Planning a wedding can be a very exciting yet busy time. From choosing a cake maker to finding the perfect venue, there is often so much to consider when organising the big day. However, because of the beautiful chaos that is event planning, wedding ring design is often overlooked.
Many people don't even realise they have the opportunity to explore the finer details of their wedding ring, such as texture, profiles, and the ring's width.
A ring's width can completely change how the ring both looks and feels on your finger. It's an important aspect of the jewellery's design, so we're here to help you choose the width of your ring to suit your style and comfort.
The difference between ring width and ring size
A wedding band's width and size are often confused with each other, so let us explain.
- Wedding ring width: Visually, the width is the 'height' of the band, as you look at it. Some refer to it as the band's thickness.
- Wedding ring size: The diameter of the band. The size dictates how well it fits on your finger. Thicker fingers require a larger size, and so on.
While selecting a wedding band size is entirely down to the size of the finger, there is far more freedom when choosing the ring's width. If you're interested in finding your ring size, take a look at our helpful ring size guide.
Pictured: The Polished Wedding Ring - D Shape
How does ring width affect comfort?
The width of your ring affects how comfortable it is to wear because of the surface it covers. Typically, the more surface area the ring covers, the tighter it feels when you bend and move your finger. However, this, in turn, depends on the size of your finger.
Those with larger hands and longer fingers will likely still find wider rings comfortable, because they have more surface area on their fingers. This is often why people with large hands, such as men, favour wider rings; not only are they comfortable, but many think they look more attractive on big hands than thinner rings do.
Those with smaller hands or thinner fingers tend to favour slimmer rings as they sit more comfortably. This offers wearers their usual freedom of movement without any restrictive feeling from their wedding band.
Of course, the ring you choose should be entirely down to what you prefer, regardless of what others wear.
Pictured: The Polished Wedding Ring - Flat
What width should a wedding ring be?
There are many different ring widths to choose from, allowing flexibility and freedom in deciding what looks best and what is most comfortable on your finger. It's worth noting that if you have a textured finish in mind for your perfect ring, then the wider it is, the more visible that texture will be to others.
We want to be clear that while the following measurements are typically the most popular ring width choices, they are not set rules. You should choose a ring that feels comfortable and speaks to you visually, no matter your gender. We believe jewellery is for everyone, regardless of how you identify, and we will always treat you and your ring choice with the utmost respect.
Popular wedding band widths for women
The average cisgender woman has smaller hands than a cisgender man, so a slimmer wedding ring typically sits more comfortably. As jewellery creators offering both ready-to-wear and bespoke wedding rings, we've found that the most popular wedding ring width choice for women is between 2mm and 4mm.
Pictured: The Polished Wedding Ring - D Shape
Popular wedding band widths for men
Cisgender men typically have larger hands, both in length and width, and so often opt for thicker rings. Wide bands give a bolder look, and, because the majority of men don't have an engagement ring, they don't need to worry about creating space for a second ring. This allows them the freedom of choosing a wider ring aesthetically, as well as for comfort.
Pictured: The Satin Wedding Ring - D Shape, 5mm, 18ct Yellow Gold
Should an engagement ring and wedding band be the same width?
There are no rules requiring engagement and wedding rings to be the same width; it's completely down to what you prefer and what feels good while wearing. You can choose to have them match, have one wider than the other, or have your wedding ring designed to fit around the shape of your engagement ring, whether that's by selecting a curved wedding ring or using a bespoke jewellery service like ours for the perfect fit.
Our ready-to-wear wedding rings and bespoke wedding rings
If you're ready to explore ring widths, as well as textures and shapes, we can help you create your perfect ring. As experienced jewellers and goldsmiths with years of experience crafting jewellery in our London studio, we can help create beautiful wedding rings to suit your style and size preferences.
We offer a bespoke wedding ring service, giving you the opportunity to sit down with us and design your piece from scratch. Our team will offer their expert advice to finalise your dream ring design, then they'll get to work producing it by hand, ensuring a truly one-of-a-kind wedding band. This service also means we can design a wedding ring that fits perfectly around an engagement ring, whether said ring already exists or is being created by us alongside your wedding ring.
For anyone not looking for bespoke jewellery, we're proud to offer a wide range of beautiful, ready-to-wear wedding bands in set widths and finishes. We make each one by hand per order, so the piece is still made just for you, but the designs are there for you to peruse. From delicate, polished 2mm D shape rings to brushed, organic-style 5mm rings, there are endless styles for you to choose from.
We also offer ready-to-wear curved and chevron rings, designed to fit around most engagement rings with a large central stone, and wedding bands studded with sparkling gemstones and lab-grown diamonds.
If you'd like to book a wedding band try-on or bespoke consultation, simply take a look through our calendar and book a slot that works for you. For any other questions and queries about our services and products, don't hesitate to reach out to our friendly team.
