How to choose men’s wedding bands

Choosing a wedding band doesn’t have to be complicated. While there’s plenty of choice, our guide is designed to help you find a ring that suits your lifestyle, budget, and personal style without the stress.

Our checklist narrows down what you’re looking for, making wedding ring shopping simple, so you can focus on your upcoming wedding. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Do you want your wedding rings to match?

• What metal do you prefer? Platinum, Palladium, Gold, Zirconium

• Do you want diamonds included in your design?

• What is your ring size?

• What profile do you like?

• How wide should the band be?

• What is your budget?

• Where to buy it

To match, or not to match?

Traditionally, couples bought matching wedding rings. This was mostly because plain metal bands were the norm and design options were limited, so identical rings were the easiest choice. Matching bands symbolise unity and shared commitment.

Today, there’s much more variety. Even as a couple, you’re free to choose rings that reflect your individual tastes, lifestyles and preferences, even if they’re not identical. 

If you ask our opinion, we think it’s much more important for the wedding ring to match the engagement ring, as they’ll be the two rings worn together. Choose a band that complements it if you want to, as long as your choice prioritises your own style and comfort first and foremost. 

Some of the elements you might want to incorporate to share a coordinated look that still reflects your individuality include:

• The same metal type and colour

• The same finish, such as matt, polished or brushed

• The same stones or design accents

Deciding on your ring metal

The choice of metal affects your ring’s overall look, durability and cost. The most popular options for wedding rings include:

Platinum Men’s Wedding Rings

Platinum is a premium choice and ideal for an active lifestyle. It’s strong, durable, and maintains its naturally white colour without needing replating. Platinum is also hypoallergenic, making it suitable for sensitive skin.

This premium material is higher in price than others, which is worth bearing in mind if you’re on a budget.

Palladium Men’s Wedding Rings

Palladium is a great lightweight option that retains its white tone without rhodium plating. It belongs to the same metal family as platinum but has a subtle grey sheen that gives a modern look.

It’s hypoallergenic and more affordable than platinum due to being less dense.

 

18k Gold Men’s Wedding Rings

Available in yellow, white, and rose gold, 18k gold offers a rich, warm colour thanks to its high gold content. For white gold, keep in mind that rhodium plating is needed every 1–2 years.

Pure gold is too soft for daily wear, but 18k is durable, easy to resize, engrave, and repair. It’s also a good choice for sensitive skin due to fewer alloy metals.

However, if you work with your hands or lift weights, 18k gold may bend more easily, so you’ll need to remove it during physical activity.

9k Gold Men’s Wedding Rings

9k gold is the toughest form of gold, making it ideal if you prioritise durability over purity. It’s a classic choice for traditional yellow gold bands.

It’s low‑maintenance and more affordable due to its higher alloy content. Like 18k, white 9k gold requires rhodium plating every few years to maintain its colour.

Men’s Black Zirconium Wedding Rings

Black Zirconium makes an excellent choice for a modern wedding ring. Not to be confused with cubic zirconia, Zirconium is a metal that when heat treated forms a strong black ceramic surface.

Tough and scratch resistant, Zirconium is a great choice if you lead an active lifestyle or work with your hands. It’s also extremely lightweight, which makes it a comfortable choice if you’re not used to wearing jewellery often. 

Black Zirconium is a modern choice that needs little upkeep. It doesn’t need plating. Although resizing the hard material is much more difficult than resizing gold or platinum. However, here at Diamond Heaven, we offer a size exchange to ensure the perfect fit. 

 

Plain band Vs Diamond band

Traditionally, men’s wedding bands did not include diamonds or stones, but in the last decade, choosing a ring that stands out has become much more popular. Including diamonds in your design allows you to develop a completely personal design in keeping with your style and personality. Diamonds symbolise the everlasting, which makes them an excellent choice for a wedding ring. 

If you’re choosing a ring with diamonds, it’s important to remember the 4 C’s

• Cut - the cut controls how light shines through the diamond, making it sparkle and shine. The better the quality of the cut, the more glittering and fiery it will be. 

