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Modern brides are pampered with options. From timeless to outlandish, there are endless styles of engagement rings you can choose from - and it can be oh so overwhelming! Sigh.
But don’t feel daunted. We’re here to set things straight and show you what’s most important in creating a bridal set (which is your engagement and wedding ring). Let’s start with the basics.
Creating a matching bridal set
It’s a two peas in a pod kind of situation. A matching bridal ring set implies a set of engagement and wedding rings, designed to be worn together and fit like a perfect frame. For instance, the wedding band curves and bends for the engagement ring’s centerpiece to sit snugly. Traditionally, an engagement ring does become the centerpiece out of the two, while the wedding band takes a minimal role.
A matching bridal set can be as simple as two straight bands with same width, but the engagement ring has a diamond or gemstone center stone. No time to design an elaborate set? Then this option might be for you.
Pros
A classic choice
Straightforward in its design
Cons
More common, possibly less unique
Ideally purchased at the same time
Both rings should be the same metal
A simple touch of spinel can add so much romance to this bridal set.
These simple stackable rings are perfect for everyday wear.
The two rings share the same width and band shape to create a matching look.
Creating a mismatched bridal set
If you crawled down Google looking for a definite answer and found none, fret not - you aren’t the only one. There’s no hard and fast rule on the definition of a mismatched ring set. With such varying degrees of how a mismatched bridal set can look, a pair of mismatched rings can absolutely look like a seamless pair of rings to you.
That being said - a mismatched engagement and wedding ring doesn’t have to be a huge statement. It can be a classic combo, but designed in a way that feels less constraining.
The two love rings might have the exact same band style, but with the engagement ring hugging a solitaire marquise stone, showing a gap underneath. They might have the same rose gold band, but the wedding ring is dotted with diamonds all the way around. Or it can feel completely different with an oxidized wedding band and a white gold engagement ring. Different people find different ways to mismatch their bridal rings.
Pros
Opportunity to create a unique piece
Can play up both rings as you wish
Cons
More time consuming in the design stage (but fun!)
A more trendy choice
A not-so-subtle contrast between rose cut salt and pepper diamond (mostly pepper!) and white diamonds.
Rocking two absolutely different rings all at once! A dainty diamond ring meets faceted wedding band.
This icy cool diamond and warm yellow sapphire is a ring set to match all kinds of parties and vibes.
With SO MANY ring styles out there, it’s totally fine if you feel like ditching the term ‘matching’ or ‘mismatched’ altogether and just focus on the hunt for that perfect duo!
Still got questions?
No worries! Let’s go through the practicalities one by one.
Do bridal sets need to be designed together?
Not necessarily! We welcome requests to design ‘the other half’ of your ring. Clients often come to us engaged and elated, with a gorgeous engagement ring they already own, and looking for a bespoke wedding band to match (or mismatch).
But, there are pros to designing a bridal ring set together. For instance: two jewelers can use different alloys in gold, which means they will show different golden hues, even though both are 18K gold. Gold alloy can’t be customized, so if your bridal rings are coming from two different jewelers, make sure their hues are the same (especially for yellow gold and even more so for rose gold).
If you want a seamless, no-gap pair of rings, we recommend designing your engagement and wedding rings together. This way you can ensure the rings’ height and thickness are consistent. All of these are details you can tinker with if the rings are designed and made by a single jeweler at the same time.
Do I need to wear both my engagement and wedding ring everyday?
This is a not-so-silly question, because wearing both rings does have a practical impact. If you’ll be an ardent wearer of your ring stack, prepare a small budget for a repolish every few years. Two rings in a stack may show visible wear over the years.
Other than that - if the wedding band signals the woman is married, and engagement ring signals the woman is engaged; wearing both is technically redundant and a matter of personal choice. Plus: a wedding band on its own looks pretty damn amazing.
Is it OK to wear an engagement ring or wedding band on the opposite hand?
Well, this goes back to you. How would you feel? How would you feel knowing you’re going against the grain and having to answer the same question again and again about your marital status. These days - you’re free to wear a bridal set however you want. But we still think it’s wise to consider what your rings communicate to friends and acquaintances.
Fun fact:
in 1920s West, the right ring finger once signified a celebration of independence and womanhood. So if you’ve decided this is the finger of choice, all power goes to you.
Okay. What if I wear my bridal rings set on different fingers?
Plus point:
wearing your rings on different fingers means you can show off both blings in their entirety.
