The wedding band has been a symbolic part of the wedding ceremony for centuries.1 And now, the wedding band is getting the customized attention it deserves—no longer satisfied to be an understated companion to the elaborate custom engagement ring.
It might surprise you how easy it is to customize wedding rings with the right expertise and guidance. The possibilities are only limited by the wearer’s imagination to bedeck this once-simple ring with personality, meaning, and uniqueness.
We’ll show you each element you’ll want to know before designing your custom wedding band, and then the easy steps to do it with the experts at Noémie.
#1 Dream It Up
The first, and one of the most exciting parts, of your wedding ring’s custom design, is to dream it up from the ground up. From the color to the embellishments, start thinking about the symbol of eternal love and commitment2 you envision adorning your ring finger.
Collect Your Inspiration
Gather photos, drawings, and any other ideas you want to incorporate into the ring’s design. You might already have some Pinterest boards brimming with dreamy fashion rings—that’s a great place to start! Selecting a few inspiring photos will help your designer match your desired style and budget later on.
When you design customized wedding rings with Noémie, we’ll take the design from here if you want to leave the material decisions to the experts. However, if you want to be even more involved in deciding features like the material, width, or finishes, read on for more tips to accompany your inspirational photos!
Choose Your Band Material
What precious metals will serve as the foundation for your ring? Common materials for wedding rings include gold (white, yellow, black), platinum, sterling silver, and titanium, to name a few. Gold is the most popular precious metal for wedding rings.3 From 10k to 24k, gold can accommodate practically any budget for a romantic and durable wedding band.
We highly recommend 18-karat gold for the best balance of strength and durability. If you go above 18k, the gold is softer and can be more easily scratched or bent. Any lower, and the brilliance and brightness will be less apparent.
Here are a few of the most timeless golds to choose from:
- Yellow Gold – This classic metal is alloyed with copper, silver, and zinc. Charming, timeless, and low-maintenance—yellow gold will always be in style, and is commonly associated with wedding rings.
- White Gold – This elegant alternative to yellow gold creates a sophisticated look. The clean, shiny, polished characteristic of white gold comes from silver, palladium (or nickel), and zinc.
- Rose Gold – An alternative to yellow and white gold, rose gold is becoming increasingly popular as more custom jewelry is made available in this metal. The color comes from alloyed copper, and maintains its rosy hue and shine with little maintenance.
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Black Gold – Made with a base of natural gold, the metal substance undergoes a special and custom jewelry process to achieve a rich, deep-black color for a stunningly elegant choice in fine jewelry.
- Platinum – This dense, bright-silver metal is heavier and more expensive than gold. It is considered relatively rare, but is used in an array of other building capacities besides jewelry because it’s extremely durable.4
Establish Your Band Style
Width, texture, and finish are all elements to consider. Will your wedding band be subtly smooth, allowing the loose diamonds and gemstones to steal the show, or will you go for a deeply textured band, so that it can have more of the spotlight? You could also land in the middle, and have a band that highlights both metal and stones equally. Whichever you choose, the results will be a gleaming reflection of your committed partnership and everlasting love.
Choose Your Band Width
Most bands fall into a width category of 1mm to 8mm. Think about your custom engagement ring. Do you want your wedding band to be equal in width, or do you want the widths to be different?
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Equal widths – Many opt for their wedding bands and engagement rings to match in size for comfort and symmetry. If the widths fall in the 2mm to 4mm range, you should be able to accommodate both rings comfortably.
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Different widths – You could certainly have different sizes and styles for the wedding band and engagement ring for a more distinctive look. If it’s comfortable to wear and makes you happy, it’s the right choice.
Decide Your Textures and Finishes
If you choose to texture your band, here are a few ways you can go:
- Twisted
- Knotted
- Hammered or faceted
- Saw-cut grooves
- Crater or concrete texture
- Outer engraving
Even if you choose a textured band, you can finalize the design with a distinct finish. Here are some popular finishes you could consider for your ring:
- Polished (glossy, mirror-like shine)
- Satin (soft, smooth sheen)
- Matte (flat, subdued)
- Brushed (tiny brush grooves, with no shine)
- Sandblasted (coarse, grainy)
Your team of experts will be able to guide you on what’s available, and what will complement the other elements of your design.
