Jewelry Articles

Weddings seem to be a pretty typical affair. The bride and groom get together in front of friends and family, exchange vows, cut the cake and then spend the rest of the evening with loved ones at the reception – and that’s about it.
Right?

Actually, the wedding industry is full of extraordinary surprises – and when it comes to how loving couples celebrate the first day of their new lives together, there’s only one rule to follow: anything goes! With that in mind, 25karats.com decided to investigate some of the most interesting and fascinating wedding trends, facts and figures you didn’t know about. You’ll be amazed at how unique and non-traditional weddings can be!

Think that the cost of US weddings is expensive? Take a look at what the typical Japanese bride spends on her wedding day: over $70,000, according to the 2005 Census of Japan. However, just by getting married in nearby Guam, a Japanese bride saves over 60% on wedding costs, or $42,000!

In comparison, the average US wedding only costs $20,000 – that’s practically pocket change for a Japanese bride!

You know that the most popular wedding month is June (10.8% of all weddings occur then) – but can you guess which are the next most popular months? If you guessed August (10.2%), May (9.8%), September (9.6%) and October (9.4%), then you’re right!

On the other hand, the least popular months to get married are January (4.7%), March (6.1%) and February (7.0%) – so if you’re looking for steep wedding discounts, consider a winter ceremony!

US couples spend an average of $3,657 on their honeymoon – but spend less than a third of that on their wedding rings ($1,016).

Wedding registries make up a huge portion of the wedding industry, which rakes in a whopping $72 billion each year. According to Bride’s Millennium Report, $19 billion is spent on wedding gift registries. Over 91 percent of all couples register for gifts, with the average couple receiving wedding gifts from an average of 200 guests. The average guest spends between $70 to $100 per gift. No wonder wedding registries make up such a huge portion of the industry!

99% of all newlyweds will take a honeymoon. The most popular destinations for honeymoons include Las Vegas, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Jamaica.

It’s a good thing two of the four most popular destinations are in the United States, because only 35% of brides and grooms only have a valid passport.

Think that Las Vegas is the top wedding city of the world? Think again – Istanbul marries a whopping 166,000 couples per year, with Las Vegas in second place with 114,000 weddings!

The average couple will spend three times more on their honeymoon than a regular vacation. Don’t forget to let airlines and hotels know that you’re recently married to get some fabulous (and free!) honeymoon perks!

Traditionally, the ring finger on the left hand has always been the location for a wedding band. Stemming from a Tudor belief from the 16th-century, the left-handed ring finger was believed to be connected to the heart by a vein; therefore, wearing a ring on that finger signified to the world that the wearer had a “claim to their heart” in the form of a fiancé or a husband (men didn’t start to wear wedding rings until centuries later).

However, just as the ring finger on the left hand signifies love, fidelity and monogamy, the ring finger on the right hand has also developed a code of its own. As the new millennium approached, diamond rings began to suddenly shift to the right hand – and the multiple meanings behind this shift are fascinating.

If you’re still not sure what it means to wear a wedding ring on your right hand, then take a look at 25karats.com’s quick guide to the meanings behind the right-handed ring:

Economic Independence. As female workers began to out-earn men, women finally had the kind of income that allowed them to buy diamond rings for themselves. Today, a woman doesn’t have to wait for an engagement ring from her boyfriend in order to don a gorgeous diamond ring – she simply can buy a right-handed ring and wear it proudly as a signifier of her economic independence.

Gay and Lesbian Marriage. Instead of wearing wedding bands on their left hands, gay and lesbian couples often choose to wear rings on their right hands instead. Within gay and lesbian communities, the right-handed ring is an instantly recognizable marker of a monogamous relationship, and even marriage within the states that have legalized it.

Family Heirlooms. Wedding rings carry enormous sentimental value, so it’s no surprise that many people choose to wear these heirlooms as opposed to letting it gather dust in a box or a safe. By wearing the heirloom on the right hand, the wearer can be constantly reminded of tradition, family values and the importance of intergenerational connections.

Infidelity. Married men and women don’t have to resort to hiding their wedding rings in order to cheat on a spouse; shockingly, many people believe that switching a wedding band from the left to the right hand is a code that signifies an openness to cheating on their mate or spouse.

Differences In Culture. Not all cultures believe that the wedding ring should be placed on the left hand. In countries like Poland, Greece, India and Colombia, the wedding band belongs on the right hand, not the left.

Left-Handedness. Finally, wearing a wedding ring on the right hand can simply mean that the wearer is left-handed and doesn’t want his or her ring to be subjected to the wear and tear from their dominant hand.

As you can see, the ways in which one can wear a wedding band is as diverse as wedding ring styles themselves!

If as a couple, you are a connoisseur of vintage craft or take interest in the traditional way of things, an antique wedding band is the perfect marriage jewelry set for you. With a lot of neo-age trends surfacing with the New Year, you will not find your options restricted while looking for such vintage rings. For those who take delight in the fusion of the classic and the trendy, platinum has become a hot favorite as far as jewelry for marriage or engagement events are concerned.

However, you need to keep some points in mind while looking for the ideal antique wedding bands to avoid a wrong purchase decision. Listed below are 5 such factors that may influence the worth of your buy:

1. Style – Judge the style of the antique wedding band before you start shopping around. Styles may vary according to the era that the ring may belong to. Styles range from Victorian era multiple stoned rings to channeled styles, from ‘S’ shaped arrangement of colored gemstones to solitaires. Choose the one that reflects your partner’s personality best.

