Wedding Rings

The Four ‘C's of Wedding Rings: What You Need to Know

Where did the tradition of an engagement ring come from? It's said that Maximillion of Austria started this over 500 years ago, when he gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy to seal their engagement. He made a very wise choice – the diamond – proven to be a fitting symbol for everlasting love because of its beauty, hardness, rarity and its enduring value.

Before you purchase your ring, you need to understand the fours C's of the diamond industry. Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat. These four factors determine the value of a diamond.

Cut: this determines the visual beauty of a diamond. The cut transforms a rough, naturally occurring crystal into the faceted and refined gemstone seen in the store.

Colour: the common diamond is somewhat colourless, and tinged with yellow, brown or grey. A completely colourless diamond is very rare, making it extremely valuable.

Colour – like blue, yellow or green to name a few – is also very rare and valuable. These diamonds are also called "fancy stones".

Clarity: this is the most impressive quality in a diamond. The more irregularities there are, the lower the value. A flawless diamond must show no surface blemishes or interior inclusions when examined at a 10-power magnification.

Your rings cut, setting and stone should be a reflection of your personal style and taste. Start shopping early. Give yourself a minimum of two months before your wedding to shop and pick out your wedding rings. Things like engraving can take up to a full month (sometimes longer in the busier wedding months) so make sure to factor that into your timeline. Don't feel like you have to make a decision on the first trip. A lot of jewellery stores understand that you will need to make multiple trips before you and your fiancé commit to the final product.

Set aside approximately 2% of your total wedding budget for your wedding rings. Gold bands are considerable less expensive than platinum, which is a very popular choice for wedding rings. However, if your budget is a factor, try going for white gold instead of platinum. If you can't afford the rings you have your heart set on, get some simple wedding bands and upgrade on your fifth wedding anniversary.

Consider all of your finishing options when choosing your rings. Details like engraving or finish can turn a simple band into something amazing. However, you want to watch out for trends. Your wedding bands are something you and your fiancé will be wearing for the rest of your life. Whatever you decide on, make sure the designs and the styles are something you will enjoy for five, ten or even fifty years down the road. This is especially true for the guys.

While there are a lot of people who believe the bride and groom should have matching wedding bands, this is not a necessity. You could have extremely different ideas on what you like and what you think would look good on your hand. If you do want something that matches, look for rings that share some features like mixed metals but different decorations.

Last but certainly not least: there is a good possibility that your hands will swell some on your wedding day with heat, nerves and/or stress. Get your wedding rings sized well in advance but don't finalize your ring size in the morning, after working out or when you are really hot/cold. These are times when most people's hand swell. Plan ahead and try on your wedding rings one last time a couple of days before your wedding to make sure the fit is still good.

Happy shopping and don't be afraid to squeal a little bit when you see all those gorgeous rings!