Getting married is a big step. There’s a lot of planning that goes into it once you’ve decided to spend the rest of your life with your other half. Dress shopping, tux shopping, ring shopping, not to mention all the wedding planning itself. Hiring a DJ, taste testing caterers, previewing venues. It can be enough to make your head spin.
Often, there is so much energy and effort put into the woman’s needs for the big day, including finding the perfect women’s engagement ring (with a wedding ring that complements it), the groom’s ring is almost an afterthought. If you’re one of those men who doesn’t wear much jewelry on a normal day, you might have forgotten you even need a ring. But, alas… with marriage comes a wedding ring. Yes, modern gent, even a ring for you.
The big question is, how much does a wedding band cost? You can’t just pick out any old ring. If possible, it should at least complement your lady’s wedding set, or even match if that’s what you both agree on. It doesn’t have to be a gold ring, but it should be made from a quality material, like black tungsten, titanium or even silicone. After all, you will be wearing this ring for years to come, so you need to make sure it’s a ring you love. Or at least, make sure it’s a ring you like a lot.
Men’s wedding rings come in several styles and sizes, with a lot of factors that affect how much you’ll pay for one. From tungsten wedding bands to silicone rings, each has a different average price. Keep reading for our breakdown of everything you need to know about the cost of men’s wedding bands and how to find the perfect ring for you — at a price that won’t break your wallet or blow your wedding budget. First things first:
Set Your Budget
Every purchase decision you make for your wedding should be prefaced by setting a budget for that specific item. This includes buying a men’s wedding ring. Deciding how much you are willing and able to spend ahead of time can save you a lot of headaches. You can narrow your search for a ring to only those that fall within your price range, and not get hammered with regret by trying on a wedding band that you can’t really afford. Having a price point in mind also saves you a lot of time and makes it easier for a jeweler to help you find a piece of jewelry that perfectly suits your needs and budget.
Decide If You’ll Match
The second thing you need to do is discuss with your fiancé whether you want your rings to match or not. You can opt for a matching ring set, which may end up being more expensive, or you can agree to find a ring that complements her set nicely but doesn’t necessarily match it. This can be the more affordable option for many couples because you can choose less expensive materials for your ring that will still look nice when placed next to hers. Plus, choosing a ring that complements hers instead of matching it leaves more room for you to express your personal style.
With rings that match, if she opts for rose gold, you’ll have to go with a metal band made from rose gold as well. Alternatively, you may be able to get a two-tone ring featuring her favorite metal and yours. Decide on this ahead of time because your budget might not be in agreement. You may need to work together to reach a compromise that you can afford.
Some men don’t even care whether or not their ring matches or complements the wife-to-be’s ring. If that’s you, there are a ton of unique and custom ring options you can choose from that are attractive and affordable. Of course, be sure to discuss this with your partner to make sure this option works for both of you.
Average Cost of Men’s Wedding Band
According to weddingstats.org, the average cost of a woman’s engagement ring and wedding band set ranges between $5,968 and $6,258. Whereas the average cost for a man’s wedding band ranges between $389-$547. Even though these might be averages, that doesn’t mean you can’t find high-quality wedding rings for significantly less. You just need to know what to look for.
Many online jewelers can offer significant savings on quality, affordable wedding bands simply because they are an online operation without the overhead costs of a traditional, brick-and-mortar jewelry store. What that jeweler might spend on overhead instead gets rolled into savings and incentives for you, the customer, allowing you to cut down on your wedding band cost. That means the savvy modern gent can find a modern men’s wedding ring for a fraction of the cost that he might pay elsewhere. Even if you’re looking for something special like a matte band or one with an inlay, you can score great deals on stunning products by shopping online.
Factors That Impact Pricing of Men’s Wedding Bands
There are several things that factor into the cost of a wedding band. Besides purchasing from an online jeweler to save money, you can also look at style, detailing, band width, what the ring is made of and whether it’s custom or not, among other things.
Your ring size can impact the price of a wedding band, too. While average sizes typically don’t cost extra, you may need to pay for resizing if you have exceptionally large or small fingers. You may also need to buy your wedding band from a specialty retailer, which will drive up the cost.
Types of Precious Metals
Many men’s wedding bands are made from precious metals like gold, platinum and palladium. The type of metal can impact the cost of the ring significantly.
Platinum
Platinum is arguably one of the most expensive metals to fashion a wedding band from. It is a metal that is naturally white, and is 95 percent pure, which can make it a good option for men with sensitive skin. However, it requires a level of maintenance and upkeep that some men aren’t interested in giving, since it’s so easy to scratch, and it’s a heavier metal, which some men may find uncomfortable. Platinum is an excellent choice if you are looking for a ring that exudes luxury, but it’s not the best choice if you’re looking for a band to wear every day if you work with your hands a lot.
