Gold has been the primary choice for wedding rings for centuries, symbolizing purity, value, and eternity.
Today, gold wedding rings are available in a variety of tones, designs, and alloys, allowing everyone to find a style that suits them.
For us, jewelry makers, gold is undisputedly one of the favorite materials to work with, as its versatility gives artists the freedom to experiment with different techniques and styles, offering limitless possibilities for creative expression.
The properties of gold as a material for wedding rings
- Softness and flexibility: Pure gold is a very soft metal, which is why it is mixed with other metals to make it stronger and more suitable for everyday wear. The most commonly used jewelry gold standard in Estonia is 585 (14K), meaning that the jewelry contains 58.5% pure gold, and the remaining 41.5% consists of additional materials, which depend on the desired shade of gold.
- Gold is an exceptionally versatile material, giving the jeweler almost limitless possibilities to create unique and intricate wedding rings. Gold is castable and pliable, meaning it can be shaped into virtually any form and style, whether minimalist, classic, modern, or extremely detailed.
- This malleability allows for the creation of intricate patterns, engravings, and details when working with gold, while its strength and durability ensure that the design will last for decades. Gold is also well-suited for setting stones, such as diamonds.
- Variety of tones in different alloys: Jewelry gold can be made in different alloys, giving gold various shades. At FRONT, we use white, red/rose, and yellow gold in our jewelry.
- Allergy-free: Pure gold is hypoallergenic, but some people may experience reactions to the additional metals used in gold alloys, such as nickel in nickel-made white gold.
P.S.! The white gold we use at FRONT is nickel-free – we make our white gold with palladium.
The pros and cons of gold wedding rings
Pros:
- Easy to maintain
- Various tones and styles that suit different preferences.
- Gold is exceptionally versatile and malleable, allowing for jewelry to be crafted in almost any shape and style.
- Gold retains its value over time, or more likely – increases in value.
Cons:
- The finish on gold is temporary.
When we talk about the surface finish of a ring (polished, matte, etc.), the reality is that over time, the finish will gradually wear down to a semi-matte/semi-gloss appearance. Gold is still soft enough that, with daily wear, small shiny scratches will first appear on matte surfaces, and matte scratches on shiny surfaces. After years of wear, rings develop a uniform “new” finish from use. While it’s easy to refinish rings, it’s important to note that this shouldn’t be done too often, as a small amount of material is removed each time.
The reality is that the first scratches on a new ring tend to be very noticeable and can feel quite disheartening, but once the rings have acquired an even “scratched finish,” it becomes less noticeable. It’s nice to view this wear with the perspective that the ring is gaining a new finish over time, showing that your ring has seen life! - Gold, as a material, is more expensive than, for example, silver or titanium.
Different shades of gold that we use at FRONT
Yellow gold
585 yellow gold alloy contains of gold, copper, and silver.
White gold
A modern and stylish choice, with an appearance similar to platinum or silver.
P.S.! At FRONT, we use palladium in our 585 white gold alloy, so our white gold rings are nickel-free.
P.S.! Most white gold jewelry sold in stores is coated with white rhodium, which gives the gold a cooler tone but requires more frequent maintenance. At FRONT, we often prefer the original tone of white gold (warmer than rhodium-plated jewelry), as it doesn’t require constant care and actually has a very beautiful shade.
Rose gold
585 rose gold alloy contains of gold, copper, and silver.
Style examples of FRONT’s gold wedding rings
+ approximate price ranges
At FRONT, we create all wedding rings as custom orders. We believe that every couple and their story are unique and deserve equally unique rings. Custom-made wedding rings allow us to focus on each client’s personal wishes and needs, offering them a perfectly tailored design, materials, and finish. This way, we can ensure that every ring is special and reflects the style, desires, and values of the wearers perfectly.
Classic wedding rings
A simple and timelessly stylish design, perfect for minimalists. You can play with the ring’s profile (square, round, half-round, beveled…) and the finish (matte, polished, rugged…). Even simple rings can have a wide variety of looks!
The prices for FRONT’s classic-style (without stones) wedding rings are generally as follows:
1) Classic yellow/red gold wedding rings around €1800-2000 per pair
2) Classic white gold wedding rings around €2000-2300 per pair
P.S.! Since the price of wedding rings largely depends on the weight of the gold, these price ranges are indicative. The exact gold weight will be calculated based on the desired sizes, widths, and design, and from that, we can provide an exact price!
Wedding rings with diamonds or other precious stones
Diamonds always add sparkle and elegance to rings. Here, we emphasize that the inclusion of precious stones should definitely not be considered only for women’s wedding rings. Stones are also perfect for men’s rings!
If you want a beautiful and dazzling diamond wedding ring, FRONT is certainly one of the best places to order it. Our jeweler Miikael is undoubtedly one of Estonia’s most skilled stone setters, mastering setting techniques that only a handful of people in Estonia can do. Skillful stone setting ensures a brilliantly sparkling and beautiful piece of jewelry, as well as the security that no stone will fall out of the ring over time!