• Clarity - the clarity is where inclusions are measured, think of inclusions like little blemishes. Some inclusions are only visible with a jeweller’s loupe, whereas a very included diamond shows imperfections that can be seen with the naked eye.

• Colour - Colourless diamonds are generally the most valuable, but diamonds with a rosy or peachy tone can complement a rose gold ring setting. 

• Carat weight - The carat is how much the diamond weighs, not simply its size. 

You’ll also want to consider whether to opt for a lab-grown or natural diamond. Both are chemically the same. However, you could purchase a lab grown diamond with the same qualities of a natural diamond at a fraction of the cost. 

If you prefer a minimalist or traditional look, a plain band may be the better choice. You can still personalise it through engraving or unique finishes.

Choosing your ring size

When shopping for a men’s wedding ring, we recommend being sized properly for a comfortable, secure fit. Remember, your ring size can fluctuate depending on how warm your hands are and at different times of the day. Your ring size can also fluctuate depending on the thickness of the band too, so it’s best to try on various different styles and sizes. 

Once you’ve settled on your wedding band, you should try it on in the early afternoon and ensure it follows the three fit fundamentals. 

• Slides on easily

• Has slight resistance over the knuckle

• Comes off without any pain

Men’s wedding ring profiles

Choosing the right profile is just as important as choosing your size. The profile determines how the ring feels and sits on your finger.

Classic Court Wedding Band

A court style men's wedding ring is one of the most common shapes, alongside a D-Shaped wedding band. The classic court profile features both rounded interiors and exteriors, giving the aesthetic of a nearly rounded ring. Because of this, it is arguably one of the most comfortable rings to wear.

D-Shaped Wedding Ring

A D-Shaped men's wedding band is the second most popular ring profile and holds similarities to the Classic Court profile. This ring boasts a flat interior and rounded exterior - much like the letter ‘D'. If you want something traditional but with a better fit, then we recommend the D-Shape profile.

Flat Rings

If you want something completely different to a classic court men's wedding ring, then why not consider the flat ring? It must be mentioned that this ring isn't suitable for men who lead an active lifestyle or have a practical job, as this type of ring will catch on machinery.

Flat Court

The flat court ring features the exterior of a flat ring with the comfortable rounded interior of a classic court, and it's very popular with men right now. This streamlined design leans more towards the modern side. If you prefer something more refined with a cleaner finish, then this streamlined design is perfect for you.

Bevelled

The bevelled profile features a flat interior with a slightly angled exterior with two edges. If you're looking for a striking wedding band where light can bounce and create a luminous shine, then the bevelled profile is for you. However, if you want a thinner ring, then this profile will not suit, as it requires a wider band.

Concave

The concave profile showcases a curved outer surface and has a much more elegant aesthetic. The interior of the ring is the same as the interior of the court profile, so you'll be guaranteed to have a beautiful and comfortable ring.

Choose the Width

Now that you've worked out your budget, ring size, metal and profile, it is time to look at the width of your wedding ring. The average size of a man's wedding band sits between 5mm - 7mm. If your finger size is under an S then we recommend a 6mm ring so that it doesn't overpower your fingers.

The best way to make a decision on the size of your men's wedding band is to go and try the different band widths. That way, you can get comfortable and see what will suit you.

How much to spend

Another important consideration is your budget. When you come to try on wedding rings, it’s good to have a budget in mind and to be aware of the different factors that will impact the overall cost of your wedding ring. 

• Metal - The most premium metal is platinum whereas the most budget-friendly is zirconium. 

• Diamonds - Choose between lab grown and natural diamonds depending on whether you’re looking for something more value for money, or an heirloom piece to pass down.

• Size of ring - A thicker, wider band will be more expensive too, due to the volume of the metal.

How can Diamond Heaven help?

Choose Diamond Heaven for a no-pressure consultation. Book an appointment and take the time to try on different styles, shapes and materials until you find a comfortable fit that suits your style and fits your budget.