sparkle. This simple addition, can really lift your face and accentuate your features. In the same way a bracelet or cuff placed on your left hand side will show off delicate wrists and draw the eye gracefully down the arm to your new wedding band. If you plan to have a designer create bespoke accessories, then it is worth taking a picture of your dress with you. This will provide them with a good idea of the accessories that will be best suited to your features and style choices, ensuring that you have a little extra sparkle as you step down the aisle.

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