Maxi Photography
Dramatic-sounding announcements aside, and the wedding ring has emerged in recent years not only as one of the most poignant pieces to consider when it comes to wedding wears, but as something of a mini fashion statement.
Long after the dress has been safely stowed and the suit dusted off for special occasions, it's the one thing that remains testament to your sense of individual style as well as the pivotal w-day moment that made you a married couple.
We've canvassed the latest trends along with some indispensable experts' advice on how to choose, wear and source your wedding rings for a timelessly 'you' look that will perfectly portray and last as endlessly long as your love...
More is more
The multi-layered look isn't confined to cakes or dresses, but is finding form in a plethora of other wedding ways - including the rings. Stackable rings allow you to flaunt multiple fashions, influences and styles in one unique, ultra personalised piece.
"Brides have been telling us that stacking rings are nice to wear one on either side of an engagement ring," observes designer-maker Justin Duance. "They're mixing colours for a set or having them all the same colour, but each set with an individual tiny stone to signify their children or partner."
"Stacking rings look great in odd numbers," comments Jasmine from Erin Cox. "We love gemstone stacking rings in sets of three, but recommend that you wear rings of the same metal/carat of metal next to each other to avoid excessive wear."
"We stock a new collection of perfectly-made-to-fit engagement, wedding and eternity rings," adds Katie from Michael Spiers. "Our contemporary styles feature rub over settings and are really practical to wear as they don't catch and add a little protection to the diamond. The three rings have been designed and made to fit together, complement each other and take any stress out of ring buying in the future!"
Vintage vibes
Whether you pick an antique piece, upcycle 'something old' or design your own ring, vintage remains on the most-wanted list for its quality of craftsmanship and material, sense of history and bespoke factor.
"We can melt down old jewellery to create something new," says Justin. "That's often a nice option if it's a loved one's piece of jewellery but not your style as you get to wear it newly formed."
"Vintage and antique jewellery can be stunning, however there are some things you should look out for when buying second hand rings," advises Jasmine. "Check for excessive wear at the back. If a ring has been worn by several generations it may have been resized a few times, which can often leave the metal very thin and less durable."
"If the ring has claw settings - check these also," she continues. "If they are thin or broken you may risk loosing your stone. You can have broken/weak claws re-tipped, but this can be expensive."
Matchmaker
"We always recommend matching your wedding ring with your engagement ring in terms of metal/carat of metal," says Jasmine. "Silver is softer than gold, 9ct gold is harder than 18ct gold, and platinum is harder than gold. If you are wearing rings next to each other over a lifetime it is best if they match in hardness to avoid one rubbing and wearing down the other."
"We've done a lot of different things to tie a pair of rings together," adds Justin. "Customers often choose to have the same metal or the same style of rings, but in some cases they've had completely different styles and still tied them together really well. For example, for our wood inlay rings they chose matching wood, or supplied their own wood that's personal to them. We've used old furniture, pieces from trees from where they grew up and even old boats!"
"For our sandcast rings, lots of people provide their own sand from a particular beach," he continues. " That brings the set together as a pair, despite different metals or designs."
Cornwall jeweller Emily Nixon agrees. "I specialise in bespoke designs and am very happy to create the perfect wedding band to fit an existing engagement ring," says Emily, who creates rings using lost wax casting. This specialist technique begins by moulding each design in wax, allowing her signature sea-worn textures and organic forms to take shape.
"This is also the perfect medium to shape a new design around an existing ring," she says. "Wax can be manipulated to flow around an existing ring, resulting in two rings that stack comfortably."
In bloom
Floral is big news in all areas of weddings, and with everything from subtle engravings to eye-catching halos - the trend for blooms continues to prove popular.
Bows are another en vogue adornment to wedding rings, and again can find form as a stand out central stone or subtly woven into the band's design.
"Just make sure that your jewellery is practical," says Jasmine. "Intricate designs can be fun to wear - but not if they keep getting caught on your clothes!"
Precious gems
Plain or coloured, single or scattered - gemstones make a gorgeous addition to wedding rings, adding an instantly visible wow and bespoke element to your piece of jewellery.
Diamonds continue to bedazzle girls the world over, with everything from cushion shaped clusters to a single striking solitaire, but
"we love coloured gemstones!" enthuses Jasmine. "Often stunning gemstones can be overlooked in favour of the classic diamond, however if you want a pop of colour there is a rainbow of choice available. We particularly love using rubies, sapphires and spinels ethically sourced from one of our favourite gem suppliers, Rubyfair. These stones are hard wearing so are appropriate for wearing every day. It is important to choose a stone which not only looks great, but is going to last, too."
