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!

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!

If you’re looking for that perfect engagement ring or shopping for a unique wedding band, then you know just how much variety there is out on the market today. From yellow gold to platinum and everything in between, it seems like picking the right metal for your diamond engagement ring or wedding band will be a complicated procedure…

…or will it?

If you haven’t considered the choice metal for your unique engagement ring or perfect wedding band, then consider this: platinum and palladium metals comprise the most popular choices for newlyweds and newly engaged couples alike. Thanks to the strength, elegance and beauty to these metals, platinum and palladium are in more demand than ever before.

But is it right for you? 25karats will take you through these two metals so you can choose which is the best choice for you and your sweetheart – so you can start focusing on your new life together!

Platinum. Platinum has long been a favorite metal choice for engaged and newly married couples. One of the most rare precious metals, the white luster of platinum metal perfectly complements the sparkle of a diamond, which is why it’s so popular for engagement rings and wedding bands. Platinum is twice as heavy as 14-karat gold, and is considered much stronger by expert jewelers. In fact, gold typically melts at about 1,800°F, while platinum can withstand temperatures of up to 3,100°F.

Additionally, platinum is more expensive than its gold and palladium counterparts because of its strength and density – jewelers find it notoriously hard to work with. Much of the cost of a platinum engagement ring or wedding band can be attributed to the degree of expertise needed to work with it. Unlike with a gold ring, a platinum ring requires a special order to be resized.

The advantages to a platinum ring are multifold. Since the metal is so strong, platinum engagement rings and wedding bands are more durable than their gold counterparts, meaning that they’ll last longer. Platinum also beautifully highlights the color and clarity of diamonds, providing a ring that’s sure to be a showstopper.

Palladium. Palladium has been a recent addition to the world of engagement and wedding band metals. Used as a substitute for platinum during World War II (when platinum was considered a viable resource), palladium wedding bands and engagement rings quickly grew popular due to its similar appearance and strength to platinum.

Palladium is a member of the platinum family, which means that its far more durable than its gold and yellow-gold counterparts. However, palladium is far more malleable than platinum, which means that it can be resized and shaped far more easily and for less cost. Yet this malleability comes at a price – because palladium is so easy to work with, it is considered the weaker of all alloys in the platinum family and can dull over time due to repeated exposure to heat and other natural elements.

But for those couples looking for a cheaper alternative to platinum with more durability than gold, palladium makes the perfect – and attractive – choice!

Your wedding day will undoubtedly be the biggest day of your life – and you want to make sure that you have the perfect wedding ring to show for it! But it’s not just the bride’s ring that should steal the spotlight on this wonderful day; in fact, men’s weddings rings are marking a huge trend for the 21st century, as more grooms are more aware of what they’re looking for in unique wedding rings.

Forget the traditional wedding band, because there’s a bevy of gorgeous men’s wedding rings out there – and 25karats is going to help you find the right one for that special day!

Diamond Wedding Bands. Men’s wedding rings have transcended the traditional platinum band; in fact, one of the more popular styles for men’s wedding rings includes the diamond wedding band. As the wearing of diamond jewelry grows in popularity, the men’s diamond wedding band reflects that trend by showcasing a range of gorgeous small diamonds or a single showpiece gemstone.


Unlike the woman’s solitaire ring, the gemstone on a man’s diamond wedding band is not raised on a prong setting, but rather integrated within the flow of the band; hence why designer and fancy styles are among the most popular choices for this gorgeous category. A diamond wedding band is best complimented by a yellow gold or white gold metal, as both will help those luminous diamonds to stand out – without breaking the bank like those other expensive metals!

Designer Wedding Bands. Looking for a gorgeous wedding ring for that special groom with defined tastes? Then look no further than designer wedding bands, which allow a couple to exquisitely express the strength of their bond with statement rings that will make friends and family green with envy.

Designer wedding bands are identically modeled after rings from the most exclusive brand names out there. From luxurious metals to gorgeous detailed cuts and designs, your groom will have a ring that is exactly like that designer ring he’s been lusting after – except without the designer price tag! Designer wedding bands are perfect for the groom who wants to stand out without having to sacrifice their bank account.

Fancy Wedding Bands. For the groom with the classically refined taste, nothing can make a more powerful statement of the union between two loved ones like fancy wedding bands. However, these aren’t your father’s typical fancy wedding bands: the 21st century groom updates the fancy wedding band by incorporating personalized designs within luxurious metals of white gold and yellow gold for a budget-friendly finish. From two-tone wedding bands with satin finishes to those that feature an impeccable cross-cut center, fancy wedding bands for men will certainly please the groom with a sophisticated palette!

Your wedding day should be just as special as the bond you share with your loved one – so why not let 25karats show you just how memorable that day can be with the right men’s wedding ring that perfectly fits your budget?