Men's Engagement Rings

Styles of Men's Engagement Rings

Naturally, men's engagement rings do not have a high diamond setting with prongs and other highlighted features. Subtle, understated rings are more practical for work, sport, and maintenance activities. Many men’s engagement rings are simple bands, possibly with etching or other minimal embellishments. Many women will have the ring engraved with a loving phrase, date, or other symbolic note to add individuality and intimacy without overt insignia.

Some men, however, prefer more elaborate engagement ring designs. Two-tone rings using different metals such as both yellow and white gold or tints of bronze add distinction to the ring without the use of gemstones. Textured rings are also popular, which have elaborate engraving to form lattices or other patterns along the surface of the ring. Mokume gane engagement rings use different metal alloys to create an intricate pattern within the band itself that is distinctive without being ostentatious. Titanium engagement rings are another popular choice because the metal itself can be brilliant shades of blue, purple, and other colors.

Diamonds in Men's Engagement Rings

Men's textured ring.

Like women’s engagement rings, many modern engagement rings for men use diamonds. Men’s rings do not, however, typically have a center stone embraced by smaller accent stones. While a man’s ring may use one diamond – perhaps in the corner of a square ring or subtly set into a wide band – and thus be considered a “solitaire” diamond, if multiple stones are used one is not highlighted above the others. Instead, several diamonds may be channel set into a band or arranged along one edge of a square ring. Channel diamonds are less prone to damage and far more practical for men’s rings.

Gemstones in Men's Rings

Men’s engagement rings do not need to focus exclusively on diamonds. Colored gemstones, particularly the birthstones of both the bride and groom, are popular choices and can easily be incorporated into an engagement band. They may be interspersed with small diamonds for greater clarity and visual interest.

One stone typically not used in a man’s engagement ring is a pearl. Pearls are difficult to channel set and are far more easily damaged than gemstones, and thus are not a wise choice for a man’s ring.

Wedding Sets

Many men’s engagement rings today are available in wedding sets. The wedding band is a similar, matching ring with complementary stones and features. Many men, however, prefer to wear a single band, and the two rings of the set may be soldered together to form one ring. Another option is for the engagement ring to be worn on the right hand after the wedding.

Cost

Men’s engagement rings are priced similarly to women’s rings. While the diamonds may not be as large or as numerous, the weight of the metal in a man’s ring is far greater than in a woman’s ring, thus increasing the engagement ring price substantially. Of course, rings without gemstones are generally less expensive, though two-tone rings and those with intricate patterns are more difficult to manufacture and are still more costly than simple bands.

Proposing to a Man

Today, more and more women are choosing to propose to their men, rather than the more traditional male proposal. While men’s engagement rings are becoming more widespread, many men are not aware of the trend and may initially resist the idea of an engagement ring. It is best to approach the idea of his wearing an engagement ring as a couple and determine whether he is comfortable with the sentiment. If he does choose to wear an engagement ring, the couple can select it together after discussing pricing and style options, therefore guaranteeing the most suitable ring.

Alternatives

Many men may reject the idea of an engagement ring, but it is perfectly acceptable for the bride-to-be to present her fiancé with a gift as a token of their impending commitment. Dress watches, leather wallets, cuff links, and money clips are all alternate gifts that express her feelings and symbolize the couple’s commitment to one another.

Today, many men wear engagement rings. While men’s rings have distinctively different styles than a typical engagement ring, they serve the same purpose: to declare privately and publicly the love a couple shares and their intent to revere that love together for the rest of their lives.