Wedding Bands
The engagement ring gets the spotlight, but the wedding band is the ring you'll actually wear every day for the rest of your life, through work, workouts, dishes, and everything else. That makes comfort and durability just as important as looks. Here's how we walk couples through the choice at our counter.
For traditional metals: 14k gold is the everyday workhorse: durable, repairable, and available in yellow, white, and rose. 18k gold is richer in color but softer, better for people who aren't hard on their hands. Platinum is the premium choice: denser, naturally white forever (no re-plating), and hypoallergenic. It costs more upfront but wears for generations.
Alternative metals like tungsten, titanium, and cobalt are popular for men's bands because they're inexpensive and scratch-resistant. Two big caveats: they can never be resized, and they can't be repaired if damaged. Fingers change size over decades; a gold or platinum band adapts with you, an alternative-metal band gets replaced.
Most women's bands run 1.5–3mm; most men's run 4–8mm. Wider bands fit tighter than narrow ones on the same finger, so a 8mm band often needs a quarter-size up. If you've never worn a ring daily, choose "comfort fit," a rounded interior dome that slides over the knuckle easier and disappears on your hand within a week.
Try widths on in person. The band that looks right on a chart frequently feels wrong on your hand, and this ring is a decades-long commitment.
The classic route matches the band's metal and style to the engagement ring, sitting flush against it. If your engagement ring has a low-set or protruding stone, you may need a contoured or notched band shaped to nest around the setting; many of our custom projects are exactly this.
Mixing is also fully in style: a pavé diamond band under a solitaire, mixed metals, or a stack that grows with anniversaries. The only real rule: bring the engagement ring when you shop so you can see the pairing on your hand, not in your imagination.
Buy bands 2–3 months before the wedding; that leaves time for sizing, engraving, and any custom contouring without rush fees. Budget-wise: plain 14k gold bands typically run $300–$900, platinum $600–$1,500, diamond-set bands $700 and up, and alternative metals $100–$400.
Don't forget engraving: a date, coordinates, or a private joke inside the band costs little and becomes the detail you treasure most. If you're in the Hartford area, come try widths and metals side by side at King's Jeweler in The Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester. We size while you wait, engrave, and custom-fit bands to your engagement ring. Stop in or say hello.
Written by
The King's Jeweler FamilyOwners & Master Jewelers
King's Jeweler is a family-run jewelry store inside The Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester, Connecticut. From engagement rings and custom pieces to same-day watch batteries and expert repairs, every customer is helped personally by a jeweler who cares about getting it right. More about King's Jeweler
Bring it in and we'll take a look, explain your options, and give you an honest answer on the spot at The Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester, CT.
Visit or Contact UsWhether it's an engagement ring, a five-minute battery, or a piece designed just for you, we take care of it personally. Stop by the store or send us a message.
