The wedding rings will be your greatest reminder of that beautiful day when you finally take the vows. They will forever remain cherished, hence you have to be sure of what you want before buying the rings. Use our guide to make the right choice before you buy. For a list of shops selling rings and jewelries in your locality , check our directory listing. However, before buying the rings from any shop, you might need to ask some questions. Some of such questions are listed below.

1. Know Your Style: Are you a flamboyant dresser, or moderation is your middle name? Choose a wedding ring that goes with your existing jewelry collection and wardrobe.

2. What kind of metal do you want? Gold, silver or platinum? Do you prefer yellow gold to white gold? Are you dreaming of that two tone gold ring, your cousin used for her wedding last October? Use our window shopping section to preview different rings styles, before making a choice. Choosing a colour can be demanding especially, if you’ve not decided what you want before going to the shop. There is also the issue of karat rating ranging from the standard 14k, to the finer 18k. Choosing a 22-24k should be weighed because it might be too soft to hold a shape over the years. Platinum, though more trendy, is more expensive and heavier than gold.

3. Stones or No Stones? Emeralds, Rubies, Diamonds and other precious stones increase the value of the ring, but at an increased cost too. Men are not really keen on stones, so make sure you discuss with him first. You can always start out with simple gold rings and upgrade later when you can afford it.

4. Sizing? Be sure of your size before making that purchase. Our fingers are constantly changing in size all the time. A month of stressful time can reduce you size by almost a half, while your three weeks annual leave can result in you wearing a half size bigger. Don’t assume the same size as the last time you bought a ring. Even if the ring can be easily sized, as most can, you will save time and maybe money by getting it right from the start.

5. Comfort or style? The comfort-fit style is becoming really popular these days with its novel look, feel and extra weight. However, some others find the flat and half round rings more comfortable and cost less. Read our article on ring styles to guide you.

6. The width of the band. This is dependent mainly on personal taste. Taste, hand size, comfort fit and other concerns affect how wide your band should be. 4mm to 8mm is common for men, with 5mm or 6mm perhaps the most popular. Women may choose a narrower design, especially if it is fitting next to an engagement ring. Sometimes the lady prefers a band much wider than the man's. Bands with edges may seem "visually slimmer" than their actual width. Some people are sensitive to the alloys mixed in their jewelry and have allergic reactions. If you have had any problems of that sort you may want to consider a narrower band. Wider bands tend to hold moisture, soap and cosmetics that can bother sensitive skin. Comfort fit bands tend to "breathe" better than flat or half round bands

7. Educate yourself: Understand the term used in describing rings and jewelries. Check our rings and jewelries terminology section. This will help you to understand what the jeweler tells you and access their products. You should also take along a friend who you know has vast knowledge in these matters if you have one.

8. Be Sure of the vendor. How long have they been operating? Does the attendant display understanding of the products? All these are means to access how reliable the vendor is.

9. Know the details. Is there any Guarantee & Warranty? To what extent do the shops guarantee their merchandise? What are their return policies? Ensure this information is on your purchase receipt after making the purchase.

10. Gold & Platinum Tips: Unlike gold, platinum is not descibed in karats. In the United States, abbreviations such as PT, or plat, indicate platinum; in Europe the numerical marking 950 or PT950 indicates platinum. For guaranteed quality in platinum, look for the stamps PT, 950, 950 Plat or Plat. Platinum 950 which is a 95% pure platinum alloy can be stamped as "Platinum"; 950 Plat and Plat. Platinum 900 which is a 90% pure platinum alloy can be stamped as "plat irid" (90% platinum and 10% iridium) but cannot be stamped as "Platinum" as it is 90% pure platinum. All platinum jewelry on our website is Platinum 950 (95% platinum and 5% iridium/or ruthenium/ or cobalt).

Pure or fine gold is 24 karats. Eighteen karat gold consists of 18 parts of pure gold mixed with 6 parts of other metals (American Marking is 18K and European Marking is 750). Fourteen karat gold consists of 14 parts of pure gold mixed with 10 parts of other metals (American Marking is 14K and European Marking is 585). Always check the karatage marking in gold jewelry to find out the gold conent. The law is very strict with regard to the tolerances allowed for gold jewelry. A karat mark will assure you that tolerances are being met and gold is of specified quality.