Whether you’re picking it yourself, or you’ve dutifully left the responsibility to your husband-to-be, as per tradition, choosing a wedding ring isn’t easy.

With so many different metals, precious jewels and styles of ring to choose from, it’s no wonder that doting brides invest of lot of emotion into making sure the ring-buyer takes their time to shop around for their perfect symbol of love; it’s for life after all.

To help give a little introduction into the various different kinds of wedding rings available, Chris Taylor, a journalist who routinely writes for wedding ring blanks supplier Betts Metal Sales, lends a few insights.

How to choose the shape of your band

Contrary to popular belief, not all wedding rings are the same shape, and this is a good thing. There are actually a number of different styles that suit some brides and grooms better than others; very often this comes down to comfort of the fit, rather than the style itself.

D shaped rings are flat on the inside and rounded on the outside making them the ideal choice for having stones set in.

Flats, as the name suggests, are flat on both sides of the ring - giving a very cutting and contemporary look. the only potential downside of this style is that they can be uncomfortable if your hand is in a fist shape, or they could gat caught when playing sports, but they are a reliable fit and will stay on the finger easily.

Rounded bands are perhaps more traditionally popular than flats and are also well-known for their comfort and ease of putting on (which might be important on the big day!)

Court shaped rings are rounded on both sides and due to their classic aesthetic and style are by far the most popular style of wedding ring.

Flat courts combine the modern-day chic exterior of a flat ring with the comfort of a court-shaped ring inside, making them a popular choice for people who like the shape of a pure flat, but not the feel of the inside.

A cushion court is the final kind of wedding ring and has rounded edges with a flat profile, making it potentially less “edgy” as a flat.

Gold, silver, platinum and more

Even when you’ve decided on your perfect ring shape, you’ll have to consider what kind of precious metal is the one for you.

Gold is the metal most traditionally associated with weddings – and for good reason. It is common place throughout the jewellery world, modestly priced and has a distinctive look that historically has been associated with important occasions or persons. Just think of the crown jewels without them being gold!

Gold is also appealing because it is available at a number price points, dictated by its carat value (or purity). Gold can also be mixed with other alloys to create different colours of gold, such as yellow and rose gold.

While gold wedding rings might be traditional, there’s no problem with you opting for the cosmetic chic of silver, or even stepping up into the highly-priced, but eye-catching, platinum.

Platinum, a white metal, is extremely hard wearing and because of its purity does not need to be plated like white-gold. Its durability also means that it can easily be resized in the future.

Silver, on the flip side, is somewhat inferior to platinum because it is a sofetr metal, easily damaged and marked and is prone to oxidisation which causes the silver to turn black. It is the cheapest option, but would not be recommended for a wedding ring, being less durable than gold or platinum.

Behind the scenes at a wedding ring workshop

Your wedding ring is an incredibly important symbol – a full circle representing eternity and infinity. Such a significant part of your marriage should be created and crafted with all the love and care that it’s due. This is the philosophy of the team behind Wedding Rings Direct, who hand-craft most of their rings in their Brighton workshop using traditional methods that date back thousands of years. The UK Wedding Shows were invited take a look behind the scenes to see the journey that a wedding ring takes from start to finish…

Step one: the blank

The majority of wedding rings are made from blanks. This refers to the unfinished ring before any polishing or decorative elements are added, this blank will usually have been cast using traditional methods, or milled by machine in an external workshop.

Step two: workshop

The blank ring is checked by the workshop to ensure it meets the customer’s exact specifications before being hallmarked, which is a legal requirement of all precious metal jewellery in the UK. If a customer opts for a more decorative design, now’s the time to add the grooves, engrave the ring with a special message or drill it ready to be set with sparkling diamonds.

Step three: polishing

Wedding rings can be polished in a number of ways to achieve a variety of gorgeous finishes. The most popular is the polished ‘mirror’ finish which gives a highly reflective sheen, but different tools can be used to give the ring a matt, sandblast or hammered finish.

Step four: cleaning and finishing

Rings enjoy a good bath (just like us!) and cleaning in an ultrasonic machine is the last stage your ring will go through before it’s sent direct to your door. This particular method doesn’t date back thousands of years! Supersonic waves vibrate in the tank to create microscopic bubbles that burst on the surface of the ring, lifting away any dirt and tarnishing to leave a stunning finish.