A wedding ring is the one piece of jewelry most people wear every single day for decades. It goes through dishwashing, gardening, travel and the gym. It's in every photo of your hands. So it's worth choosing it slowly.
I've been making jewelry since 1996, first in Manhattan and now in my studio in Hancock, New York. Over that time I've helped a lot of couples choose their wedding bands. The same few questions decide almost every ring: which gold, how wide, how it feels on the finger, and what size. Here's what I tell people when they come in, so you can choose with confidence whether you visit the studio or shop online.
1. Choose your gold: 10k, 14k or 18k
The karat number tells you how much of the metal is pure gold. Pure gold (24k) is too soft for a ring you wear every day, so it's mixed with other metals for strength.
| Karat | Pure gold | What it's like to wear |
|---|---|---|
| 10k | 41.7% | Hardest and most affordable; a paler yellow |
| 14k | 58.3% | The best balance of color, strength and price |
| 18k | 75% | Richest color, softer, shows wear sooner |
For a wedding band I usually recommend 14k gold. It's strong enough for daily life and still has a warm, true gold color. Most of my rings are made to order in 14k yellow, white or rose gold, or in sterling silver. [Tricia to confirm: whether 10k or 18k is available on request.]
2. Yellow, white or rose gold, or sterling silver?
Color is the most personal choice, and the easiest way to decide is to look at the jewelry you already wear every day.
- Yellow gold is the classic wedding band. It's warm, flattering on most skin tones, and the easiest color to match later.
- White gold is gold mixed with white metals. Many white gold rings are also plated with rhodium for an extra-bright finish, and that plating can wear and need refreshing every few years.
- Rose gold gets its pink color from copper. It's soft and romantic, and it looks lovely beside yellow gold in a stack.
- Sterling silver costs much less, but it's softer and tarnishes. It's a good choice for a second band or a ring you'll wear for now and remake in gold later.
You don't have to match your partner. Plenty of couples choose different metals and widths and still feel like a pair.
3. Width, shape and comfort fit
Width changes how a ring looks and how it feels.
- Fine bands (about 1.5–2.5 mm) are delicate and stack beautifully beside an engagement ring.
- Medium bands (about 3–5 mm) are the most common choice and suit almost every hand.
- Wide bands (6 mm and up) make a statement. Wider rings feel snugger, so they often need a slightly larger size.
The shape of the band matters too. A flat band looks modern and crisp. A dome band is rounded on top and softer on the eye. A comfort fit band is also rounded on the inside, so it slides over the knuckle more easily and feels gentler all day.
If you want something bold, my Men's Tapered Ruby Dome Band is a wide dome with a flush-set ruby. For something simpler and lighter, look at the Opening Up Band.
4. Getting your ring size right
A wedding ring should slide over your knuckle with a little resistance and sit snugly without pinching. A few tips:
- Measure at the end of the day. Fingers swell in the afternoon and in warm weather, and shrink in the cold.
- Have a jeweler measure you with real ring sizers rather than string or paper, which are rarely accurate.
- Size for the width. A wide band needs about a quarter to half size larger than a fine one.
- Measure the actual finger. Your left and right hands are often different sizes.
If you can visit, I'm happy to size you at the studio. [Tricia to add: resizing policy for made-to-order rings.]
5. Pairing it with an engagement ring
If you'll wear your wedding band next to an engagement ring, bring that ring with you or send a photo when you order. Look at three things:
- Height: a band should sit flush against the engagement ring without its stone catching.
- Metal: matching colors look seamless; mixing yellow and rose gold looks intentional and modern.
- Proportion: a fine band beside a delicate engagement ring keeps the stack balanced.
A diamond band adds sparkle without competing with the main stone. My 6 Diamond Band Ring was made for stacking and comes in 14k yellow, white or rose gold and sterling silver. Some people choose a single-stone ring as the band itself, like the Single Diamond Ring or the Emerald and Diamond Ring.
6. Why choose a handmade wedding band
Most wedding bands in chain stores are machine-made in large batches. My rings start as wax models carved by hand, a skill I learned from the master wax carver Fred de Vos. The wax is cast in solid gold or silver using the lost-wax method, then filed, set and polished at my bench in Hancock, New York.
That means each ring is made to order in your size and your choice of metal, rather than pulled from a drawer. It also means a real person answers your questions, before and after you buy.
7. A wedding band that carries someone with you
Weddings can bring up grief as well as joy. If a parent or grandparent can't be there, some people want to keep them close on the day and every day after.
My memorial bands hold a small amount of a loved one's ashes in a hidden compartment, sealed permanently inside the ring. From the outside they look like any other wedding band. The Ashes Band with 6 Diamonds and the Memorial Ashes Band with 3 Diamonds can both be worn as a wedding ring. You'll find the full collection under Memorial Jewelry.
Wedding ring questions I hear most
Which hand does the wedding ring go on?
In the US and UK it's traditionally worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, next to the engagement ring. In many other countries, including Germany, Norway and India, it's worn on the right hand.
Should a wedding band match the engagement ring?
It doesn't have to. Matching metal looks seamless, but mixed metals and different widths are just as common now. What matters is that the two sit comfortably together.
Is 14k or 18k gold better for a wedding ring?
For everyday wear, 14k. It's harder and resists scratches and dents better, while 18k has a deeper color but is softer.
How far ahead should I order a handmade wedding ring?
Give yourself time for sizing and making, especially before the wedding. [Tricia to add: typical lead time for wedding bands.]
Can I see the rings in person?
Yes. My studio is at 102 E Front St, Hancock, NY 13783, open Thursday to Saturday 11 am–6 pm and Sunday 12–4 pm. You can also call me at (917) 279-3583.
Finding the one
The right wedding ring is the one you forget you're wearing, until you look down and smile. Start with the metal, then the width, then the fit, and the choice usually makes itself.
Browse my handmade rings, or call or visit the studio and we'll find yours together.
— Tricia