If you do want stones, bezel or flush settings offer the most protection, and be sure to avoid “any soft stones of 7 or below on the Mohs scale of hardness” like opal, tanzanite, or morganite, says Adrianne Sanogo, GIA-certified gemologist and co-founder of the Black in Jewelry Coalition. That might mean a metal-only ring in a lower-karat gold like 10K or 14K that’s less valuable but more durable (and affordable).

“If you’re super-active, you’ll need a more durable band,” she says. Hurwitz suggests thinking about “whether you gravitate toward more subtle or statement-making jewelry in your everyday life,” and says to consider your lifestyle, too.

“Your wedding band is not only a symbol of your love and commitment to your spouse, but it’s also a piece of jewelry you’ll wear every day.” Publicist Danielle Gadi agrees: “Don’t buy something because it’s trendy or because you see it on every ‘It’ girl on Instagram.” “I rarely wear my engagement ring now that I’m married, so it’s nice to have a band that you love on its own.”īridal stylist Gabrielle Hurwitz often cautions clients against choosing a wedding band simply because it’s of-the-moment, even though that “can be really tempting,” she says. Laurel Pantin, style director at InStyle, suggests thinking of a wedding band as “a piece of jewelry you love” when worn solo, “that isn’t necessarily made to be so matchy-matchy with your engagement ring,” she says.

After all, “this is the only part of the wedding that you’ll be looking at every day for a long, long time.” says Jennifer Gandia, co-owner of Greenwich Street Jewelers, a downtown NYC family-owned retailer. Engagement rings tend to steal the spotlight when it comes to marriage-related jewelry, but the wedding band shouldn’t be overlooked.

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