Wedding Blog
During our lunch hour a couple weeks ago, Mr. Emerald and I walked over Jewelers Row to check out some wedding bands. We basically know what we are looking for, but are doing price comparisons. This band matches my engagement ring perfectly.
If we buy it from the same jeweler that made my engagement ring, it will cost between $1200- $1600 for 18K white gold, depending on how much blingage (carat weight) we want. It could range from .3 - .5 carats. But we went into a store on Jewelers Row, and they quoted us $400 for the same exact design ring, at .28 carats. That seems like dirt cheap in comparison (and yes, its a reputable store). My only complaint about this ring in general is that it is very thin and dainty, and looks tiny if worn on its own. But heck - at that price, I could get two of them and sandwich my engagement ring… ohhh… the possibilities!
FI has said that I can pick his ring for him. Luckily we both veer towards the same style, the “hammered” look.
Now it’s just a matter of material - 18k white gold vs Platinum. But what confuses us is that some jewelers say Platinum is the way to go while others say platinum is too “soft” (I thought it was supposed to be super hard!?) and that 18K white gold is the better choice. Then there are tungsten and titanium, but there aren’t too many design choices that we like in those materials. Soooo… such is the dilemma.
We found this ring (pictured above) at Pompeii3 for a mere $549 in platinum, which is super duper cheap compared to all other places that were $1000 plus for anything platinum. I’m gonna stick with white gold for my wedding band because thats what my e-ring is, and I don’t want a platinum band looking super white next to it…
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My platinum band scratches way easy, but unlike gold, the metal is still there, just displaced. My FI will be working in a mine for his professional career so I wanted something that wouldn’t scratch so easily. We chose 14k white gold for his ring. I almost wish that I had a white gold engagement ring, because then the wedding band I wanted would have been considerably cheaper, and I wouldn’t have had to settle for less caratage.
hee hee! hammertime!
we are going with platinum to match my rings. fi have me a selection of rings and bands to choose from, and he is going to surprise me on wedding day, just as he surprised me with my engagement ring.
Some jewelers way over charge for tungsten so becareful. I used to work in wholesale fine jewelry and we were able to get tungsten bracelets for $30-$50 per piece…so rings are dirt cheap. I think that men tend to like tungsten because it does not scratch (not even when you throw it at a concrete floor). But, it is not a precious metal and neither is titanium. Both should be relatively cheap so don’t get fooled by their metal properties! Also, platinum is more durable, but at the same time it scratches more easily because it is more pure. Just as 22K is more pure than 18K gold, platinum has less additives. Therefore, while the platinum material is more dense and durable, it scratches more easily than gold. On the same note, you’ll be paying a good deal more on a platinum ring because 1) platinum/ounce is more expensive than gold and 2) platinum is more dense than gold. Meaning a gold ring that may weight 8 grams would weigh about 10-11 grams in platinum. Hope this helps!
i’ve already nicked my e-ring which is platinum. my fi wants platinum too although the jeweler also suggested palladium which is in the platinum family but cheaper and not as heavy. my brother-in-law has white gold which has yellowed over time (7 years). he wishes he had gotten platinum.
the jeweler we visited on jeweler’s row said the platinum market is very volatile right now probably because of the holidays. they suggested waiting until the end of jan and see how prices are then.
glad to see a chicago bride on weddingbee! which store did you visit on jeweler’s row (if you can share)?
Are any of your FI’s not planning on wearing a wedding ring at all? I dont think mine is, and as my father never did (yes, my parents are still married) I really dont think it is a big deal if he doesn’t. He doesn’t wear any jewelry so why would i make him wear a wedding band. Thoughts?
HF, you can tell your BIL that he can get his ring white rhodiumed at most jewelers. It is cheap to do, and good to do every now and then like a good cleaning!
hf - I have only had my platinum e-ring for less than 2 weeks and it already has a small nick too! I am so upset. I have been so careful with it too. Does anyone out there have any suggestions for preventing scratches and nicks? Is there anything else I can do or is this just normal for platinum?
sally: fi said that wearing a ring would be a big adjustment for him, but he would try. it’s not a big deal if he doesn’t wear it or forgets; i know he sometimes forgets his wristwatch because he always carried a pocket watch!
my parents don’t wear wedding rings either, but my mom likes to play with mine and wear it. 
