Purchasing wedding rings and wedding bands

The tradition of a woman wearing a gold wedding ring when a couple gets married is thought to date back to 860 AD, when Pope Nicholas I stated that a man should give his bride a gold wedding ring to show his personal financial sacrifice for her hand in marriage.

During World War II, men started to wear wedding bands to show their love and commitment to their wives back in their home countries.

And the tradition of wearing wedding rings on the fourth finger of the left hand can be traced back to the times of the ancient Egyptians who believed that a special vein vena amoris, the "vein of love", ran from the top of the fourth finger of the left hand directly to the heart.

When it comes to buying weddings rings or wedding bands, the only way to ensure you find wedding rings or wedding bands that will match both your tastes and styles is to discuss the various choices with your partner and then to go shopping for the rings together.

The difference between a wedding ring and a wedding band is:

	A wedding ring may have small diamond or gemstones set into it and it may be part of an engagement ring and wedding ring set. These are known as bridal sets and are manufactured so the two rings match perfectly and can be both worn together or separately. Wedding rings are among the highest class of wedding jewelry.
	A wedding band is a solid band of metal without any stones set into it. A wedding band can be worn on its own or with an engagement ring.

There are wedding bands available which are known as comfort fit wedding bands. These are bands which have the inside edges of the band rounded, a process which makes the rings more comfortable to wear.

You may want to have your wedding bands engraved and the most popular engraving seems to be the couple's names or initials, followed by the wedding date.

Wedding rings and wedding bands are manufactured from:

	Platinum - These are the most expensive but are becoming a popular choice because of its unique polished, mirror finish.
	Titanium - There are extremely light and easy to wear, but cannot be resized.
	Gold - The classic metal for wedding rings and wedding bands and available in yellow gold, white gold, rose gold and combinations of the three colours. A substitute for platinum is white gold, but rings made in this material require a rhodium finish which needs to be replaced every two or three years.

Featured bridal jewelry merchants

With corporate offices located in New York's Diamond District, Mondera jewelry has been found by thousands of customers to be the online jewelry experts. Mondera jewelry has also adorned some of the world's best-known celebrities.

All Mondera diamonds are certified by the world's leading laboratory, the Gemological Institute of America, ensuring that your jewelry is extraordinary.

Mondera offers only timeless classic designs and never compromises on the quality of design, craftsmanship or gems. Only the finest quality jewelry reaches their customers and by bypassing the intermediaries in traditional jewlery distribution channels, customers will find that Mondera's prices are 30-50% lower than the average US retail prices.

All Mondera products come with Free Shipping on US orders and a 30-day money-back Guarantee!

Located at the heart of Manhattan's Diamond District, Szul is one of the first online jewelers to offer a remarkably wide selection of diamond, gemstone, and pearl jewelry.

Szul sources fine diamonds, gemstones, and precious metals directly from markets around the world and manufactures diamond and gemstone jewelry in-house by seasoned craftsmen, making it possible to offer their customers fine jewelry at the best prices.

Prices at Szul are substantially lower than traditional or online jewelers, but they guarantee that product quality is never sacrificed in the bargain.

All Szul products come with Free Shipping on US orders, a Guarantee of Authenticity, and a 30-day money-back Guarantee!