THE SECOND RING
It is worn every day for the rest of your life, usually beside another ring. How to choose a band that fits the finger, the engagement ring and the person.
A wedding band is worn every day for the rest of your life, and for most people it sits right beside an engagement ring. So the first question is not what band you like, but what band will live well next to the ring you already have.
Bring the engagement ring to any fitting or consultation. The height of its setting, the width of its band and its metal decide most of what follows.
There are three ways a wedding band can meet an engagement ring:
None of the three is wrong. The best outcome comes from deciding early, ideally while the engagement ring is being designed, so the two rings are made as a pair.
The profile is the shape of the band in cross-section, and it changes how the ring feels far more than people expect:
Beside an engagement ring, a band of a similar width to the engagement ring’s own band usually looks most balanced. Wider bands make a bolder statement, narrower ones let the engagement ring lead. Bands worn on their own, often by grooms, tend to be wider, so they have presence by themselves.
Depth, how thick the metal is from the outside to the inside, matters as much as width. A band that is too thin will wear and bend over the years. A band that is too deep can feel bulky between the fingers. Ask about both.
A plain band is the most timeless choice and the easiest to wear, resize and look after. A band set with diamonds adds sparkle and can echo the engagement ring.
A half eternity band is set with diamonds across the top only, so the stones show when worn and the plain underside can still be resized. A full eternity band is set all the way round. It is the most dramatic, but it is very difficult to resize, so the size must be right before it is made.
Match the metal of your engagement ring where you can. Two rings worn together rub against each other every day, and a harder metal slowly wears a softer one. Platinum beside platinum, or 18k gold beside 18k gold, wear evenly over the decades.
If you love the look of two colours together, it can be done beautifully. Plan it as a pair. Our gold vs platinum guide covers the differences between the metals in detail.
Couples do not need matching bands. Many choose the same metal or the same finish, a polished or brushed surface, and let the widths and profiles suit each hand. Others choose something entirely different and let the engraving inside be the thing they share: a date, a place, a few words in the language you first spoke to each other.
Wedding band sizes are not always the same as engagement ring sizes. Wider bands cover more of the finger and fit more snugly, so a wide band often needs to be a little larger than a narrow one. Comfort profiles such as the court can feel different again.
Fingers change through the day and with temperature, so size at the end of the day, when your hands are warm. Our ring size guide explains every method.
Give yourself time. Every Jabour ring is designed and made to order: standard production takes four to six weeks from confirmation and bespoke commissions six to twelve. Ordering at least eight weeks before the wedding leaves a comfortable margin for engraving and any final adjustment.
It should suit it rather than match it exactly. Choosing the same metal helps the two rings wear evenly, and the band’s shape should work with the height of the engagement ring’s setting.
Only if the engagement ring’s setting is low enough for a straight band to pass beneath it. Otherwise a shaped or curved band can meet it along its whole length, or you can choose a straight band with a small gap.
A court band is rounded on both the outside and the inside, so it slides on easily and is comfortable to wear every day.
A half eternity band, set with stones across the top only, can usually be resized through its plain underside. A full eternity band, set all the way round, is very difficult to resize, so the size needs to be right first.
Traditionally the wedding band is worn first, closest to the heart, with the engagement ring above it. Many people simply wear them in whichever order looks and feels best.
Every Jabour ring is made to order. Standard production takes four to six weeks and bespoke commissions six to twelve, so order at least eight weeks before the wedding.
MADE AS A PAIR
We design and we make wedding bands to sit beside the ring they belong with. Bring the engagement ring to a private appointment in central London, or show us by video.