Crazy! My band looks like that one (except it goes 1/2 way around, not all the way) and DH’s ring looks just like that band too! We must think alike!
the “white” of white gold will need to be replated…i found this website really helpful (and maybe a little too much info!)
http://www.ringdesigner.com/platinum_versus_white_gold/platinum_versus_white_gold.htm
hF -
Yay for Chicago brides!! =) In regards to Jeweler’s Row, my finacee bought my ring at Dimend Scaasi in the Mallers Building. The $400 ring I am referring to above is from New York Jewelers. We also checked out Wabash Jewelers, and Chicago Diamond Center. Hope that helps!
I know guys who lose their rings frequently, so the cheaper material is what I’d go for.
i’m engaged! i don’t feel like the odd woman out on this site anymore. =) i have a platinum e-ring and had it since this just a few days. i’m already noticing hairline scratches on the bottom. my fi wants a plat. band too. reading this makes me think we should consider white gold instead.
Platinum regularly gets scratches, and eventually those form a patina on the surface that just becomes a property of the ring. Some people prefer that, and others prefer the super-shiny surface of white gold, even if that has to be replated occasionally.
FI has already said he probably isn’t going to be wearing a ring after the wedding (he doesn’t wear any jewelry at all - including watches), so we’re going with a set of wood wedding bands from craftsman.etsy.com, which is very reasonably priced, too.
hi, i’ve worked in jewellery (Australian spelling) for quite a number of years now. You probably find that you can’t really go wrong with either white gold or platnium, both will scratch with wear and tear. The biggest difference is found in it’s price.
Platnium tends to be almost double the price of 18k white gold & whilst they will give you the line ‘platnium is the only metal that is naturally silver in colour’ you have to keep in mind that platnium naturally is a very dull metal and it tends to revert to that over time.
To keep platnium and white gold looking super shiny (and silver) the rings will get dipped/coated in rhodium (this probably needs to be done every 1-2 years to keep your ring looking barnd new!). So if you keep up the Rhodium coating choosing either white gold or platnium wouldn’t really make a difference.
Hope it helps!
Yay for Chicago brides with rings from dimend scaasi! I know that we could possibly get something cheaper if we went elsewhere, but we will definitely be going back to Scaasi for bands because I want the same level of quality and workmanship - all of their stuff is made to measure, by hand, unlike lots of big box or discount jewelers. I doubt that the $400 band that you saw is handmade, and the big price difference is likely related to the quantity and quality of metal and stones used - hence the dainty, thin look.
My e-ring is platinum and there is such a tiny section that isn’t tricked out w/pave, filigree or engraving, but now that I look I see that it is a little bit scratched. Then again, it’s a very antique looking setting, and I like how platinum develops a nice patina.
Since I got platinum my fiance will as well. The one thing that I’ve read is that titanium and other super durable metals can pose a danger because they are so challenging to cut off in case of emergency… you don’t even want to think about it, but my sister did have to get her e-ring and band cut off years ago.
Okay Emerald,these comments are way too long but I am loving your entries and I’m so happy to see a Chicago bride on my beloved weddingbee! Give us the skinny, I’m curious about your venue and vendors.
just wanted to say that your e-ring is blinged out!! - i like all things sparkly! 
We’re probably getting platinum for FI to match my ring but we’re still undecided - so expensive!
Regarding cutting off a titanium ring being difficult, that is a myth, most likely perpetuated by the gold/platinum jewellers.
From Titaniumera.com:
What if a titanium ring gets stuck on my finger?
If a titanium ring gets stuck on your finger add a little soap or hand cream, and it should come off easily. If your finger gets injured and swells, the ring can be cut off using a ring cutting tool. You will not have to lose a finger.
Just a tip - my parents paid big $ for amazing rings, but then because of unforseen events (such as my dad later breaking his finger) both of their rings had to be re-sized, loosing the detail. My mom now says that she wishes they had gotten cheaper rings and spent the money elsewhere.
I like the nacklace and earings. Sterling silver and titanium are cool and brignt.
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Mrs. Emerald, Chicago
Age and Occupation: 26, Wedding Planner
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Paralegal
Engagement Date: October 8, 2006
Wedding Date: September 2007
Blogging Since: November 29, 2006
Venue: Hyatt Lodge, Oak Brook IL
About Me: I have been dreaming about my wedding forever, and flipping through bridal magazines since high school, so I am in my element! I am calling our theme "Vintage Inspired French/Asian Fusion." Mr. Emerald is very involved in the planning process, but of course he generally defers to me cuz I have a strong opinion of how I want everything to be :-).
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