In short
You don’t find the right wedding ring through a checklist but through a few honest questions. How do you live, what do you like to wear, and what should the ring still be for the two of you in ten years? Here are the questions that make the decision easier for you.
There is no such thing as the perfect wedding ring. There is the one that suits the two of you, and it is easier to find when you don’t have to decide everything at once.
That is why I go step by step with couples. Here you find the same order to read at your leisure. On prices, wood types, metals and everyday life with a wooden ring there are separate posts.
Start with the two of you, not with the ring
Before you look at samples, it is worth taking a look at your life. Do you work a lot with your hands? Do you otherwise wear jewellery, or would the wedding ring be your first? Do you like it plain, or may something stand out?
The answers say more about the right ring than any list. And you don’t have to have the same answers: your rings don’t have to be identical, as I described in the post on wood and metals.
Feel free to write the answers down before you come to the consultation.
Plain or with details
A clear, calm design has its own appeal. Anyone who wants more can add details: stones or an engraving, which I apply by laser in the metal and which is included in the price unless the quote says otherwise. I source the stones from trustworthy, traceable sources. On request there are also lab-grown diamonds, or you bring your own stones.
If you like open, sculptural shapes, take a look at the Luxury Line. That is my first collection of my own, and yet every ring remains one of a kind, because wood is never the same twice.
A tip: don’t decide right at the first draft. In the ring configurator we look together at what the one-of-a-kind piece will look like in the end.
Bringing wood and metal together
Almost any hardwood is suitable, particularly popular are walnut, plum, cherry and apple. For metal, the choice ranges from gold in several colours through platinum and silver to titanium, stainless steel and tantalum. One customer writes after four and a half years that olive wood with yellow gold is more beautiful to wear than any ring before.
Which wood goes with which metal, I explain in the posts on wood and metals. Just this much here: don’t decide on a screen. Wood has to be held in your hand and seen in daylight.
Size and wearing comfort
A wedding ring sits on your finger every day, so it has to fit. It is best to have your ring size determined by a professional, for example at a jeweller, or you come to a consultation. Alternatively, after a short quiz I send you the Multisizer, a free measuring tool that is more accurate than a strip of paper.
The size can be adjusted later if your fingers change over the years.
A ring should not only look good but sit comfortably all day long. Tell me if something bothers you, and we will adjust the design.
Plan time
Ideal is six to nine months before the wedding. Then there is time for trial rings, visualisations and a decision without pressure. Depending on the season, rings are also possible within a few weeks, between May and September it takes longer. More on this in the post “When Should You Order Your Wedding Rings?”.
If a wedding date is fixed, it is best to tell me early, and then we plan backwards. After the first conversation you have about a week to think it over, without having to commit.
Trial rings and 3D visualisations help you get a feel for the shape before it becomes fixed.
My advice
The consultation is free of charge, as a video call of around 30 minutes or in person in Lohn SH or Oftringen AG, in which case we take about two hours. You book the appointment online at bentwood.ch. After that come design, craftsmanship and handover, step by step.
Nothing has to be decided yet in the first conversation. Bring what you have: ideas, a photo, wood that means something to you, or simply questions.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out which material suits me?
Most simply through everyday life and feeling: what do you like to wear, what do you work with? In the conversation I show you suitable combinations in the configurator, and trial rings help with deciding.
Can I have my ring engraved afterwards?
Yes. An engraving can also be added or extended later, for example with a date or initials. I engrave by laser in the metal, not in the wood itself.
Can I also order my rings online?
In principle yes, but then an exactly measured ring size is important. If you are unsure, get in touch with me beforehand and we will clarify it together.
About the author
Jan Berger is a trained carpenter and the founder of Bentwood. Since 2014 he has been making wedding and engagement rings from wood, precious metals and gemstones. Consultations take place in Lohn (SH) and Oftringen (AG).
