Is there really a difference between Wedding Rings and Wedding Bands?

Is there a difference between wedding rings and wedding bands? Well…yes, and no!

First for a little history…

Traditionally wedding bands were simple rings of metal with no decoration. There was no engraving, no fancy two-tone wedding ring combination and no diamonds or any other stones of any
kind. In a man’s world where fashion flare was a little suspect and could
possibly denote a feminine character this was perfect…but there was a
problem. Women were the ones
wearing wedding bands! It wasn’t
common for men to sport the metal until World War Two!

As we move into the future, women decide they have had enough of the wedding bands status quo. Couples started to buy rings as wedding ring sets and women started to look for more stylish options to go with their diamond engagement ring. They wanted pieces that were more
decorated with diamonds and precious stones – leave the boring wedding bands to
the men! These new styles were so much like other rings worn purely for
fashion that the name gradually changed from wedding bands to wedding
rings (I love history).

So, while in the past there was a distinction between the two, today the terms wedding bands and wedding rings are really used interchangeably and the two are identical (you will find some
jewelers that hold onto the distinction in order to separate the simple bands
from the more ornate rings).

Women’s demand fore more style brought about myriad new styles of rings…diamond wedding rings, antique wedding rings, and amazing new designs of white gold wedding rings, but truly the most recent advances in
wedding jewelry have been made for the men. The traditional gold wedding rings of the past have been
replaced with alternative metals like titanium and stainless steel, which are
much stronger, more durable, and much less expensive. Now that men have become a part of the wedding ring market,
jewelers have really focused hard on making them happy. Today, we don’ just have tons of styles
available for women, but men’s wedding rings have come a long way too!

Here is one of my favorite contemporary men’s wedding rings: