Anniversary Ring Traditions: What To Gift Every Year
Emma Bixenman
After five or ten years of marriage many couples choose to celebrate their anniversaries with special gifts. An anniversary ring is a way to signify the love and commitment that you share. Depending on the milestone, anniversary rings are often bands embellished with diamonds or gemstones. Though there are no set rules make sure to choose a design that fits your partners personal style and celebrates your unique relationship.
Year 2: Silver Jubilee
- A twenty-five-year wedding anniversary is truly a milestone occasion and is celebrated with the gift of silver jewelry. This jewelry can be set with any variety of diamonds or colorful gemstones. Throughout history, jubilees were celebratory events held by royalty to honor major milestones in a marriage or a kings reign.
How French Girls Really Feel About Engagement Rings
When you think of a stylish French woman, “flashy” probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. We’ve been discussing the components of a French girl’s wardrobe for years, but how does that classic sensibility affect their feelings toward engagement rings? Given that marriage customs and jewelry trends in France differ from those of the United States, we went straight to the source to find out how French women really feel about the all-important engagement ring tradition. Anne-Laure Mais of style blog Adenorah, jeweler Adeline Rapon, and Kenza Sadoun-el Glaoui of La Revue de Kenza gave us their honest answers to our questions on everything from trends to diamond size to their involvement in choosing the ring. Curious? Want to know if they’re on the same page?
Keep scrolling to read what they had to say on the subject and shop our favorite engagement rings according to their preferences.
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What Is The Purpose Of An Anniversary Ring
An anniversary ring symbolizes a milestone in a marriage and is typically gifted on a wedding anniversary. Anniversary rings are typically worn stacked with your wedding and engagement ring. Anniversary bands serve as an opportunity to celebrate your commitment to one another now, and your years to come!
Narrow Down Your Ring Style
After thinking about your budget, what will work best with your engagement ring and your lifestyle, and yay or nay to matching bands, research different styles of wedding rings to home in on your preferences. Do you want a simple metal band, or a ring set with diamonds or other gemstones? Do you want a thin or thick band, something very traditional, or something more trendy and eye-catching? Look around at examples so you can begin your wedding ring shopping well-informed with a sense of your preferred styles.
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How Do I Find Out My Partners Ring Size
If youd prefer to surprise your partner by popping the question you could always have the ring customized and modified to fit later. There are several sneaky tactics for figuring out ring size, including measuring their ring finger while they sleep, trying a ring on your own finger and marking where it fits you or have their bestie take them engagement/wedding ring shopping for fun and then report their findings back to you.
You can also use a ring size chart. The most accurate way to find out your loved ones ring size is to have a jeweler measure their finger. Keep in mind that wedding rings are worn everyday so the fit should be comfortable, not too snug or too big.
Consider How Your Engagement Ring Will Look With Your Wedding Band
While it is easy to get caught up shopping for the perfect diamond, the engagement ring is only one half of the equation. Your wedding bandyou know, the actual symbol of your marriageis the oft-overlooked other half. Definitely think about what style of wedding band would go with your ring. Some engagement rings don’t allow a band to fit flush against them, so it’s important to consider the full package of prong versus pavé and channel-set stones before committing to an engagement ring style.
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What Are Some Popular Wedding Ring Styles
In addition to the popular engagement rings listed above, there are several options for gorgeous wedding ring styles, too. These include:
- Pavé – One of the most common wedding ring styles is the pavé band . These bands are lined with diamonds, which complements the sparkle of your engagement ring. Pavé wedding bands come in half eternity and full eternity options: half eternity bands feature diamonds on half of the band, while full eternity bands have diamonds around the whole circumference of the band.
- Channel As we mentioned above, channel wedding bands feature small diamonds or gemstones that are bordered on either side by the band. This is a secure way to protect the stones, and the flush edges make it easy to pair with an engagement ring.
- Curved – Curved wedding bands are designed to complement halo settings or large center stones. They feature a slight dip in the middle to accommodate the unique shape of the engagement ring.
- Plain – When it comes to wedding bands, sometimes less is more! A plain wedding ring can really complement a stunning engagement ring because it doesnt fight for center stage. For the minimalist bride, this is the perfect pairing.
Questions To Ask Before Shopping
No matter what rubric youre using, this is the most basic fundamental question youll need to ask yourself when it comes to ring shopping. Before you consider designers, center stone carat size, or any other aspects of an engagement ring, youll need to have a serious discussion either with yourself or with your significant other about how much youre willing to spend.
Keep in mind that an engagement ring is an investment your spouse will wear for decades to come. Many people pass on their engagement ring to their children and grandchildren. Its a powerful representation of the love that endures through the generations, connecting families and helping welcome new family members and its worth the extra money to invest in something that will stand the test of time.
However, everyone has their own financial situation. Maybe your budget is a little tight, or maybe youd prefer to put that money towards buying your first house or going on a romantic honeymoon in some exotic location. At the end of the day, this is a very personal decision that only you or you and your beloved together can make. Everyone has a different lifestyle with their own priorities.
Regardless of what you decide, this is a decision you should make before you begin shopping. Once you know what your budget is, this will help you to immediately rule certain rings out of the running as you narrow your search down to only the ones in your price range.
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Do I Need To Wear Both An Engagement And Wedding Ring
Because the engagement ring is traditionally the flashier and more extravagant ring of the two, most women wear the engagement ring on their left hand ring fingers. Many women will wear their wedding bands stacked underneath the engagement ring as well, while some women choose to only wear one ring to represent both. Many jewelers sell engagement rings and wedding rings as a set so that they match one another and look stylish when worn together. However, this is absolutely not a requirement and you and your partner can choose to buy wedding bands at your own leisure if you wish to have them at all.
