Vow to Make
the Most of Your Wedding Ring Investment
(ARA) -
Tying the knot is one thing. Getting tied up in knots about
your wedding rings is another.
At an average wedding cost of $20,000, approximately $40 billion
is spent on more than 2.5 million weddings in the United States
each year, according to Sell More Weddings. The cost of wedding
jewelry alone, as stated in The Wedding Report, can vary by
geographical area, ranging from an average of $1,551 in Oklahoma
City to $2,557 in Fairfax County, Va.
Purchasing wedding bands is an important investment - both
financially and emotionally. To help you maximize your wedding
jewelry investment, here are some tips from Brian Patch, an
industry veteran for more than 32 years and president of
e-weddingbands.com, a premium online wedding band retailer:
Q. What advice would you give someone shopping for a wedding
band?
A. This is a special piece of jewelry you'll enjoy for many
years, so make sure it reflects your personal tastes and
lifestyles, regardless of what may be trendy at the time.
Today's wedding rings come in a variety of metals, finishes,
embellishments and designs, so you'll have a host of options
from which to choose. If your ring is 5mm or wider, consider a
comfort-fit style. Extra metal is used to make the inside of
the band slightly domed, resulting in a very comfortable fit,
especially for men.
Q. What can I expect from an investment in precious metals and
gemstones?
A. When I first started selling wedding bands, gold was valued
at $35 per ounce. Today, it's valued at about $565 per ounce.
The price of platinum has almost doubled in the past few years,
and gold has increased approximately 50 percent over the past
year alone. Precious stones, like diamonds, generally increase
in value over time as well. Don't be surprised if the $500
diamond that your dad purchased for your mom 40 years ago is now
worth $2,000. Recently, we've seen the diamond market dip and
then rebound, but a large gemstone should remain solid --
particularly if you purchase a quality diamond from a reputable
dealer that offers a 100 percent value trade-up program, like
e-weddingbands.com.
Q. How can I best care for my wedding band?
A. For cleaning and regular maintenance on most standard wedding
bands, we recommend polishing with goldsmith-grade polishing
cloths, and an occasional five-minute professional polishing to
leave your bands as good as new. If you're looking for more
maintenance-free options, tungsten wedding bands are a new --
and very popular -- choice. Since tungsten carbide is a very
hard and dense metal, it's the perfect choice for men, in
particular, who are concerned about scratching their rings.
Florentine or stone finishes are also good choices for people
who'd prefer not to think about polishing.
Q. Should I insure my rings?
A. As with all fine jewelry, you'll want to consider either
adding them to your existing insurance policy, or purchasing a
separate rider policy for higher jewelry values. While a yearly
inspection and cleaning by a professional jeweler will help
maintain your jewelry, identify bent prongs, and repair worn
areas, there's always the chance that you'll lose your ring.
With today's active lifestyles, people are increasingly
removing their wedding rings for sporting and outdoor
activities. Adequate jewelry insurance coverage makes more sense
now than ever before.
Your wedding band truly can be a gem of an investment. To
maximize yours, visit
e-weddingbands.com for a
selection of rings to fit every lifestyle.
Copyright © 2006, ARA Content
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