Buying a Wedding Ring: Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy

16.05.20263 Min. Lesezeit

Ehering kaufen Ratgeber Corelune Jewellery

Kurz gesagt: Buying Wedding Rings: Materials (585/750 Gold, Platinum), Ring Widths, Profiles, Surfaces, Engravings, and Budget Guide. The Complete Guide to the Most Important Piece of Jewelry.

The wedding ring is the most significant piece of jewelry most people will ever buy. It's worn daily, for a lifetime. This seemingly simple task – buying a ring – is actually full of important decisions: material, width, profile, finish, fit, budget. This comprehensive guide will walk you through all the steps to ensure your wedding ring is truly perfect.

When to buy wedding rings?

The golden rule: Order your rings at least 3–4 months before the wedding. Good jewelers have long waiting times; custom-made rings take even longer. Many couples regret starting their search too late. Timeline:

6 months before: Style research, set budget
4–5 months before: Visit jewelers, try on, order
6–8 weeks before: Pick up rings, check size, have adjusted if necessary
2 weeks before: Final check – does everything fit perfectly?

Materials for Wedding Rings: The Complete Comparison

585 Yellow Gold (14 Karat) – The Classic

The best-selling wedding ring material in Germany. Warm, timeless, durable. 58.5% gold, the rest alloy metals for strength. More scratch-resistant than 750 gold. Perfect for active people who work a lot with their hands daily. Price: 300–800 € per ring depending on width and weight.

750 Yellow Gold (18 Karat) – The More Noble

75% gold content. More intense, richer gold tone than 585. Slightly softer – minimally more scratches with intensive use. Preferred by couples who want the highest gold content. Price: 500–1,500 € per ring.

White Gold 585 – Modern and Clean

The same gold as yellow gold, only whitened through alloying and rhodium plating. Requires rhodium plating every 1–3 years at the jeweler (30–60 €). Very popular with women; increasingly with men too. Ideal for couples who both like white gold.

Rose Gold 585 – Romantic and Feminine

Copper alloy creates the characteristic rose gold. Very popular for women's wedding rings; less common for men. Warmer than white gold, more modern than classic yellow gold.

Platinum – The Noblest Metal

Pure platinum without rhodium plating – naturally white, stays white. Heavier than gold (denser material), hypoallergenic, extremely durable. Develops a characteristic patina. Most expensive option: 800–2,500 € per ring.

Palladium – Lighter Platinum Equivalent

Also a white, noble metal from the platinum group. Lighter than platinum, more affordable. Hypoallergenic, easy to care for. Good alternative for those who want platinum aesthetics at a silver price.

Titanium and Stainless Steel – For Special Needs

For people with metal allergies, for very active professions, or as an inexpensive everyday ring alongside an expensive ceremonial ring. No gold value, but very robust and allergy-free.

Ring Width: What Width Fits?

The width of the wedding ring is one of the most personal decisions:

2–3 mm: Very delicate, subtle – for small hands and discreet wearers. Often for women.
3–4 mm: Classic for women – wide enough to be seen, fine enough not to dominate
4–5 mm: Universal for women and men – the most chosen width
5–6 mm: Classic for men – solid presence
7–8 mm: Wide men's rings – strong statement
9+ mm: Very wide rings – for men who see jewelry as a statement

Ring Profiles: Comfort vs. Design

Flat (Court): Angular outer shape, flat edges. Classic and timeless.
Domed (D-Shape): Outer side slightly curved. More elegant than flat, very popular.
Comfort-Fit: Inner side slightly curved – slides over the knuckle more easily, more comfortable to wear. Recommended for daily worn rings.
Bombé: Strongly curved – rustic and expressive.

Finishes for Wedding Rings

High-gloss: Classic and elegant. Shows scratches over time, but can be polished by a jeweler.
Satin / Matte: Brushed surface. Very modern, conceals scratches better than high-gloss.
Hammered: Irregular, hammered surface. Unique and handcrafted.
Combination: Gloss + matte in one ring – very popular as a contemporary design.