A Man’s Guide to Buying a Celtic Wedding Band

So you've bravely taken the plunge: you have asked the most important person in your life to marry you. And they said yes! Your partner may now have the ring of their dreams, no doubt enjoying showing it off to friends and family and telling the story of how you proposed.

Looks like fun, right? Well, now it's your turn...

Tell your story with a Celtic wedding ring

If you are like many men out there, your wedding ring could be the only piece of jewelry you will ever wear and certainly the only piece you will wear daily. An occasion may demand a pair of cufflinks or a tie tack from time to time!

Your wedding band offers you a rare opportunity to express yourself – to tell a story or tell the world a little bit about who you are and where you came from. What follows is our guide to choosing your Celtic wedding band, a unique piece of jewelry that you will wear with pride on your wedding day and for the rest of your life.

How to choose your wedding band?

We offer an exciting and extensive range of rings inspired by Celtic art and culture, designed and made here in Ireland. However, before you explore our wedding ring collections, it can be helpful to narrow your search by getting answers to the questions below.

What color should you choose for your wedding band?

There was a time when the color of your wedding band was never in question. If it wasn't yellow gold, well, then it wasn't a wedding band! However, fashions have changed, and wedding bands are now available in myriad metals. And some aren't even made of metal at all!

Yellow gold

If you are a traditionalist, then you may want to choose a yellow gold wedding ring. The classic yellow band is an unmistakable signal of your status as a married man.

Rose gold

Also known red gold, rose gold wedding bands have become more popular recently. A warm and stylish choice, it can also be used in two-tone jewelry alongside yellow or white gold to stunning effect.

White metals

These days, the majority of wedding bands we sell are white metals. A white ring is an absolutely modern choice, and those who wear them celebrate their subtlety and elegance.

If you are thinking of a white ring, then you will need to choose from a selection of metals. We offer sterling silver, white gold, platinum and palladium. Each has its own pros and cons. More on that below!

Two-tone

Of course, if you can't decide between yellow, rose or white, you may settle on the a combination of yellow or warm rose gold, with a white metal for a tailor made look. This is also a popular choice where a couple want to match their rings but have somewhat differing views on what color metal they like!

How much should you pay for your wedding band?

According to http://www.costofwedding.com the average US wedding now costs $25,200 with around $1100 of that being spent on wedding bands. You will find a large selection of gold Celtic rings on our site to fit that budget.

Budget Concious

If you are budget conscious you will be pleased to hear that 90% of our wedding bands are also available in Sterling Silver. Rings in this metal will work for those on strict budgets and with proper care will look very smart for decades. We have also found many of our customers switching up to a band in white gold to mark a ten or twenty year anniversary!

Our gold rings are available in a variety of karat weights, from 9K right up to 18K gold. The rule of thumb here? Buy the highest karat you can afford. A higher karat means higher gold content in the ring. When it comes to gold, the old phrase applies: “The price is soon forgotten, but the ring lasts a lifetime”.

Budget Busting

If you are fortunate enough to be in a position where “money is no obstacle” then you might consider a platinum wedding ring. Most of our wedding rings are available to be handcrafted in platinum. If you have ever tried on a platinum ring, you will know why we love this metal. The weight is satisfying and sturdy on the hand. If you don't see the platinum option available as you browse, please contact us for a price estimate.

What width should you choose for your wedding band?

As you browse our collection, you will see that our wedding bands are available in a wide variety of widths. We have rings as narrow as 4mm and as wide as 12mm. So which should you choose? Our recommendation would depend on your size and on the size of your fingers. If you have relatively narrow fingers (for example, size 8 or smaller), you may find bands up to 7mm the most comfortable and most suited to the proportion of your hand. Whereas if you have relatively large fingers (say size 11 or higher) you might consider rings that are 7mm wide and greater.

At the end of the day, though, this is a matter of individual preference. We have had size 12 football players ordering 4mm bands, and people with fingers a concert pianist would be envious of ordering bands 12mm wide! All were over the moon with their choices.

Celtic Wedding Ring Styles

Now that you have thought a little about the color, cost, and width of your wedding band, you are ready to dive in and explore our range of styles. Each of our collections tells a unique story. Below, we have listed our most popular collections, along with a short explanation of their origin

Claddagh Wedding Rings

Originally designed in Galway over four hundred years ago, the Claddagh has become one of Ireland's most celebrated icons. Our customers typically choose a Claddagh ring to celebrate its symbolism of Love, Loyalty and Friendship. If this iconic and deeply symbolic style is for you, you may want to read more about how to wear it and the stylish company you will join in sporting a Claddagh.

Gaelic Wedding Rings

These beautiful rings feature Gaelic phrases rendered in a beautiful Celtic script; they are a popular choice for those with Irish roots or romantic hearts. Choose from four phrases in the Irish language:

• Mo Anam Cara - My soul mate;
• Grá Go Deo - Love forever;
• Grá, Dílseacht, Cairdeas - Love, loyalty, friendship;
• Grá Geal Mo Chroí – Bright love of my heart.

Read more about these romantic Gaelic phrases, their meaning and how to pronounce them here.

Celtic Knot Wedding Rings

The Celtic knot is the defining feature of Celtic & Irish art. The knot can be found in a multitude of forms decorating the pages of ancient Irish manuscripts, engraved and embossed on stone crosses, and silver chalices. Chosen by many of our customers to show connection to Celtic roots, there is also deep symbolism to the many designs of Celtic Knot rings, including:

Classic Celtic Knot

Choose a classic Celtic knot ring, including the iconic Trinity Knot, to signify eternity, unity and connection.

Celtic Warrior

Our Celtic warrior rings feature a Celtic knot design drawn from Ireland's famous Ardagh Chalice, inspired by ancient shield motifs. One of our most popular styles of Celtic Wedding Band for men, we particularly recommend the 10mm Celtic warrior ring with an antique finish to really show off this striking design.

Book of Kells

The Book of Kells is one of Europe's most treasured manuscripts. The intricate Celtic knot and triskele pattern on our Book of Kells rings is inspired by the detailed and complex artwork, making for a striking wedding band.

Practical Questions to Ask Your Jeweler

What is your returns policy?

We outline our returns policy here. We work very hard to ensure our customers are delighted with their purchase as evident by our reviews across independent platforms including Google, Facebook, and Reviews.io.

If online - is your shipping guaranteed?

After finding the ring you want and paying out your hard-earned cash, the last thing you want is to be worried about how it will get to you. We use fully insured shipping with a free 2-day express service for customers in the USA, Canada, Australia, UK and EU. So you can rest assured your Celtic wedding ring will arrive in a timely fashion and in beautiful packaging.

Do you offer free ring resizing in the event that my ring doesn't fit?

We certainly do. And, of course, we do our best to get the perfect fit the first time! We can send you a free ring sizer to get your size right. We advise you to read our tips on how to get the perfect fit. And if you are concerned or have questions, book a virtual appointment to get the answers and reassurance you may require from our expert team.

Next Steps

We are all fans of virtual window shopping here at MIJ, so we recommend that you settle down with a cuppa while browsing our extensive Celtic wedding rings to find the style that speaks to you. If you have any further questions about our range or would like a little more guidance from our expert staff, don't hesitate to get in touch or book an appointment to see our rings.