Thin bands on engagement rings have become a growing trend in recent years. Barely-there metal holding a beautiful gem is ‘the’ look that has dominated Pinterest boards and online shopping Wishlists worldwide.
Online retailers who mass produce rings through casting are undoubtedly loving this trend. The thinner the bands, the less metal the need for each ring, which translates to a cheaper price offerings (or bigger profits).
However, if you’re considering this style for an engagement ring which you intend to wear often and have in your life for many years to come, here are two things to think about before putting down a deposit on your thin-banded engagement ring.
1. Precious metals bend.
First, the precious metals used to make high quality jewellery are not only rare, but also malleable. Gold and Platinum bend with force, which makes them excellent metals for creating hand-forged jewellery with.
This malleability means they need a certain amount of thickness to be strong and durable enough for an engagement ring that will be worn every day. Too thin, and the ring can buckle even from mundane everyday activities like pulling a door handle.
This is particularly important for engagement rings that have small diamonds set along the band. Metal is removed from a band to set diamonds into it, meaning an already thin band would have even less metal to support its shape.
For durability reasons, I don’t make engagement rings with bands any narrower than 2mm at the Harlequin workshop. I want to make sure you can confidently wear your ring, and love it for many years to come.
2. Ring designs need balance.
Second, a beautiful and timeless engagement ring style needs balance. A band on an engagement ring needs to be in proportion to the rest of it for it to look purposeful and stylish.
The size of the gemstones in an engagement ring is one part of the design that will influence the band width you need. A 1.8mm band for example, will look completely out of place holding a 5ct round brilliant cut diamond.
Similarly, ring size also dictates what width will suit your finger and the engagement ring you’ll wear. If you’re ordering a ring in a size P, you don’t really want a 1.5mm band that will be out of proportion with the piece, and create durability issues for your design.
So, while thin engagement ring bands are trending, I encourage you to consider what will work best for your own personal circumstances. Your ring size, engagement ring design, and how long you hope to wear your ring will all influence the right width for the band of your engagement ring.