Ring

Looking Back

Men wearing wedding rings is not as ancient a tradition as many of us would expect. While the act of a man placing a ring-like object on his chosen female partner’s finger is a practice that dates back to pre-historic times (when the affair was concluded with some very affordable pieces of reed twisted together), the man’s wedding ring is a modern construct originating in just the twentieth century.

It is perhaps for this period of short time that men have had to digest that they, too, ought to wear a symbol of their marital union that so many are not comfortable wearing one.

 

Another reason, one more eagerly accepted by most males, is that rings seem to land squarely in the category of Jewellery. That categorisation is not a sexist one at all because it is readily embraced by the majority of both women and the unfairer sex.

 

Men’s wedding rings started becoming popular in the United States and Europe during the early half of the 1900s. Millions of men were headingout to war in distant places, unsure whether they would return or what they would be returning to. The rings on their fingers served as a potent symbol of what – and for whom – they were fighting for.

 

The ring exchange ceremony became a mainstay of most Western marriages and the ritual rapidly spread in the modern world. It is now seen in ceremonies the world over, practised by people of all faiths, creeds and ethnicities.

 

Many people cite Hollywood as compelling factor for the rising trend, an entirely justifiable conclusion for anyone who has sat through the romantic comedies that the movie factory has produced over the last forty years.

 

The Now

 

Still, the modern man has to contend with the rather mystifying and seemingly complex myriad choices of rings presented to him when the time does come to take the plunge. Without a guiding hand, it is easy to get lost in the maze of options of material, designs, patterns, gems and colours.

But then you have us.

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“Here, we systematically break down your main options because choosing a ring is a mixture of science and art. The science part is not limited to just finding a ring wide enough to go on your finger; it is as relevant to your
lifestyle and work, and we will explain that in detail.”

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Your personality, likes, dislikes and preferences play a large role in helping you decide on the ring with which you are happiest
We use a system of seven factors that will help you narrow down the list and make a final decision for you men’s wedding ring. They are:

 

01. Your Work

 

Perhaps you are surprised that the list begins with Work. We discovered very quickly that a man’s work is by far the most important factor in his choice of wedding ring and our years of experience have proven it time and again
To decide if a ring is appropriate for your work, here are the questions you must ask yourself:
Is the ring appropriate for the place where I work
The best men’s wedding rings for an office environment, a workshop and the outdoors vary widely. If you only handle pens and paper and type on a keyboard at work every day, you have an extremely wide range of ring options open to you
If, on the other hand, your occupation requires you to handle machinery and the grease, oil and grime that comes with them, your range of choices for men’s wedding rings is narrower. The same goes for those who have to work with chemicals and/or with nature, as is the case with gardeners or botanists and zoologists
It is not only the fact that certain workplaces are more likely to expose your hands and your ring to substances that may affect the appearance and the integrity of your wedding band, you must also factor in the possibility that certain ring designs are more likely than others to get caught in equipment and machinery
Will wearing your ring while handling delicate plants and animals harm or damage them? Might the texture, design or material of your men’s wedding ring affect them adversely in another way
The answers to those questions will not only help you decide which rings you can wear but also which ones to avoid
In such cases, many men forego the wearing of the wedding ring on their finger. Instead, they remove the ring completely or wear it on a chain
The latter option poses its own limitations on the type of ring – rings that have intricate work or softer inlays may have the designs abraded off and damaged by constant contact with a chain
It is only after you contend with how you will be wearing your men’s wedding ring that you should choose its design features. Ignoring this may mean that you end up with a man’s wedding ring that is neither practical nor wearable.

 

 

02. Your Play

 

There is no point in having to choose between the activities you love and wearing your ring. Spend some time considering whether your choice of wedding ring is compatible with the lifestyle you lead
Do I lead an active lifestyle
Are you an avid mountaineer who is exposed to vast differences in temperature? Are you a spelunker or a rock climber whose hands are in constant contact with hard natural formations? Are you a boxer or an MMA enthusiast? Or do you simply prefer the likes of gardening
For various reasons, wearing a ring can be detrimental in all those activities. Extremes of temperature, repeated impact and exposure to the elements in common soil all have the potential to damage a man’s wedding ring and/or cause injury to the digit on which it is worn
In certain sports, participants may be required to divest themselves of all accessories to ensure the safety of everyone in the arena
The more active a lifestyle you lead, the more considerations you will have to make when you choose your man’s wedding ring

 

03. Your Personality

 

The more closely what you wear aligns with your personality, the more likely you are to wear it and the more likely you are to feel at ease wearing it. That works for all items of your wardrobe, including your wedding ring
A wedding ring is unique in that it transcends being just a symbol of your love or a fashion accessory; it is a
combination of the two. The best choice of wedding ring will allow you to showcase your bond with your partner as well as your personality
There are so many varieties of designs and materials for wedding rings available that you will be able to find one that is the perfect balance of both.