If you’re in the non-traditional camp, look at the sizing of each ring. A stacking set can feel tight and uncomfortable even though both rings are the correct ring size when worn individually. This is because the combined width adds ‘weight’ to the finger, and it will feel more tight.
Conversely, if you know you’d wear the engagement ring on a different finger (whether that means your middle finger or right ring finger), size your ring accordingly.
Not sure how you’d go for the rest of your life? Know that you can switch up the placement of both rings anytime post the wedding day.
Should your engagement and wedding ring be the same size?
This goes back to how and where you’d wear the ring.
If you plan on wearing them together, you might decide to make your wedding band a quarter size larger. This is because the width of the two rings will make them fit more tight than the width of a single ring. If you decide on a wider wedding band, you might even go half a size up.
How do I design a ring gap that rocks?
That negative space between two stacked rings because one ring has a large stone or setting? That’s a ring gap. What I love about ring gaps are how they symbolize the passing of time and a progression of your relationship. Ring gaps show you how the two rings are not quite a perfect match. Beautifully imperfect. The wedding ring may not be sitting flushed underneath the diamond with a halo, and the engagement ring casually sits on top as a minted jewelry baby.
This is a trend set in the last few years and rightly so. The gap gives breathing space and allows both rings to shine. It’s almost inevitable for an engagement ring with a large centerpiece, especially if the wedding band is straight.
You can design an engagement ring and wedding band to have no, a little or a lot of gap, but keep the scratching factor in mind. If you’re obsessed with ring gaps, you can choose to solder both rings together to form a permanent gap.
Can I use my engagement ring as a wedding band and vice versa?
Absolutely yes! This has been gaining popularity in the last few years as couples prefer to own one commitment ring as their truly treasured item.
Okay so… what’s your number one rule when designing a bridal ring set?
The NUMBER ONE RULE is: you.
When it comes down to rings (especially THE ring), design something which makes your heart tingle.
A ring can represent a memory or a style which holds personal value, or it can be a show of your favorite colors or the backstory of certain gemstones. Think of gemstones that vibe with you, or were mined in the country you first met.
On a more technical note, we always suggest clients to think of both engagement and wedding rings as your *ultimate-most-favorite* jewelry you can wear together or on their own. Whether it’s a seamless matching bridal set or a mismatched ring set with eccentric contrast, design engagement and wedding rings you’ll love individually as much as you love them when worn together.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to go to the drawing board.
1.
Think of each ring as a separate entity
….but do establish the hierarchy. The engagement ring usually appears more prominent than the wedding band and has the center stone as the focus. It doesn’t matter whether you’re designing them together or separately, design them as if they’re sisters, not twins. Imagine the two of them like two of your most favorite rings you can’t but wear everyday.
A straight wedding band has the flexibility to be worn together or on its own. The plus side of a curved wedding band is how the nested curve can bring two very different rings together into a single stack.
Colorful bridal ring sets are in and they're just as versatile as everyday pieces.
Both diamond rings can be worn separately or together like no problem.
2.
Understand the basics of jewelry design: metal, gemstone, and setting
Using different metals on both rings immediately feels ‘mismatched’. Think of the shape of the gemstones. Unusual shapes, like this pear diamond ring below, are an instant showstopper. Consider the setting for the gemstones. A prong setting snags more easily than a bezel setting.
A bridal ring set to match fairytale-like wedding gown.
3.
Play up the nesting band
A straight wedding band is the safest bet if you’re looking to wear your wedding band everyday. This means tiny diamonds dotting the entire band, a lightly textured band, or a plain wedding band with a single diamond set in the center. This style works perfectly with an engagement ring with smaller stones and may leave a gap if you have a larger gemstone in your engagement ring (which is a style on its own).
If your engagement ring is elaborate, a plain wedding band might be more than enough.
4.
Make use of our design team’s free mockups!
Give your thinking mind a break and draw it down. However gorgeous each ring is on its own, they should add personality unto one another - and add dimension and character to the set. At the end of the day, the two rings should feel like one.
A mockup gives you a tangible idea of what your ring set will look like.
Go for custom made if you'd like something different than a shiny diamond.
To top that epic love of yours, your rings are the tangible piece of commitment beyond your wedding day. Think of your wedding vows as poems, and your rings the book that holds your poems. So for the ultimate love stack to wear everyday, invest some time in designing the rings you’ll cherish forever.
