When and How You Should Upgrade Your Wedding Ring
The wedding ring has a long and rich cultural history, dating as far back as ancient Egypt. Rings were mostly comprised of hemp and reeds but could be replaced later with more costly materials such as ivory and leather.
The same concept exists today in our modern culture. Rings have moved past the standard gold and diamonds our grandparents may have had. They can be made of titanium, dinosaur bone, and even meteorite stones. But the concept of a wedding ring representing unending love remains.
The question is what do you do when you want to upgrade wedding rings? In this article, we'll explain why, when, and how to upgrade your wedding rings.
Why Should You Upgrade Wedding Rings?
There are many important factors as to why and when you should upgrade wedding rings, which we will discuss in this article. These include resizing wedding rings, replacing diamonds for rings, and purchasing a replacement wedding ring.
To some couples, a wedding ring is just as big of a commitment as the relationship itself. It says to the world, "I am taken" and "I am in love with my person." Every couple is different and so every wedding ring must be as well.
And this doesn't just apply to the ladies. Although men didn't intentionally start wearing rings until 20th-century wartime, a wedding ring is just as big of a cultural norm for men in today's society as well. Men now even sport engagement rings of their own.
Change In Tastes
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but that doesn't mean men can't rock a rock of their own too. Diamond companies like De Beers with their famous "A Diamond is Forever" campaign reinforced that a diamond was the true symbol of love.
But that may not be the case anymore. More couples are opting for unique and conflict-free materials over diamonds as a matter of personal taste. You may want to change or upgrade a ring based on style and evolving fashion trends as well.
Over time, as couples mature and grow, their tastes often change along with time. What they once liked at 25 may not be the same at 35 or 45. So, an important aspect of a wedding ring upgrade may have to do with changing tastes and styles over time.
Wear and Tear
A diamond might be forever, but with time, a wedding band may start showing signs of damage, scuffing, and scratching. You want a wedding ring to stand out, but not because it looks so bad. Your wedding ring is a representation of you and your eternal love for your spouse, so you want it to look good.
If your band has multiple stones, some of them have likely come loose and fallen out over the years. This is a common occurrence with rings that are worn frequently. It becomes necessary to buy replacement diamonds for rings at some point.
Replacing a Wedding Ring
It is thought to be taboo to remove one's wedding ring for any reason as it symbolizes the ties that bind you to your spouse. But in some cases, it is unavoidable. A ring may be a hindrance for a job that requires the hands to be near mechanical parts or on a doctor who performs delicate surgeries.
When a ring is removed, there is a high possibility that it may be lost or stolen. In this case, it might be proper to purchase a replacement wedding ring.
Change In Economic Status
While you may have had humble beginnings scrimping and saving, that may not be the case anymore. That inexpensive bauble you started with might be borderline embarrassing to show in more elite social circles. While the size and the cost of a ring shouldn't equal the love it represents, jewelry has always been a form of displaying one's elevated social status.
Couples of affluent backgrounds are now deciding to upgrade wedding rings to showcase their increased wealth. This is also true for couples who may start with a very basic engagement ring with the promise of buying an upgrade engagement ring at a later date when finances improve.
Resizing Wedding Rings
Weight gain and loss are common throughout a relationship. This may mean that your rings do not fit the way they used to when you got married. Resizing wedding rings is an inexpensive way to give a too-tight or too-loose band a second life.
Resizing wedding rings will help prevent a ring that is too loose from slipping off and getting lost. If a band is too tight, resizing can also help it fit more comfortably on your finger.
When Should You Upgrade Wedding Rings?
This may be a tricky question as there seems to be a sort of wedding ring upgrade etiquette to follow. Many couples use a major landmark such as the 10th, 20th, 25th, 30th, or 50th wedding anniversary to signify a change in their wedding rings.
The most popular milestone is the 10-year anniversary ring upgrade. This is due to the statistic that the average length of the first marriage is 8 years before divorce may occur. Couples who make it to the 10-year mark feel like they've jumped one of the biggest hurdles in marriage and want something to declare this victory.
A wedding ring upgrade might also take place for a spouse's milestone birthday, retirement, or to celebrate the birth of a child in the family. The addition of a child's birthstone to an existing wedding ring or a band comprised of family members' birthstones are popular options.
How Should You Upgrade Wedding Rings?
Some choose to upgrade wedding rings with new settings, stones, and other updated wedding ring designs. Still, other couples may opt for an entirely new wedding ring set to match one another. These are often given during anniversary parties and vow renewals.
If you started with a fake stone, you could upgrade to a real diamond or other precious gemstones. Maybe you bought a basic, inexpensive band in the beginning, so now you may wish to upgrade the metal color and quality of the band. Incorporating an additional band devoted to your milestone anniversary is another prominent trend.
You may also decide to take an existing heirloom stone and have it put into a new setting. How you choose to upgrade wedding rings is up to you, depending on your style, your budget, and your spouse's blessing.
Your Guide to I Do and More
If you're ready to upgrade wedding rings, check out FoundryCut for men's wedding bands. No matter where you are in life's journey, FoundryCut has beautiful, unique, and sophisticated pieces for every budget. See what we can do for you before and after you say "I Do."