Select Your Stones (If You’d Like)
Another element you can choose to make your wedding band totally unique is the addition of loose diamonds or other precious stones. Whether you spring for a row of baguettes or personalized birthstones for you and your beloved, the choice is all yours.
Here are some popular cuts to consider:5
- Round (a perfect circle: the most classic style)
- Oval (an elongated variation on the round cut)
- Baguette (long, slender stones that can accentuate larger stones)
- Cushion (square, with rounded edges)
- Emerald (rectangular, with cropped corners)
- Heart (shaped like a heart)
- Marquise (elliptical shape, tapered on both ends)
- Pear (teardrop shape)
- Princess (square, with pointed corners)
Determine Your Ring Size
When designing your custom ring, it’ll be important to know your ring size before your design team can begin crafting your dream band.
If you don’t know your ring size already, you can measure your finger easily with a simple string:
- Wrap a string or cord around your finger where you want the ring to sit
- Use a marker to indicate where the string overlaps
- Measure to the mark in millimeters with measuring tape or a ruler
- Compare your findings to an online ring-measurement guide
#2 Consult with an Expert Designer
Consult with a reputable fine-jewelry expert like our custom-design team at Noémie about your brilliant ideas. They will help you make decisions on all the elements you know, and everything else you don’t know, making sure every fine detail is covered.
Share Your Inspiration and Budget
Answer a few questions about your dream ring preferences, any metal allergies, what your budget will look like, your ring size, and what you want to see overall. Be sure to include your photos for inspiration for the designer to match.
Collaborate with Your Designer
The collaboration on the drafted design will look different depending on which custom jeweler you decide to use. At Noémie, we make it easy and seamless, giving you a hand sketch based on your inspiration photos, descriptions, and preferences. You can add and change things from the sketch as you wish until you feel 100% confident about the design.
Receive Your Price Quote
At this stage, you’ll also receive a price quote to ensure your dream ring design is within an attainable budget. If you need to make adjustments, you can work with your designer to find more economical ways to materialize your ideal design.
#3 Let the Designing Begin!
Once you’ve finalized the drafted design and are happy with every aspect, your designer can begin designing your ring.
Here at Noémie, we know how precious this ring is to you, so we take care of every detail for you while you’re preparing for your wedding. So while other custom processes may require multiple check-ins and back-and-forth, ours is as easy as sitting tight until your design is delivered straight to your door.
Noémie’s Simple 3-Step Process
Designing your dream custom wedding band couldn’t be easier with our design experts at Noémie. We deliver you a completely custom wedding band in just three simple steps:
Set Your Design in Motion With Noémie
Noémie is your expert designer for customizing a wedding band tailored to you. All you have to do is dream up your design, and our custom-design team will make it so.
We never charge custom design fees or minimums. We won’t ask for a deposit, and we offer free shipping and returns to try your ring risk-free. Plus, enjoy complimentary engraving to add that perfect final touch to your one-of-a-kind treasure.
Visit our custom design gallery to learn the jewelry trends 2023 and to kick off your easy custom-design experience today. In the journey from concept to reality, your wedding band will be even more special because you had a hand in creating it.
Sources:
- Jewelpedia. Jewelry History/Roman Wedding Rings. http://www.jewelpedia.net/roman-wedding-rings
- Jewellery Business. “With this ring”: Wedding bands through the ages. https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/features/with-this-ring-wedding-bands-through-the-ages
- My Wedding. The 5 Most Popular Engagement Ring Metals: How to Choose the Right One for You. https://www.mywedding.com/engagement/rings/the-5-most-popular-engagement-ring-metals-how-to-choose-the-right-one-for-you
- Brides. Which Type of Ring Metal Should You Choose? https://www.brides.com/ring-metals
- Gem Rock Auctions. Gemstone Shapes, Cuts, and Sizes — A Full Guide. https://www.gemrockauctions.com/learn/did-you-know/gemstone-shapes-cuts-and-sizes-a-full-guide
- Roman Times. Ancient Marriage Rings. https://ancientimes.blogspot.com/2020/09/ancient-marriage-rings.html
- Gemological Institute of America. The Origin of Wedding Rings: Ancient Tradition or Marketing Invention? https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/blog/origin-of-wedding-rings
- Cape Town Diamond Museum. The History & First Exchange of a Wedding Ring. https://www.capetowndiamondmuseum.org/blog/2019/03/the-history-of-the-wedding-ring