Palladium
Palladium is in the platinum family and is also on the higher end of the cost scale. It’s more lightweight than platinum and doesn’t typically require any kind of plating or alloys added to it. This means that palladium rings retain their silvery-white sheen. They don’t tarnish or fade. They withstand the test of time and serve as a remarkable symbol of commitment and lasting love. It’s an investment, but it’s one that pays off in terms of comfort, longevity and low maintenance.
Sterling Silver
Some rings are made from silver, although it’s not always the best choice of metals. It’s very soft and vulnerable to damage, plus it oxidizes easily, which can turn the color black if not cleaned on a regular basis. It’s more suitable for a ring you might only wear on occasion, rather than a ring you wear every day. However, silver wedding bands can be found for the right price, and they are less expensive than gold, making them ideal for the budget-minded groom. Sterling silver wedding bands are also good choices for anyone who wants to buy a secondary ring to wear when traveling.
Gold
Gold is definitely a color and metal of tradition. The warm, yellow hue of gold gives any wedding band a timeless, classic look that some men prefer. You can also buy a wedding band in other shades of gold. These colors are achieved when pure gold is mixed with other metals.
Yellow gold is mixed with copper and silver to give it a warm yellow color. White gold is mixed with silver and palladium, or copper, nickel and zinc to achieve its white color. It can also be plated with rhodium to increase the white color and make it more durable.
Gold wedding bands can also be found in green gold when mixed with silver, as well as pink and rose gold rings for men, which is achieved by mixing pure gold and copper to create red hues. Whichever color gold you go for, you can be sure it will be on the higher end of the pricing spectrum.
Shop Affordable Men's Wedding Bands
Affordable Wedding Band Materials
There are other materials that are used for wedding bands that offer more affordability for men trying to keep things affordable. There’s no need to feel that you are limited to silver or gold wedding bands. Whether you’re looking for a men’s black wedding band, a silicone wedding band for the active man or other more non-traditional metals, it’s important that you know what’s out there.
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber rings are extremely popular in today’s wedding band market. They are exceptionally strong, plus lightweight, making them popular with men who are athletic. Tech geeks like them, too, because they look edgy and sleek.
Titanium
Many men love a good titanium wedding band. Not only is it lightweight and affordable, it can be treated to create different colors for men who prefer a more unique, contemporary look. However, because it’s made with alloys, it can be hard to repair or resize. This piece of metal is also harder to cut off your finger should an accident occur, which means it might not be the ideal choice for men who lead an active lifestyle or work with machinery.
Tungsten Carbide
Four times harder than titanium, this material is extremely strong and bears up well to normal wear and tear. Tungsten is also hypo-allergenic, doesn’t tarnish and feels lighter on the finger than some of the other metals that are available, almost as heavy as platinum or gold, at a fraction of the price. Tungsten wedding rings are a perfect alternative to the more expensive metals. Plus, tungsten rings come in a huge assortment of styles and designs to match any groom’s taste.
Steel
Steel makes for some of the best cheap men’s wedding bands because it’s strong, durable, resistant to scratching and won’t break the bank. Polish and finish can give stainless steel a variety of different looks and offer a lot of modern curb appeal.
Silicone
For men who are looking for comfort, affordability and, even more so, safety, you can’t go wrong with a silicone wedding band. They are designed to be lightweight and worn in nearly any environment, which makes them popular with athletes, sports fanatics and men who do a lot of work with their hands. However, since it is silicone, it means you might sweat more beneath it than other types of materials. The bonus is there is really no limit to style and color choices.
Other Factors That Impact Price
Band Width
How wide a wedding band is will affect men’s wedding ring costs. Since a wider band requires more material to make, it is naturally more expensive than a narrow wedding band. For some men, a narrow wedding band works fine, especially if you have smaller hands with narrow fingers. However, some men have larger hands that need a wider band for the ring to look aesthetically pleasing.
Style and Design
Style and design can significantly impact how much you will pay for a wedding band. The more intricate the style, the pricier the ring will be. A plain, simple style will cost you much less than a band with filigree or carvings, or a custom engraved design.
Precious Stones
Precious stones will also increase the price of your wedding band, depending on the type of stone and how many stones there are. The more stones you’ve got, the more expensive the ring will be — especially if it’s inlaid with something like diamonds. If you want to save yourself a significant amount of money, consider lab-created diamonds, moissanite or other more affordable gemstones instead of genuine diamonds and costly options like sapphires or emeralds.
Purity Level
If you opt for a wedding band made of precious metals, purity is an important factor to consider. Not only can it affect how hypoallergenic the ring is, it can also affect the price and durability of a ring as well. Rings that are “plated” may be less expensive but may not hold up over a long period of time.
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Wrapping Up
The cost of men’s wedding bands varies greatly, depending on material and style. The important thing is to find a ring that’s kind on your wallet, suits your tastes and fits comfortably. Nothing more, nothing less!
Discover The Different Types of Men's Rings Here