5 Ways to Upgrade Your Wedding Band
Wedding rings are a symbol and reminder of love, commitment, devotion, and of course, betrothal to another person. It is no wonder that they are so cherished and valued by the wearer. So it may come as a surprise to hear that it’s quite common for couples to want to upgrade their wedding bands. There are actually quite a few reasons why someone might want to, from a desire to simply modernize the ring to a desire to have it reflect a changed sense of style. In today’s blog, we take a look at a few of the reasons couples want to upgrade their wedding bands and some of the options for doing so.
Common reasons couples choose to upgrade their wedding bands
For renewing their vows. One of the most popular reasons for wanting to upgrade a wedding band is for renewing wedding vows. The act of renewing wedding vows symbolizes a couple’s rededication to each other and the celebration of their marriage, and the new wedding ring reaffirms that intent. And while there is no customary new type of ring for wedding vow renewal, often couples choose to have their original wedding ring refashioned or updated to symbolize their new commitment. Some even choose to go for brand new wedding bands altogether. Typically, these rings also symbolize what the couple has gone through together as a married couple.
Swirls and diamonds and sophistication all in one wedding ring set.
For special occasions. Anniversaries, holidays, meaningful milestones in a marriage are another reason to upgrade a wedding ring. These special days are ideal opportunities to express love and appreciation for a spouse, and an upgraded wedding band conveys that message well; especially when it has special touches chosen specifically for him/her such as a birthstone or a gemstone that reminds the couple of their honeymoon.
His & Her wedding bands set with the birthstone of the month they got married.
Their sense of style has changed. Yet another reason that people choose to upgrade their wedding rings is because their sense of style has changed. Over time, our sense of style and our lifestyle itself changes and we want our wedding band to reflect those changes. For example, perhaps you no longer love that modern, minimal look and prefer a vintage or antique style wedding band. Or perhaps you want a wedding band that better reflects the type of work you do or the career position you’ve achieved. There are numerous reasons and endless options.
Marquise set diamond wedding band
To replace a wedding ring that is being passed on as a family heirloom. The practice of passing on heirloom jewelry as a wedding ring is another reason that couples decide to upgrade their wedding bands. When this custom is honored, the new bride or groom is given an heirloom wedding ring, which sometimes means that the person who was wearing the ring then needs to replace his or her ring. While this is actually a replacement and not just an upgrade, many people also use the opportunity to get a wedding band that they feel better reflects their personal style. Still others receive an heirloom wedding ring and love the idea of receiving heirloom jewelry, but want it upgraded to have a more modern look. Feel free to check out this lovely story and picture of a gorgeous upgrade to heirloom jewelry.
The band is worn down or missing gemstones. Jewelry, like most anything else, can suffer from wear and tear or damage. When this is the reason for the upgrade, one of the most popular options is to recreate a new wedding band with elements of the original band. The new band can be made from a design that incorporates the original ring’s gemstone(s) or metal or both. Similarly, if you’ve lost your wedding ring, you can have your original wedding ring recreated so that it looks just like the original. All you need are some pictures or photos of the original ring. Here’s a moving story about recreating a lost wedding ring we invite you to read if you’d like to learn more about the process.
Improved financial situation. Some people bought their first ring with the idea of it being a starter ring that would be replaced when they were better established financially. Much like a ‘starter home’, starter rings, similar to place-holder engagement rings, are usually smaller and less costly than what the couple hoped to be able to afford in the future, so it was never intended to be the ‘forever’ ring. While starter rings can still be quite lovely and are certainly meaningful, many couples do keep that promise of a wedding band upgrade when they are financially able to do so.
So just how can you upgrade a wedding band?
Of course a critical aspect to upgrading a wedding band is maintaining the sentimental value of the original ring. Fortunately, there are several upgrade options that will not diminish your wedding band’s sentimental value, and on the contrary, will only enhance it.
- Refinishing, polishing, setting. Refinishing, polishing, and securing the stone settings in a wedding band is the simplest type of upgrade. People who are not looking to change their rings, but just want to restore some of the ring’s original luster choose this option. For this option, it’s recommended that a professional jewelry perform the entire process from polishing and buffing out scratches to securing gemstones. After that, following simple guidelines for how to clean your jewelry can help keep its shine and finish.
- Resizing. Resizing wedding bands is another simple upgrade. Over the years and for any number of reasons, our ring size can change, making it difficult to wear rings we bought years ago whether for fear of losing them because they’re too loose, or because they don’t fit over the knuckle. Resizing your ring not only solves this problem, but is also a great way to upgrade your ring.
- Engraving. Another upgrade option is to have a message engraved on the wedding band. The engraving can be anything from a beloved’s initials, to a personal message, to a line from a poem that holds meaning to both partners.
- Stackable rings. Adding a complementary, matching ring is also a lovely way to upgrade a wedding band. With this option, you can both keep the original ring as is and enhance it with a flattering, stackable ring that complements your wedding band and gives it new life.
- A complete overhaul. Short of just replacing your wedding band entirely, a complete overhaul is the most complete wedding band upgrade option. It’s also our favorite, as it honors both the couple’s history and their future together. A complete overhaul can use part of the original ring, whether it’s the stone or stones, some of the metal, or all of it to recreate a new wedding band. It is a beautiful and sentimental way to upgrade a wedding band and maintain its sentimental value. When you go this route and decide to ‘recycle’ your ring, you can have your new band custom made so it fits your specific sentiments and design tastes; you can be involved in its creation every step of the way. In our experience, this option is both emotional and exciting for our clients.
Once you decide, there is no downside
Whether you’re in the market for a totally upgraded ring or just some minor upgrades, once you decide to get it upgraded, you’ll be delighted you did – there’s no downside. We’re here to answer your questions if you’re considering a wedding band upgrade and happy to help any way we can.
Or if you already know what you want, lets…