"When looking for a gemstone set wedding ring, we would only recommend the hardest wearing ones for wedding rings," says Kate. "These would be diamond, ruby and sapphires. These rings can also be stacked up and all worn together for a statement look."
"We sell lots of diamond engagement rings," says Justin. "We prefer to - and mostly only use Australian diamonds, as they are certified as ethically and environmentally sourced; however we discuss this with the customer upon commission."
"We make a lot of different styles of gemstone rings with various different coloured stones," he adds. "We like to use garnets, sapphires and diamonds mostly, but are happy to use the customer's own choice of stones."
Erin Cox
Having studied at the prestigious Sir John Cass Department of Art at London Guildhall University, Erin's wonder-filled work seamlessly blends aspects of colour, depth and texture for unique and inspired results.
Expertly using Fairtrade gold and molten silver as well as a variety of other materials, Erin crafts original and bespoke engagement and wedding rings, making commissions according to stone, design or colour scheme, individually reflecting her client's tastes and specifications whilst showcasing her signature style.
www.erincox.co.uk
Emily Nixon
It is fitting that Emily Nixon's atmospheric Hayle studio is located within touching distance of the water. "I create one-off pieces in response to the textures and forms of the seascape surrounding me. Inspired by a passion for fluid form and the simplicity of a hand-drawn line, I approach each piece of jewellery as a sculpture," explains the west Cornwall-based jeweller.
Taking the textures of the coastline as her muse, Emily's jewellery is a fusion of simplicity and statement style. "I love the fabric-like twists and folds of seaweed, the diversity in the contours of pebbles and the weathered character of flotsam I see washed up every day. The dichotomy of the precious and the organic - special stones encircled by sea-worn fragments of silver - characterises much of my inspiration."
Her inimitable designs take a number of forms, from solitaire bands boasting unusual 'wrapped' settings, frilly seaweed stackable rings, and diamonds, sapphires and emeralds set into sculpted rings: "pools of colour in pieces that have a sea-worn quality." Emily's passion for different textures creates the most stunning aesthetic when her rings are stacked together, particularly when utilising gold in different colours.
Couples may arrange an appointment at Emily's studio and pore over her sublime collections of his and her wedding bands, which are available in a range of metals, widths and weights, as well as textures entitled rocks, ripples, cockle and urchin. Then there are her dazzling engagement rings, inspired by the folds and frills of seaweed, and artfully set with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, topaz and tourmalines for a distinctive, organic aesthetic. Alternatively, opt for a bespoke commission for a mini masterpiece you'll be lucky enough to don day after day as a stylish signifier of the Cornish seascape - and your love.
Justin Duance
Creating stunning contemporary jewellery collections that innovatively push the envelope, Justin Duance's collections include everything from wood inlay to stunning sandcast rings that smack of inimitable style.
Cleverly combining recycled woods salvaged from old Cornish sailing ships and ancient forests with recycled precious metals, each piece is a beautifully bespoke slice of modern craftsmanship. In addition, his spellbinding range of sandcast, reticulated and gemstone rings provide both palpable texture and beautiful design.
Hand making every item from his converted sail loft studio in Newlyn, Justin produces an eclectic mix of highly affordable and wearable jewellery, including cufflinks, pendants, earrings and bracelets, while warmly inviting personal commissions.
www.justind.co.uk
Michael Spiers
Established in the 1950s, this independent family business is passionate about customer service. Their main collections are handcrafted in their workshops by no less than six goldsmiths who combine traditional methods with cutting-edge technology to create perfectly polished pieces.
Sourcing globally for the best materials, Director Michael Cox - a qualified
Gemmologist, diamond expert and member of the London Diamond Bourse, regularly scours locations such as Mumbai, Bangkok and Antwerp to canvass the best gems and diamonds for use in the signature collections.
You can select from their exclusive range, request a commissioned piece, or even use their brilliant iPad tool, ConfigureRing, which considers every aspect such as alloy, width, shape and weight to design your own distinctive rings tailored specifically to your personal requirements.
www.michaelspiers.co.uk
Drakes Fine Jewellers
Plymouth's leading diamond specialist boasts over 60 years of industry expertise, and the beautiful boutique store offers a stylish range of quality diamond and precious stone jewellery, engagement and wedding rings.
Many designs are made by specialist craftsmen using fine diamonds and precious gemstones sourced from trusted suppliers, while couples wanting an original keepsake can select their own mount and gemstone for an utterly personalised piece.
Drakes offer some of the world's most fashionable and glamorous brands such as Links of London, Swarovski, Thomas Sabo, Diamonfire, Bering and Rachel Galley. Whether you are looking for your wedding ring or a covetable keepsake for your sweetheart, Drakes is home to a divine host of jaw-dropping jewellery.
www.drakesjewellers.co.uk
words Hannah May