2. Budget – Outline your budget and stick to it, despite lucrative offers. A lot of us fail to designate a budget for our marriage accessories. And this is the segment of people who end up spending much more than what they would have ideally wanted to.

3. Material – While choosing an antique wedding band, select a material that would suit both your budget as well as your partner’s personality. Therefore, while the yellow gold can be kept for the flashy personas, platinum or white gold can blend well with sober characters.

4. Stones – Make sure that the gemstones or diamonds mounted on the vintage ring are authentic and complement each other. Antique wedding bands most often use colored gemstones. Therefore make sure that these match your personality. If diamonds have been used, the carat weight, clarity and cut should be verified before making the buy.

5. Condition of the Ring – This rule applies specifically to vintage jewelry sets. The condition of an antique wedding band should be verified (with the help of an industry expert, if possible). Apart from the regular corrosion that the ring may have experienced, issues such as placement of the stones, the clarity of the gems and dullness in the metal color should all be cleared before making the final purchase.

These tips will keep you in good stead as far as finding the right piece of vintage jewelry for your marriage is concerned.

The best option while shopping for your big day is to look for engagement or marriage rings online. Authentic dealer sites like ‘25Karats.com’ provide with an enormous number of antique wedding bands to choose from, all of which are priced within a reasonable range.

You know that the moment you exchange the perfect wedding band with the love of your life is a special moment – but did you ever stop to consider the meaning behind your religious wedding band? Whether you’re looking for a particular Christian ring design or a beautiful Jewish wedding band, 25karats has uncovered the history and symbolism behind elegant Christian and Jewish wedding rings that will add that special touch to your big day!

Both Christian and Jewish wedding bands are designed around a singular concept: that love, like the ring, has no beginning and no end. It’s thought that religious wedding bands first started during the ancient Roman period, when a man would slip a betrothal ring – usually just a simple iron band – on the finger of his loved one to signify his undying commitment. However, the tradition of exchanging unique wedding bands during the ceremony didn’t become standard practice until many centuries later. Wedding bands also evolved from the simple iron band of Roman times to unique gold and silver rings – and the religious wedding band became a popular choice for couples looking to incorporate their beliefs on their special day.

Christian wedding bands incorporate a number of religious motifs and symbols: from Jesus fish symbols and cross carvings to dove designs, a Christian wedding band represents the everlasting union between you, your loved one and God. No matter what the symbol you choose, a Christian wedding band is the perfect choice for the couple as dedicated to their faith as they are to each other.

Jewish wedding rings also incorporate religious symbols and motifs within the band. Additionally, Jewish wedding bands may also feature beautiful Hebrew script, with traditional sayings like “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine”. Many Jewish wedding bands feature the symbol of the Star of David – a perfect religious wedding band for the Jewish couple who wants to celebrate their faith as well as their union.

No matter what faith you and your loved one ascribe to, religious wedding bands can play an important part of your wedding ceremony. 25karats.com has a wide selection of gorgeous Christian and Jewish wedding bands, all of which have been expertly crafted to perfection.

Let 25karats.com be a part of your special day by celebrating the unbreakable bond between you, your loved one and God!

A perfect wedding band shouldn’t just represent the everlasting love between you and your sweetheart; it should also reflect your style, unique taste and individuality. And when your looking for the unique wedding band that you’ll wear for the rest of your life, you’ll want to make sure its as gorgeous and elegant as possible!

Wedding bands have continually evolved over the course of the last few decades – and 2010 is no exception! No matter what your taste or preference, you’re sure to find the perfect wedding band in a style and metal type that’s just right for you.

So if you’re ready to pick the wedding band of your dreams, then you won’t want to miss out on these hot wedding band trends for 2010 and beyond!

Diamond Eternity Wedding Bands. Diamond eternity wedding bands are the hot choice for 2010 – and if you want a touch of glamour and sparkle from your wedding ring, then this style is perfect for you! Diamonds surround the entire wedding band to represent the undying union between you and your love – not to mention an everlasting sparkle! Diamond eternity wedding bands can be ordered in any metal, but the diamonds look best set against a palladium or platinum setting.






Antique Wedding Rings. While many 2010 wedding band trends break away from conventional styles of previous years, many couples are choosing to uphold tradition by incorporating antique wedding bands in their ceremony. Whether they’re family rings passed down through generations or simply from another time, antique wedding rings represent a popular selection for couples with more traditional tastes. Antique wedding ring styles are harder to come by than mainstream styles, but they represent a meaningful elegance that many other wedding bands don’t possess.

Handmade Wedding Bands. For the couple who won’t accept anything less than an eclectic wedding ring, handmade wedding bands offer the perfect combination of uniqueness and elegance. Couples in 2010 expect their wedding bands to be as special as their union, which is why handmade wedding bands represent such a popular choice this year. Additionally, handmade wedding bands are expertly crafted by master jewelers and polished to a fine finish, ensuring that your wedding ring will always be at the center of attention!

Custom Creations. A wedding band should always represent your style and individuality – and what better way to do so than to design your own wedding band for 2010 and beyond? An expert jeweler can handcraft your wedding ring to fit whichever style you preference, in a metal type that suits your tastes. From 14K gold and platinum to tungsten carbide and titanium, your wedding band can dazzle and sparkle to your delight – it’s entirely up to you and your loved one!

Hot wedding band trends for 2010 represent a year of individuality, elegance and refined style – so the only trend that you need to follow is the one that you set for yourself!