Your wedding ring is a sentimental piece you'll want to treasure forever. But how do you ensure your choice is both stylish and timeless? Here, Jack Jahan from Ramsdens Jewellery shares his top tips for selecting the perfect ring for your big day.

Your wedding is a beautiful celebration of your commitment to your bride-to-be. And, while you'll both have put a lot of effort into making sure the day is perfect, have you given enough thought when it comes to choosing the ring you'll wear for the rest of your life? Not only does a wedding ring symbolise commitment and everlasting love for your partner, but it also gives a sharp finish to any look you put together. 

Here, I will be sharing my top four tips to choosing a wedding ring you will treasure for years to come. 

Consider your lifestyle

Before trying to find the right wedding ring for you, it's a smart move to consider how busy or active your lifestyle is. This is because you'll need to ensure your ring doesn't interfere with your everyday life. 

For example, choosing something that's a bit too chunky could restrict the flexibility of your fingers when carrying out your daily tasks, meaning you'd have to take it off anyway. In a similar vein, selecting a more delicate style might not be your best bet if you frequently play high intensity sport as there's more likely your ring will get bent or damaged. So, thinking carefully about your daily responsibilities and activities is a must. 

Analyse the metal

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As well as choosing something to suit your personal style, it's important that you consider which metal will be best for your lifestyle. There are a number of very strong and popular metals used in the creation of wedding rings, so you should be able to find something that'll perfectly balance style and durability, as well as suit your budget. 

Gold:

Yellow gold is arguably the most classic-looking precious metal there is. However, the purest versions are typically the most expensive of any metal, meaning it's a larger investment. If yellow gold is your preferred metal, you might want to avoid pure gold, as it is malleable and doesn't resist scratches as well as gold that is mixed with an alloy metal. 14-carat and 18-carat gold rings tend to be the most popular and practical choices — they contain 58% and 75% pure gold, respectively. 

Rose gold:

This stunning blush-toned gold makes for a unique wedding ring that will add a touch of luxury to any of your daily looks. And, with rose gold growing in popularity over the years — especially among men looking to break down gender stereotypes — you can be sure you're choosing a fashion-forward piece that will get heads turning. To achieve this gorgeous colour, gold is alloyed with copper and silver, meaning it's more suitable for an active lifestyle than pure gold would be. 

White gold:

Another metal that's suitable for the active man is white gold. Typically alloyed with another metal such as silver, palladium, or nickel and then coated with rhodium, this will mimic the look of silver but require much less cleaning and polishing. However, white gold rings may need re-plating every few years to keep their shine. 

Platinum and palladium:

These are both popular options and offer a luxurious finish. Platinum is one of the rarer wedding ring metals, which means it'll come in at a higher cost. But, luckily, palladium is usually available at a third of the cost of platinum and almost matches its durability and style to the letter.

Sterling silver:

Silver is the most affordable precious metal option. However, it's very soft in its purest form, so it's usually alloyed with other metals to create sterling silver that is much more durable. To the untrained eye, it can be mistaken for palladium, however it'll need cleaning a lot more often so might not be the best choice if your work if very hands-on. 

Find your ideal shape

Men's wedding rings tend to be plainer than women's and therefore can all appear to look quite similar. However, there are subtle differences that can make or break your perfect wedding ring. The shape, also known as the profile, of the ring can have a big effect on how it looks and feels on your finger. 

There are plenty of profiles to choose from, including the most popular style, which is a D-ring. These have a smooth outer and therefore feel comfortable for most men. However, don't be afraid to deviate from the crowd and choose something a little different. You could pick between court rings, which are rounded on both the inside and outside for a classic and comfortable fit, or select a flat band that has unrounded edges for a more unconventional look. 

Whatever you choose, just make sure it's something that you can imagine wearing with a range of casual and formal outfits. That way, you can ensure that your wedding ring can be worn proudly every day. 

Match it to your favourite watch

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If you've got an impressive timepiece that you like to wear regularly, it'll be a good idea to select a wedding ring that complements it nicely. So, consider the metal of your watch and decide whether you'd want your wedding ring to match it for a put-together finish, or whether you'd like to get inventive and mix and match metals for a fun look. 

There are no dos and don’ts when it comes to experimenting with jewellery, and that's the beauty of it! Just make sure that whatever you choose will be a classic addition to your jewellery and watch collection. 

Your wedding ring doesn't have to be plain and simple, but you do have to love wearing it. So, follow my top four tips to finding the perfect style to say "I do" with.