When actress Anne Hathaway got engaged to her husband, Adam Shulman, he proposed to her with a ring featuring a beautiful emerald-cut diamond center stone set on a thin diamond-studded band in platinum. Even though it was vintage, classy, and subtle, the ring definitely packed oomph when she showed it off. In contrast, her wedding ring was a slim band crafted from gold with no embellishments or frills. Hathaway stayed true to the quintessential rules and traditions of engagement and wedding rings – the differences between them, how distinguished they look from one another, and how they’re worn. It’s been ten years since she got hitched, but brides today still take a leaf out of that book, perhaps tweaking a bit to suit their own individuality.
If you are expecting/planning a proposal soon or are about to get married, you must better understand both these ring styles, as they will be the most beloved jewelry pieces of your life hereafter. Continue reading ahead as we unravel more.
What Is the Meaning Behind an Engagement Ring?
An engagement ring is gifted at the time of proposing when one partner (usually the guy) confesses their desire to graduate the relationship to marriage. It symbolizes the promise of marriage and lifelong commitment to one another. Traditionally, only women wear engagement rings, which have been purchased or selected by the man proposing them. Engagement rings are a fairly new phenomenon dating back to around a century ago. They started off as a wartime tradition when soldiers going to battle would leave their fiancée a ring to remember them by.
This white gold engagement ring that boasts a 2 carat round diamond center stone in a four-prong setting is the epitome of all things classic. 0.60 carats worth of pave diamonds stud the shank for some added glamor.
What Is the Meaning Behind a Wedding Band?
Couples exchange wedding bands at the time of their wedding ceremony. Unlike engagement rings, this custom has been followed by several cultures, including the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, for millennia. Today, wedding bands have evolved and are crafted from precious metals such as gold or platinum. Some of them feature diamonds of the same size studded around the ring – these are also called eternity bands. In terms of design and symbolism, wedding and anniversary bands (bands exchanged by couples on notable anniversaries, such as silver or golden) are often interchangeable.
This beautiful 14k white gold wedding band features 11 round cut pavé diamonds that glitter around the circumference.
Which is More Expensive, an Engagement Ring or a Wedding Band?
If you’ve paid attention to Hathaway’s ring (or any engagement ring, for that matter), you’d know by now that an engagement ring is much fancier than a wedding band. Design-wise, it features a big, prominent center stone as the focal point, which can either dazzle all on its own or be surrounded by smaller diamonds for enhanced glitz and sparkle. The ring shank (or the ring band) can also be absolutely plain or feature intricate designs and detailing, such as filigree or milgrain. Overall, an engagement ring is meant to stun with its design, craftsmanship, and glistening brilliance of its diamonds. A wedding ring or anniversary band, on the other hand (both literally and figuratively), is usually plain. At the most, it is encrusted with smaller gemstones. Usually, diamonds, these gemstones with smaller carat weight, cost significantly lesser than those in your engagement ring. Consequently, engagement rings bear a much heftier price tag. In fact, studies have shown that, on average, wedding bands cost only 10 percent of the cost of engagement rings.
This engagement ring is an absolute stunner if you’d like to pull out all the stops. It is made from 14k white and rose gold and holds a 1.5-carat pear-shaped diamond in the center, gloriously encircled by a halo.
Do Men and Women Both Wear Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands?
Engagement rings are usually worn by women and gifted by men. Over the past decade, though, millennial and Gen Z women have also been gifting men engagement rings to seal the deal. In the case of wedding bands, men and women both wear them. They are exchanged during the wedding ceremony, making them one of the most crucial and sentimental jewelry for both husband and wife.
Which Ring is Worn on Which Finger?
When a couple gets engaged, the engagement ring is worn by the bride on the left hand's fourth finger or ring finger. Later, during the wedding ceremony, she transfers it to the fourth finger of the right hand, and the spot on her left hand is empty and waiting for the simpler and lesser ostentatious wedding ring. After the ceremony, she can choose to leave her engagement ring on the right hand or pop it onto the finger along with her wedding ring. When both rings are on the same finger, the wedding ring is worn first – closer to the heart. Of late, the trend of soldering the wedding and engagement bands together to create a unified ring is catching on. However, all these are individual choices – wear your rings to suit your personality, look, and lifestyle.
