With the announcement of a royal engagement this week, conversation in the WRD office has focused on what kind of wedding rings we think they will have. Kate’s engagement ring – a beautiful sapphire surrounded by diamonds – was certainly not designed with ease of choosing a matching wedding ring in mind.
Luckily, the stones are raised from the band, so it has a good chance of fitting snug with a classic plain wedding band – and we think she’ll stick with a plain, diamond-free band so not to distract from the intricacy of the engagement ring. If a plain ring doesn’t fit snug, she would need a bespoke shaped design to go round some of the setting. Many of the brides we speak to have unusual engagement rings that do not fit snug next to a normal classic wedding band, so we offer a vast selection of shaped rings and even a bespoke service for those whose unique engagement rings do not fit any of the designs. If Kate came to us for her wedding ring, we’d first send her some samples of the bands most likely to fit with her ring, and see which one fits best. We’d then see if she wanted any extras, e.g. any more or less diamonds than the existing design, set up an order for her, and begin casting the metal for the ring. At some point she’d have to send us (or drop in) her engagement ring, for our workshops to use as a guide for the shaping, and we’d send this back to her as soon as possible. No prospective bride likes to be without her engagement ring for very long, but we’re sure it’d be extra-important for Kate – imagine the field day the press would have if she was snapped without Diana’s ring!
William’s wedding ring
By the time Kate’s bespoke ring was ready, William’s would be finished. We think he’ll go for a traditional band, probably a 5 or 6mm court, flat-court or double-comfort. He may have a slight element of customisation, e.g. a matt finish or some off-centre grooves such as our code DWR-1004-S.
Which ring metal?
Royal tradition is to have wedding rings made from Welsh gold, and Kate’s engagement ring is 18ct white gold, so the happy couple are likely to stick with tradition. However, many young couples are turning away from gold for the more fashionable platinum and palladium, so there is a chance that William and Kate may just follow the crowd. White gold’s appearance is difficult to maintain, so William at least may buck tradition and go for platinum.
Will they really be budgeting?
Spokespeople for the Royal family have stated that next year’s wedding will be organised with the current economic situation in mind. But will they really be downscaling? Those who do hold back on the lavish wedding extras tend to choose palladium in place of platinum, or 9ct instead of 18ct gold, for their wedding rings. But we’re not quite convinced that this will be the case with the King and Queen to be. Wedding rings, in particular, are one area where couples are still spending the extra as, of course, they are one of the few wedding expenses that will last a lifetime.
Wedding Rings from Wedding Rings Direct – Brilliant Service, Brilliant Prices