GO BESPOKE To achieve a perfectly matched set of engagement and wedding rings, or if you fail to discover your vision in ready-made collections, you may decide to go down the bespoke route. Costs are often comparable, and you’ll be able to ensure the same profile and perfect shape fitted around your engagement ring, allowing the two to sit together in perfect harmony. You’ll need a skilled local goldsmith, so be on the lookout for privately-owned jewellers, particularly those who come highly recommended. The price of gold right now is sky high, so you can save yourself a pretty penny by presenting your jeweller with gold family heirloom pieces that you’re happy to have melted down and refashioned into your new wedding rings. This also brings a world of sentimentality and meaning. What about combining gold from both sides of your family symbolising the joining of the two in marriage? The bespoke process allows you to be involved every step of the way, working with your jeweller to design and bring to life exactly what’s in your head. Remember, you’re making a significant investment in these pieces, so they should be absolutely perfect for you – no compromises. You can even find some artisan makers who host wedding ring making workshops, allowing you to craft your very own bands. What could be more personal? THE PERSONAL TOUCH You can also opt for elements of personalisation, perhaps with precious stones that mean something to you both like your birth stones. Even if you decide against going fully bespoke there are still special twists you can add such as engraving your wedding date, your names or a meaningful phrase. There are some wonderfully creative options out there. Some of our favourites include engraving a sound wave, including hand-panned gold from a meaningful location, incorporating a custom inlay from crushed shell sourced from a beloved beach, and casting your fingerprints into the metal. COMFORT IS KEY You’ll be wearing your wedding ring all day, every day so comfort is a key factor to bear in mind. Aside from the obvious correct sizing, you’ll be thinking about ring profiles here. So, we suggest trying a few on to see what you’re happiest with. One of the most popular profiles is Court, rounded on both the inside and outside it’s designed to be the most comfy. If this isn’t for you, we recommend trying the popular D-Shape next. While still rounded on the outside this profile is flat on the inside, creating a D if it were sliced to expose the cross section – hence its name. The easiest solution, as well as the most aesthetically pleasing is to opt for a wedding band with the same profile as your engagement ring. You’ll have been wearing this for a while and will likely have a sound idea of whether it’s comfortable for you. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER Not all diamonds are created equal, so if you’re concerned about the origins of those in your wedding ring, ask your jeweller for more information. Ethically sourced diamonds ensure the stones are mined, processed and sold in a manner that respects human rights, the environment, and the communities they come from. Crucially, they’ll be conflict-free meaning they haven’t been used to fund conflict or violence. The Kimberley Process is the official certification process to look out for, allowing you to make sure your diamonds are conflict-free. Ethically sourced diamonds are also the result of fair labour practices ensuring everyone involved in the supply chain is paid and treated fairly, and able to work in safe conditions. Remember, the origin and journey of your diamonds should be known and traceable. Brown & Newirth guarantee all its diamonds conform to the Kimberley Process, and is committed to using 100 per cent recycled gold in all Sandy Millar on Unsplash Dillon Wanner on Unsplash Denny Muller on Unsplash 32
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