The average Cost of a Wedding Band
- Posted on
- By Alan Peterson
The biggest concern for most when purchasing an engagement or wedding ring is whether they have allowed enough in the wedding budget. Once upon a time, it was considered 2 or 3 months’ salary was the recommended amount one should spend on an engagement ring. More recently though, it is totally acceptable to spend only what you can afford and what you feel comfortable with. There is no need to spend a fortune and find yourself in excessive debt just to keep up with others, the same can be said about wedding rings.
For those of you who are budgeting for wedding rings, you can rest assured that a wedding ring is usually the more affordable of the two. The cost will ultimately depend on whether you choose to include diamonds in your design. A classic 18 carat gold wedding ring will cost approximately $800 for a lady or the same design for a gent, will cost approximately $1,300.
If your engagement ring is made out of platinum, then your wedding ring will need to match, using the same alloy for rings worn side-by-side reduces wear and tear on both rings. Platinum is considered the superior metal and is renowned for its purity, density and longevity however, the price of platinum reflects this and it is more expensive than 18 carat gold. A platinum wedding band will set you back approximately $1,000 for a ladies design and $2,300 for a gents.
Including diamonds can increase the cost by a few hundred to a few thousand depending on the quantity and the size. Other additional design features such as engraving, mill grain and filigree patterns will also add to the cost.
If the price of your wedding is preventing you from getting the wedding ring of your dreams, there is always the option to add to your design later down the track. Diamonds and hand engraved designs are additions that can be added to a plain band at any time, just be sure to let your jeweller know if this is your intention as they may choose to build in a little extra thickness. You may also decide that a simple wedding ring is the best option for you and then like many do, you can create an eternity ring further down the track that completes your dream set.