As your wedding day approaches I sense you’re on the lookout for wedding band sets. You have certainly arrived at the right place.
Wedding band sets are a combination of rings. This includes the engagement ring, the wedding ring for the woman and the wedding ring for the man. Designed as a set, all of the rings share a common style which creates a look of harmony. When rings are bought individually, you don’t often get that same cohesive bond.
Choosing wedding band sets over buying separate rings is a great idea. Besides having design elements that make them all look great together, these sets are usually less expensive than buying the rings individually.
We’ll assume since it’s for a wedding, that you’re looking to get a diamond. Since that’s the case there are several considerations to make. Perhaps you’ve heard about the 4 C’s of diamonds. It’s four elements to look at that determine the quality of the gemstone. The 4 C’s are cut, clarity, color and carat.
The cut determines how well the gem handles light. A high degree if sparkle is most desirable. A brilliant cut is an example. The diamond is cut with many facets to give it exceptional light return.
Clarity refers to the amount of imperfections present in the crystal. The fewer the better, but often this can only really be determined under magnification. You’re unlikely to see any issues with your naked eye.
Color is, as you probably guessed, color. But this normally isn’t red, blue, green and such. In this case we’re talking about the variance from colorless or white. Those two are the ideal and best color, while off white and yellow are less perfect. Jewelers have a rating scale that breaks the color rating into several categories.
Carat refers to size. The large the carat, the larger the diamond.
By far the most popular wedding band sets feature a diamond solitaire ring for the lady and a simple gold band for the man.
When it comes to wedding band sets, another option is to meet with a jeweller and have your rings custom designed. This may be the best option if you or your fiance have very personal tastes that can’t be satisfied by the wedding sets found in jewelry stores or online.
If you plan on buying your wedding band set on the internet, here are some useful guidelines to assist you. Select the online version of a traditional brick and mortar store, one that’s been around at least 10 years and has a history of fair trade and good customer service.
Also check the stores rating with the Better Business Bureau. If there are any red flags, move along.
Finally, look at the guarantees. These guard against breakage and give you the option to exchange or trade in your purchase.
Here’s a bonus tip I found out about from Fred Cuellar, author of the best-selling book “How to Buy a Diamond.” The tip is to “buy shy” as he calls it. Instead of getting a full 1 carat diamond, go for a .90 carat. You’ll save a lot of money and the difference visually is virtually unnoticeable.