The prices of diamond rings depend significantly on the size and number of diamonds, as well as the specific design and gold weight—so there are many variables. If you’d like to know the price of a specific ring or design, please contact us and inquire!
“Möbius” wedding rings
One of our favorite wedding ring designs at FRONT – simple, yet very special and with a beautiful meaning. The ring, inspired by the Möbius strip, symbolizes eternal circulation and infinity. The Möbius has no “beginning” and no “end.”
The prices for “Möbius” wedding rings (without stones) generally fall into the following ranges:
1) Yellow/red gold (585) “Möbius” wedding rings around €1700-1850 per pair
2) White gold (585) “Möbius” wedding rings around €1900-2050 per pair
P.S.! Since the price of wedding rings largely depends on the gold weight, these price ranges are indicative. We calculate the exact gold weight based on the desired sizes, widths, and design, and from that, we can provide an accurate price!
Faceted wedding rings
On the one hand, simple, yet at the same time unique and always one-of-a-kind, as no ring will ever have identical facets.
The prices for faceted wedding rings (without stones) generally fall into the following ranges:
1) Faceted yellow/red gold (585) wedding rings around €1800-2000 per pair
2) Faceted white gold (585) wedding rings around €2100-2350 per pair
P.S.! Since the price of wedding rings largely depends on the gold weight, these price ranges are indicative. We calculate the exact gold weight based on the desired sizes, widths, and design, and from that, we can provide an accurate price!
Wedding rings that combine different shades of gold
Rings with multiple tones (e.g., combinations of yellow and white gold) offer a unique look. However, it’s important to note that the color difference between the gold tones is not highly contrasting!
The prices for such rings depend significantly on the complexity of the design, the specific materials used, and their weight. If you’d like to know the price of a particular ring or design, please contact us and inquire!
Gold and black zirconium wedding rings
A striking, bold, and unique choice!
Incorporating gold and black zirconium in wedding ring designs creates a stylish and modern contrast. You can find a separate post about zirconium, black wedding rings, and their prices HERE.
Gold and Damascus steel wedding rings
What makes Damascus steel special is its beautiful pattern, which is like a fingerprint – always unique! This makes Damascus steel wedding rings particularly special! You can find a separate post about Damascus steel, Damascus steel wedding rings, and their prices HERE.
Wedding rings with various patterns / motifs
All kinds of different motifs and patterns can be added to a gold ring if desired. The only limit here is your imagination!
The prices for such rings depend significantly on the complexity of the design, craftsmanship, and the gold’s weight. Approximate prices for some designs are provided with the images, but if you’d like to know the exact price for another pair of rings, please contact us!
Textured wedding rings
Gold is a castable material, meaning that wedding rings with the desired design can first be made in wax and then cast in gold.
Additionally, various patterns and textures can be created directly on the gold using different tools.
The prices for such rings depend significantly on the complexity of the design, craftsmanship, and the gold’s weight. Approximate prices for some designs are provided with the images, but if you’d like to know the exact price for another pair of rings, please contact us!
Uniquely shaped wedding rings
Caring for gold wedding rings
- Regular cleaning: Clean your ring as needed with warm water and soap or dishwashing liquid (make sure not to use toothpaste!).
If your ring has not just a smooth surface but also hollows/textures or stones, you can also use a soft toothbrush. In this case, we recommend occasionally taking your ring to a professional for cleaning. - When the ring is not on your finger: If the ring is not being worn, it should be stored separately in a soft fabric pouch or a ring box to avoid scratches from contact with other jewelry.
- Avoid contact with chemicals: The bright appearance of gold can be damaged if it comes into contact with strong chemicals, such as cleaning agents or chlorine.
- Remove your ring when necessary! If you’re engaged in activities where the ring may come into strong contact with other metals or abrasive materials, it’s wise to take the ring off for safekeeping.
Some of the most common activities that can significantly damage a ring include lifting serrated dumbbells without gloves at the gym (this can give your ring not only a “new finish” but also some serious dents); clapping hard when wearing another ring on the other hand (when two rings collide, the weaker one will definitely lose and get dented); and a classic finish-wearer is the dishwashing sponge (its rough side creates matte lines on the ring) and so on…
It’s also worth removing the ring when engaging in contact sports – primarily for your own safety, rather than the ring’s! - Rhodium plating renewal: If your white gold ring is coated with rhodium (this is not always necessary), the rhodium layer will need regular renewal to maintain its shiny, smooth, and white appearance. The frequency of this maintenance depends on how often the ring is worn.
Custom-made wedding rings from FRONT
If you feel that we at FRONT are the ones who can help you create your wedding rings, be sure to contact us. Let’s create something truly amazing together!
If you want to read more about how to order custom-made wedding rings, you can do so HERE.
For more information or to book an appointment, contact us:
front@front.ee
Mariliis +372 53542921
Miikael +372 56643595
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Facebook @front.ee