Photo Credit: Gigmasters
Men typically receive wedding bands on the day of their wedding ceremonies. These grooms wedding bands are generally thicker in width than bridal wedding bands and are usually made of one type of precious metal, such as gold, silver or platinum. Some mens wedding bands may contain small diamonds or jewels and the design and style of the band is up to their personal preference.
Do You Want The Wedding Band And Engagement Ring To Match Exactly
One very common style is to have your wedding band matchyour engagement ring perfectly. Many companies will have their engagement ringspaired with a matching band. This way you can ensure that the diamond sizesmatch as well as how far down they go on the band. This is a classic optionthat many brides choose. If you have an engagement ring with a twist or curve,it ensures that there will not be any gaps between the engagement ring andband.
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What Is A Ring Guard
As the name suggests, a ring guard offers a certain amount of protection to a solitaire ring by acting as a buffer or a guard around it. However, they do much more than just that.
Put simply, a ring guard is a creative ring designed to be worn together with a solitaire ring. The idea is that it will enhance the solitaire ring with its additional style and gemstones, giving sparkle and detail to the solitaire ring design.
When worn side by side, the two rings appear to be part of the same design, creating a cohesive look.
Ring guard with pear-shaped solitaire ring by Love Rings Design. Check price here.
The image above features a pear-shaped solitaire engagement ring with a ring guard that curves around the pointed corner of the pear diamond. This protects the pear diamond and keeps the point safe from impact while the beautiful cluster of stones in the guard enhance the beauty of the moissanite center stone. The result is two rings that look like one design.
Traditional And Classic Engagement Rings For Women
Does your bride-to-be prefer unique engagement ring? Does she want her stylish ring to be one-of-a-kind. Many jewelers including online sites, allow you to design your own ring. So if you know what she likes , you can design a unique ring for your fiance! This style of ring is perfect for the avant-garde or modern bride who isnt afraid to stand out from the crowd!
And you dont even have to stick with diamonds? How about an emerald or ruby stone? Your stone can be a unique shape or design as well, from a rose to a butterfly to anything her heart desires!
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Engagement Ring Vs Wedding Ring
Traditional engagement rings typically have one dominant stone, which either stands alone or is surrounded by additional smaller stones. An engagement ring is usually given as part of the proposal, or if not, at an early point in the engagement.
By contrast, a wedding ring is traditionally a plain metal band or a diamond-encrusted eternity band that you receive when you exchange your vows during the wedding ceremony and wear from then on. Typically, there’s also a fairly significant price difference between engagement rings and wedding rings even if the wedding band has inlaid diamonds or other gemstones, their total carat weight is generally less than that of the engagement ring.
You can, of course, throw tradition out the window. According to Taylor Lanore, a diamond consultant and engagement ring designer for Lauren B. Fine Jewelry and Diamonds, brides are having more of a say in the choice and design of their rings. And not only are they parting with tradition, but they’re opting to diversify their engagement and wedding ring selections. “People are doing whatever they want, and wedding bands offer the opportunity to have more flair,” she says.
Meet the Expert
Taylor Lanore is a diamond consultant and engagement ring designer for Lauren B. Fine Jewelry and Diamonds.
Have A Carat Size In Mind
The age-old question of quality versus quantity also applies to engagement rings some people prefer a larger stone to a whiter stone, while others want the absolute clearest possible diamond, despite the carat count. “The spouse-to-be should definitely have an idea of her stone size,” says Jaclyne Kirkorian of Jupiter Jewelry in New York. “As much as people say size isn’t important, it’s always the kicking off point, because color and clarity can always be tweaked to find something within your budget.”
If size matters, keep an ideal carat size in mind when shopping together, and be flexible on the other elements to suit your budget.
But also, keep an open mind. Your significant other might think they know what they want when it comes to size or shape, but trying on rings, they might find out they want something else entirelyit’s always different once you start seeing things on your finger in real life. You can save some significant cash if you choose a less common carat size. Diamond prices increase significantly when they weigh the most desired weights: think half and whole carat weights . “Buy a diamond that is just shy of these common weights, and you’ll save money and no one will be able to tell it’s a .92 carat instead of a 1 carat,” says Emily Duke of Finesse Diamonds Corp.
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Why Are Engagement Rings More Expensive Than Wedding Rings
Engagement rings are more expensive than wedding rings because they typically feature a large diamond along with other intricate details like milgrain or pave. Wedding rings are usually more simple in nature, such as a plain metal band or a pave band with small diamonds.
The average cost of an engagement ring in the U.S. is $6,350, but the price can range anywhere from $500 to $45,000 and more. Most couples spend between $1,000 and $5,000 on an engagement ring.
The average cost of a female wedding band is around $1,000 while the average cost of a male wedding band is $500.
How Is The Placement Of The Gemstone In A Wedding Ring
Finally, buyers should inspect the method on how the gemstone or gemstones are placed on the ring. Craftsmen used two popular methods at present flush placement and pave placement.
In flush placement, the surface of the ring is filled with a tiny hole, or if lots of stone will be placed holes. The gemstone fits inside the hole, and the craftsmen secure it with a strong adhesive or hardy brace. The flush placement provides the wedding ring with a very clean and chic look.
On the other hand, pave placement uses tiny metal beads that stick on the surface of the wedding ring. Its handy for wedding rings with numerous stones placed. Pave placement provides the wedding ring with a very classy appearance.
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