Wedding Band Basics

By -

Do you know the difference in "Half-Round" and "Comfort-Fit" wedding band styles? This is a common point of confusion for those in the market for genuine Platinum or Gold wedding bands--the difference in style may not be apparent at first glance, but the cost difference is apparent! This price difference is due to the weight of the precious metal, as well as the extra complexity of the comfort-fit style.

It all boils down to the difference in the cross section of each style. As the illustration shows, the half-round style is flat where it contacts the finger, but domed on the top of the ring. However, the comfort-fit style is slightly domed against the finger, as well as on the top. Because of this slight domed-effect on the inside of the ring, the comfort-fit style will slide more easily over the finger joint than the half-round. This difference translates into a ring whose cross-section is thicker in the comfort-fit style, making the ring heavier: the result is more weight of precious metal, and therefore higher cost.
In addition, Viridian Gold offers both a standard weight, and a heavy-weight version of each style. The diagram shows that for the standard version, shown on the left side of each cross-section, the ring thickness is less than for the heavier version. Again, this translates into a difference in weight--the standard version contains less precious metal and is therefore less expensive than the heavier style. Most people will find that the standard comfort-fit version offers added comfort over the traditional half-round style, but still provides a ring with "heft" and quality thickness. You can find both 14K Gold and genuine Platinum wedding bands on our website.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tri-Color and Two-Tone Gold, what are they?

By -
Image
A recent email from one of our visitors asked me to explain what " Tri -Color Gold" means (as in our Flower Hoop Earrings shown here), and it occurred to me that a lot of folks may wonder about that, as well as "Two-Tone Gold". So here is an overview of what these terms mean--but first, an overview of gold colors. Pure 24K gold is of course a beautiful deep gold-yellow color. But, pure gold is too soft to be used in solid form for most kinds of jewelry--for instance, a ring made of pure gold would be too soft to hold up under continued wear on your finger. It would easily get squashed and scratched in everyday use. In addition, with pure gold trading at around $900 to $1,000 per ounce (the highest prices in history), pure gold jewelry is too expensive for most folks. All gold jewelry is therefore mixed with other metals to make it stronger and more economical--mixing metals together is called "alloying". When alloyed, the deep yellow of pure gold can be c
Read more

Hollow/Tubular, v.s. Solid Wedding Rings

By -
Image
Because the price of gold has gone up so much in the last 5 years, we are seeing more gold jewelry that uses techniques to reduce the gold content of the piece, and thereby lower the cost.  One recently resurrected concept is the manufacture of wedding bands which are hollow on the inside.  So, your ring will look exactly like a solid ring, but it will weigh much less, and therefore cost less!  But.... Hollow rings, sometimes referred to as tubular, or "Silk Fit Ⓡ", cannot be re-sized like a solid ring.  And, because they are hollow, they can be easily dented in normal use.  Once dented, they cannot be easily repaired, if at all.  And, they may not even cost less... For example, I found a size 10, 14K white gold "Silk Fit Ⓡ" band on eBay, listed for $170.  The gold weight is listed as 1.2 grams.  Our 14K White Gold Comfort Fit Gold Band in a size 10 is shown on our website today as $239.00, and the gold weight is 3.1 grams, over two and a half times more gol
Read more

Determining Spacer Bead Size

By -
Image
Many people use spacer beads to separate charms on bracelets, necklaces and charm holders, but figuring out what size to purchase can sometimes be challenging.  At Viridian Gold, we carry a selection of spacer beads, and each bead is available in several different sizes (see:  http://www.viridiangold.com/charms.html ) When determining what size spacer bead to purchase, first take into consideration what item of jewelry the bead will be added to - will it go on a chain necklace or bracelet, or a charm holder?  Next, figure out the millimeter width of the item on which you want to add the bead.  If it's a chain, how wide is chain?  How wide is the clasp?  If you are unsure, reach for the nearest ruler.  Rulers frequently have millimeter measurements opposite the inch measurements, and millimeters are what are needed for a chain width measurement.  Place your ruler on a flat surface in a horizontal position, and then place your chain across the ruler in a vertical position.  Make
Read more