Male Wedding Band Purchasing Advice

[Morning Wood]

Hey All,

I am getting married at the end of this month, and I need to find a wedding band for myself (yes, I've been procrastinating...). The lady's band was purchased at Tiffany's, and it was quite pricey, and I would prefer to not pay too much for mine (hoping <$1000, but not sure if possible).

My band will most likely be white gold or platinum (lady does not like tungsten, titanium), 5mm width, and no diamonds.

Was wondering if anybody has any good suggestions for jewelers in Calgary. Any tips and suggestions on band properties/style would be appreciated, too. Thanks!

[burn_this_city]

I have an sterling silver band that probably cost <$100. I didn't see the point in shelling out for white gold or platinum when anything silverish will do.

[Canehdianman]

I bought mine at Costco.

Was around $350 I think.

[Regular_John]

Mine is a tungsten band worth about $80... which is quite convenient when you lose it in the ocean on your honey moon.

[REDVAN]

I got a good one through Troy Shoppe for about $100 maybe. 6mm width, size 13. Yellow gold, but they had white and other metals.

[Tron_fdc]

I had one made at Alberta Diamond Exchange for $3500. They do all kinds of cool designs for reasonable prices.

Don't bother paying a lot though. I bought a $50 sterling silver band in Mexico last year (forgot my band at home...oops) that I wear because it's more comfortable.

[Chill Cosby]

All I know is you'd be pretty much insane to spend more than $500, let alone $1000.

[VladtheImpaler]

Titanium - looks good, will take a beating and cheap. As in $150 range I recall.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

Mine is a tungsten band worth about $80... which is quite convenient when you lose it in the ocean on your honey moon.

I went this route with a titanium band. I'd be too paranoid to wear something that costs over $1000. I need to be able to know that if I'm making hamburgers I can leave it on the counter and not have a panic attack.

[Hockeyguy15]

If you're in the North check out Olliver's jewellery in Beddington.

[JonDuke]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Titanium - looks good, will take a beating and cheap. As in $150 range I recall.

Titanium is good but scratches easily and the scratches stand out more than on silver or gold.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

All I know is you'd be pretty much insane to spend more than $500, let alone $1000.

Yup. I made the mistake of saying "Why is it only the women get fancy rings"

Boom. $3500 ring bill.

Spend $50 on a band. You're never going to impress anyone with anything over $100.

[taco.vidal]

Your lady is telling you what metals to get or not get? I could see if she said no yellow gold so you dont have a mismatch in color.

I went through the same dilemna a while ago. I just looked at a ton of websites and picked a style I liked.
A few things to consider:
-if you dont wear rings right now, you may want to chose a lighter metal as a heavier metal may make wearing the ring bothersome
-how bothered will you be by scratches? Will you feel they add character or that they make the ring look like crap? This will impact whether you want or need a durable metal
-width. You say 5mm but try rings on. If you have big hands 5mm kay be small or if you have tiny boy hands 5mm may be big
-consider a ring from titanium or tunsgten with a precious metal inlay. This may satisfy your wifes desire for your ring. You can get the inlay to match her ring.

Originally Posted by Morning Wood

Hey All,

I am getting married at the end of this month, and I need to find a wedding band for myself (yes, I've been procrastinating...). The lady's band was purchased at Tiffany's, and it was quite pricey, and I would prefer to not pay too much for mine (hoping <$1000, but not sure if possible).

My band will most likely be white gold or platinum (lady does not like tungsten, titanium), 5mm width, and no diamonds.

Was wondering if anybody has any good suggestions for jewelers in Calgary. Any tips and suggestions on band properties/style would be appreciated, too. Thanks!

[PsYcNeT]

Yeah the no tungsten rule is dumb.

I have a tungsten band from Blue Nile that cost me $160. Looks good, doesn't scratch, doesn't tarnish and cleaves easy if caught in something (rather than taking your finger with it). I bought two because I frequently lose things and prefer a loose ring, though I still haven't lost the first yet.

[bubbsy]

i left my wedding ring till the end also, so it was definitely in the budget variety. Got in from spence diamonds here in toronto. Simply white gold ring, with a simple single line etching. I can't remember what i ended up shelling out for it, but i do believe it was < $500, might have been < $300.

[LChoy]

My 2 cents

Unless you are getting gem stones or platinum, it should be no problem to get a ring for under 1k.

Just a thought, but this is a good chance to for you to get something special and customized for yourself. At least for me, I knew I wanted an unique metal for mine. I ended up choosing a simple band made from Palladium. Much cheaper than Platinum, but has similar natural "whiteness", and without the need to be repolished like white gold. $660 all in, so it wasn't too bad on the expenses.

Otherwise, check with independent jewelers, big box stores like Costco, and shop around at the mall if you want something simple. Also, the same place you got your wife's ring may offer you a deal if you get yours done at the same time.

Congratulations on your upcoming day!

[rotten42]

I didn't spend much on the band. What's the point of doing that? I wanted something simple and durable....and with the money left over I bought power tools.

[Morning Wood]

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

All I know is you'd be pretty much insane to spend more than $500, let alone $1000.

While I agree with you on the cost, the bands my lady wants me to get are all $1000 plus. Then again, these are all at chains like Birks and Tiffany's. I would love to get a $50 band for myself, since I don't even like wearing rings, but she does not want that. Practicality is not an option, it seems....

[verda13]

"lady does not like tungsten, titanium"

I guess "well, I don't like Tiffany's" didn't work for you?

I have a tungsten and love it! Cheap, stylish and tough as, well, tungsten.

[Morning Wood]

Originally Posted by Lchoy

My 2 cents

Unless you are getting gem stones or platinum, it should be no problem to get a ring for under 1k.

Just a thought, but this is a good chance to for you to get something special and customized for yourself. At least for me, I knew I wanted an unique metal for mine. I ended up choosing a simple band made from Palladium. Much cheaper than Platinum, but has similar natural "whiteness", and without the need to be repolished like white gold. $660 all in, so it wasn't too bad on the expenses.

Otherwise, check with independent jewelers, big box stores like Costco, and shop around at the mall if you want something simple. Also, the same place you got your wife's ring may offer you a deal if you get yours done at the same time.

Congratulations on your upcoming day!

That's a great price! I will have to look into that as an option.