Your Cart is Empty
Getting to Know Ring Bands (Round Band vs D-shaped Band)
Before you pick a stone…
Before you figure out what kind of setting you want...
And even before trying to wrestle with your ethical gold ring choices...
The easiest thing to decide on when choosing your ring is the band shape - also called ring shank.
So what's the difference between ring band shapes? Here's what you need to know to make the right choice for you.
What’s a round band, and what’s a D-shaped band?
They’re the shapes of your ring band if you take a cross section of it.
You may not have put a lot of thought into this part of the design. But it can affect how a ring sits on your finger, how it holds the gemstone(s), and even how it holds secret little messages you want to convey.
ROUND BAND
The round band is dainty and trendy. It has a consistent circular profile, which means if you cut it through its cross-section, you’ll see a circle. The 1.3mm you’ll see on our product pages is the band’s circumference. If 1.3mm sounds tiny, well it kinda is. It’s what gives our rings that dainty aesthetic you so love.
Pros
Our 1.3mm band looks extra dainty. This is great if you want your stone to take centerstage, as your eye will naturally focus on it.
These are best for smaller ring sizes, or as slim stackers.
Cons
If you have a knotted finger type (larger knuckles with a skinnier finger), a round band will sit a bit loose.
A round band won’t sit as securely and will have a tendency to spin around your finger more.
Dainty bands = dainty settings. With its tendency to move around, a prong setting on a dainty round band will loosen more quickly.
Man in the moon garnet ring with round band gives a more modern touch and makes a fun every day ring,
Tips
1.3mm round bands look great with smaller stones. They look like extensions of the stone, which makes the design look seamless. Round bands + smaller stones = match made in heaven.
Not to say they don’t look great with bigger stones. But a bigger stone on a round band may cause your ring to spin more on your finger. It’s harder for them to sit still, and they can end up face down against the inside of your hand.
D-SHAPED BAND
A D-shaped band is flat on the inside and curved on the outside. When you cut through its cross-section, you’ll get a capital letter D. Sometimes people refer to this band as an "easy fit" band.
Our D-shaped bands are 1.8mm wide; they’re a tiny bit more substantial than the round bands, but not noticeably so.
Pros
You can engrave a message on the flat inner surface of a D-shaped band. It's why they're the fave choice for weddings and engagements.
A 1.8mm band is the preferred width if you want to add an engraving. If the band is any smaller, the engraving becomes ineligible.
If you have a larger stone, a D-shaped band will allow the ring to sit more comfortably on your finger.
Cons
A smaller stone may disappear on a D-shaped band, as it has a flatter base.
With a D-shaped ring, you can engrave a special secret message inside the band.
Tips
You don’t have to go the traditional route of having the name of your partner engraved on your ring. Why not engrave a secret message to each other instead? You won’t have a lot of space, but we’re sure you have certain words or short phrases that can summon some beautiful memories.
Let’s play a little game – these are easy questions you can ask yourself as you design your ring. What’s your finger type? How big is your chosen stone?
Hopefully this will help you cast more light on your decisions as you design your own custom ring. You can always eeny-meeny-miny-moe between the two ring bands. It’s all about your own personal preferences. And at the end of the day, this ring is your dream ring. You should love everything about it!
But if you’re unsure about how your design choices will affect your custom ring and its day-to-day use, shoot us a message. We’ll be more than happy to help you figure out the details!
Check out our custom ethical gold rings.
Psst, if you have a specific request for your ring band, we’ll be more than happy to try and accommodate it!
dON'T STOP HERE