 

 

-You like understated elegance

 

For the man who prefers to project an air of quiet refinement, simple bands with minimalist designs or those devoid of them altogether might be the most attractive option. For the traditionalist, the timeless classic, the gold band can allow him to maintain his distinguished look while also imbuing  the sophistication and class of gold
Similar modest designs are also available with titanium and platinum rings. For those wishing to achieve the look with a more restrained budget can look at tungsten rings and tantalum rings which also come in simple, classic designs.

 

-You like elegance combined with some flair

 

You don’t like to flaunt your accessories but classic single colour, single metal and unadorned men’s wedding rings bore you (and perhaps, even more importantly, your fiancée). In that case, multi-toned or patterned rings might be the answer
Besides adding another colour or another metal, or inlaying with a different material, models can have patterned edges or overlaid with a unique finish
These choices add a subtle twist to classic designs that transform them from age-old favourites to pleasingly eye-catching yet restrained wedding rings. They are a gentle departure from the traditionalist options while still displaying an austere look.

 

-You like to make a statement

 

For a relatively small piece of metal on your finger, the wedding ring inspires and commands much more attention than is proportionate to its size. The married man looking to project a particularly bold statement will be spoiled for choice  with the right range of men’s wedding rings
Modern designs have made a marked departure from their older counterparts in terms of the materials used, the colours featured and the physical designs
One of the most remarkable metals that has begun to make its mark on the world of men’s wedding rings is tungsten. Made in ring from as the composite titanium carbide, these rings are resistant to scratching from virtually anything and everything you might encounter on an ordinary day
They are also virtually indestructible, making for not just an interesting wedding band but also an intriguing talking piece
The use of colour is another trend that has become popular in men’s wedding ring designs in recent years. Aside from rose gold which enjoyed immense popularity (and continues to today), the use of bolder colours like blue are also gaining momentum
If you want to make a statement with you men’s wedding ring, there are probably few better options guaranteed of eliciting interest more than a blue band shimmering like the oceans and the skies.

 

-You really, really like to make a statement

 

Okay, we get it. You love the attention; the wedding day is going to be so great with all those eyes on you
For every day after, perhaps we could interest you in a puzzle ring
These amazing rings are constructed of two or more interlocking pieces cut into wavy or jigsaw-like edges all around the circumference. This allows them to be separated and then re-joined. The look is made even more visually striking when the adjacent components are constructed of materials of different colours
Again, a combination with a flamboyant colour like blue will appeal to the extrovert as it will call further attention to an already unique design. You wanted a statement-making ring, you got one.

 

04. Comfort

 

If you plan to wear your ring all day, every day, comfort should be one of your prime concerns. In fact, it is almost just as important even if you plan to wear it less often – there is no point associating any negative sensations or feelings when the ring is going to be the symbol of your blessed union
There are four things to consider to determine how comfortable your ring will be:

 

-Size (circumference) of the ban

-Shape of the band edg

-Shape of the inside surfac

-Band width

The most important factor when it comes to the comfort of men’s wedding rings is its circumference Band width. We always advise you to have your finger measurements taken professionally to ensure the best fit and greatest comfort
If you do have to take measurements yourself at home, make sure to do it later in the evening instead of earlier in the day. Our body expands as the day progresses and a seemingly minimal difference can end up being the source of a lot of discomfort very quickly.

 

The other major consideration in terms of comfort is the shape of the ring, particularly the shape of the edges. Straight edges can cut into the flesh, especially if you work with your hands. A much better option is a wedding ring with curved edges which will allow the band to shift easily and painlessly across your skin
The inside surface of your wedding ring also plays a part in the level of comfort your men’s wedding ring provides. A curved inner surface minimises the amount of metal in contact with your finger, reducing friction and allowing heat to escape more easily
The final factor in comfort is the width of your wedding ring. Generally, men’s rings are slightly wider than women’s, and men usually choose a ring band that is proportional to the size of their hand – the larger the hand, the wider the ring
Men’s wedding rings are usually 6 mm or 7 mm wide, with bands of 5 mm or narrower usually reserved for women or men who like an especially minimalist look.
However, wider bands generally feel tighter around the finger. A ring band wider than 7 mm can prove to be unnecessarily uncomfortable and we would not recommend it for extended wear. You will have to decide which of these options will best serve your purposes and also be comfortable for extended wear.

 

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