A twist on the classic, this wedding band features a curved shank that fits beautifully and snugly around the silhouette of a round-cut engagement ring. Round diamonds in a tiger claw setting sparkle along one-third of the 14k white gold band.
Which Ring Can Be Worn Daily?
Again, this is based on your lifestyle. Both rings can be worn daily. However, if your engagement ring is delicate, with a softer center stone, or an open setting, it is probably not a good idea to wear it daily. Store it in your jewelry box and bring it out for special occasions. On the other hand, wedding bands tend to be practical and hardy. Just polish them every few months, and you’re good to go.
Do Both Engagement and Wedding Rings Need to Have Diamonds?
Not at all. Instead, wedding bands are usually plain, made from metal, often with a simple but meaningful engraving on the inside. Yes, you can choose to have diamonds along the band's length, but this is entirely optional. Diamonds are the most popular center stone for engagement rings, but it is not mandatory to propose with a ring that features one. You can choose other unique center stones such as sapphires, emeralds, rubies or even semi-precious ones such as pearls, amethyst or topaz. In fact, a lot of people wish to include their significant other's birthstone in the diamond engagement ring, making it a more intimate and personalized proposal of love. But there's no denying that there's something so beautiful about diamonds.
This vintage-inspired design features a yellow gold shank and an octagonal setting for a round-cut diamond center stone. With milgrain detailing, and geometric clusters of diamonds flanking the center stone, this is a timeless piece for the classic bride.
What to Keep in Mind While Buying an Engagement Ring and a Wedding Band?
For starters, keep your budget in mind. You shouldn’t have to start life as a couple in debt. That said, engagement rings and wedding bands are symbolic souvenirs of your love and commitment to one another. If you purchase the right ones, they are also good investments and heirloom pieces. Make an informed decision based on your budget. Next, the wedding and engagement rings have to look good together – especially if you’re planning to wear them on the same finger or solder them together. It would be nice if you and your partner synergized your wedding or engagement bands with one another; however, this is not absolutely necessary. Lastly, it is important to feel happy while wearing your engagement ring or wedding band – so it would be nice if you could discuss your preferences and options with your partner before he takes the plunge and breaks the bank on a piece you don’t like.
The contemporary bride can turn heads with this 14K White Gold Anniversary Band, featuring 1.43 carats of diamonds along the shank.
What Happens to an Engagement Ring If the Couple Does Not Marry?
An engagement ring is usually not given casually or half-heartedly, so it is hoped that such an occasion doesn’t arise. In the unhappy event that the couple calls things off, the engagement ring is usually returned to the giver. Since it is an expensive piece of jewelry, the giver can exchange or sell it as he deems fit.
Can Either of The Rings Be Avoided?
The only thing constant is change, and the binary aspects of weddings are also changing. The conventional dos and don'ts are no longer stringent in a world where couples prefer to define their love and marriage as per their understanding rather than adhere to a universal approach. So yes, in principle, either or both of the rings can be avoided. But studies have shown that while other aspects of weddings have evolved, engagement and wedding rings remain constant and are a mainstay. Over 90 percent of the people who propose and get married do so with all ring traditions intact - because of the deep meaning and symbolism attached to them and the fact that they're sound investments.
Make heads turn with this timeless investment – an art deco-inspired engagement ring with an octagonal halo that can fit a round-cut diamond center stone. Pave diamonds embellish the flank.
To put it succinctly, there are four basic differences between engagement and wedding rings - the timing at which they are gifted to the wearer, the meanings they embody, their distinctive designs and appeal, and who wears them.
To shop for a vast collection of engagement and wedding rings, head to Gabriel & Co. We promise that the event of the proposal and the wedding will turn out magical and spellbinding with these gorgeous rings by your side.
Please note that our pricing for engagement rings does not include the center stone. We only provide the engagement ring settings at this cost, while the center stone has to be purchased independently from the retailer.
