I'm finally going to look at wedding bands this weekend, but I have no idea how much they cost! This was one thing we didn't set a budget for because I just had no idea.
How much should I expect to spend on wedding band for him, for me?
Any tips or advice? I don't want to walk in and get taken advantage of!
There is a VERY wide range of prices depending on the metal and if you get any diamonds.
You can get gold/white gold plain bands for $200-300.
Platinum will run you atleast $600-1500 depending on the thickness.
If you add diamonds into the band the prices skyrocket :)
It's probably best to check out some online places first and get a general idea of what the prices are. try www.bluenile.com to get an estimate (that's where I got my rings!)
We spent 1400 on my ring (white gold with little diamonds around) and 600 on his ring that was white gold. I know gold prices (and I think platnium too) are up, so rings are costing more than they have in the past.
With the economy tanking, prices of precious metals have skyrocketed. Yikes! Still, I second looking at bluenile.com or jamesallen.com ... however, I tried my luck the the NYC diamond district and came away with a wedding band I love (for a great price!).
Yes, the price of gold changed our plans for buying rings. We were going to have somebody make both my band and my fiance's, but it turned out that it would be almost half the price to buy his band at Tiffany's than to have it made. So we paid $650 for his and my custom-made one will come out to be $700-800 (it's a half-eternity band in palladium). We had no idea what to budget but since I wanted diamonds in mine we expected to pay around $1000, so we got a good deal!
I would also suggest going to bluenile.com or stuller.com just to get a rough idea of the different metals, styles, and fits. There are so many options these days which makes for a wide range of prices. Platinum is very expensive, and gold is definitely up there in price these days. Titanium is a really great option for guys, it is lightweight and the price is way more reasonable. My fiance really liked the look of the titanium and decided to get a 5mm band with 1.3 mm thickness and it was less then $300!
Ours are really expensive... they'll cost almost as much as the wedding itself =P But we're getting platinum/palladium, custom story bands, pretty wide. So yeah. Both platinum and palladium are really expensive nowadays, but we don't want the details to be worn away.
I wish I could wear other metals! If it we were just getting plain bands, I'd be all about titanium, or tungsten =)
The range is huge, and according to my jeweler, the cost of gold and platinum has skyrocketed recently. I asked for a quote for a plain 2 mm plat band with no special anything about it, and he said $950 !!!!!! I was shocked, because similar bands go for around $500 on bluenile.
Anyway, I don't think I'll be using our jeweler. I recently went to doyle and doyle in NYC and they have really fantastic vintage bands and also new stuff. A really gorgeous platinum diamond eternity band is $1800, and yeah, I think thats a little more bang for my buck.
He wants white gold with three channel set diamonds, so I am thinking it will be around $1000 for his. Mine is a similar design to my e-ring but without the center stone, and looking at what we paid for the parts and pieces of the e-ring (and factoring in the increased cost of gold) It looks as if mine (ten channel set diamonds in white gold) will be around $2000. We are ordering them before the end of the month, so I'll find out soon.
In the UK, my plain 2mm platinum band (made by a friend who is a jeweler, so no need to pay a middle man) was £400. She echoed what everyone has been saying about the cost of platinum skyrocketing-- apparently, we could sell our bands back in a few months and expect to make a profit!!
my fiance's was about 4 or 5 mm wide, i think, no stones, and titanium, and it cost us $200. my band will be $500, with channel set diamonds halfway around, 18k gold.
My band was a plain 2mm half-round in 18k, and it was $300. His was a 6mm band with hammered detailing in the center, in 14k, and it was, I think, $400. This was about a year ago, for reference.
It just depends what you get. Mine is a Tacori eternity band and done in platinum so it was about $3500 and his is a Scott Kay in palladium do it was only $700. So it really just depends what you get but when you go the designer way prices do go up. Plus, like others have said the prices of metals are also up.
Mine is from Sam's Club. FI bought it as a set so it was $1500 for both the e-ring and the wedding band. White gold, half eternity band, matching e-ring with 1/2 carat princess cut diamond in the middle. And it appraised at twice what he paid for it.
I'm finally going to look at wedding bands this weekend, but I have no idea how much they cost! This was one thing we didn't set a budget for because I just had no idea.
How much should I expect to spend on wedding band for him, for me?
Any tips or advice? I don't want to walk in and get taken advantage of!
posted by coffeencupcakes 54 posts 7 months agoThere is a VERY wide range of prices depending on the metal and if you get any diamonds.
You can get gold/white gold plain bands for $200-300.
Platinum will run you atleast $600-1500 depending on the thickness.
If you add diamonds into the band the prices skyrocket :)
It's probably best to check out some online places first and get a general idea of what the prices are. try www.bluenile.com to get an estimate (that's where I got my rings!)
posted by MsB 212 posts 7 months agoWe spent 1400 on my ring (white gold with little diamonds around) and 600 on his ring that was white gold. I know gold prices (and I think platnium too) are up, so rings are costing more than they have in the past.
posted by ashlop2 73 posts 7 months agoWith the economy tanking, prices of precious metals have skyrocketed. Yikes! Still, I second looking at bluenile.com or jamesallen.com ... however, I tried my luck the the NYC diamond district and came away with a wedding band I love (for a great price!).
posted by DrS 3 posts 7 months agoYes, the price of gold changed our plans for buying rings. We were going to have somebody make both my band and my fiance's, but it turned out that it would be almost half the price to buy his band at Tiffany's than to have it made. So we paid $650 for his and my custom-made one will come out to be $700-800 (it's a half-eternity band in palladium). We had no idea what to budget but since I wanted diamonds in mine we expected to pay around $1000, so we got a good deal!
posted by emilie01 55 posts 7 months agoI would also suggest going to bluenile.com or stuller.com just to get a rough idea of the different metals, styles, and fits. There are so many options these days which makes for a wide range of prices. Platinum is very expensive, and gold is definitely up there in price these days. Titanium is a really great option for guys, it is lightweight and the price is way more reasonable. My fiance really liked the look of the titanium and decided to get a 5mm band with 1.3 mm thickness and it was less then $300!
posted by jennyd 2 posts 7 months agoBoth my finance & my bands were around $600 each. Both are white gold, mine is a thin band with some inset diamonds and his is a wider solid band.
posted by nash0922 40 posts 7 months agoOurs are really expensive... they'll cost almost as much as the wedding itself =P But we're getting platinum/palladium, custom story bands, pretty wide. So yeah. Both platinum and palladium are really expensive nowadays, but we don't want the details to be worn away.
I wish I could wear other metals! If it we were just getting plain bands, I'd be all about titanium, or tungsten =)
posted by peihan17 222 posts 7 months agoHis cost $60, I think tungsten plain band. Mine is a skinny band with diamonds all around $120. I love both of them.
posted by Candi1024 304 posts 7 months agoThe range is huge, and according to my jeweler, the cost of gold and platinum has skyrocketed recently. I asked for a quote for a plain 2 mm plat band with no special anything about it, and he said $950 !!!!!! I was shocked, because similar bands go for around $500 on bluenile.
Anyway, I don't think I'll be using our jeweler. I recently went to doyle and doyle in NYC and they have really fantastic vintage bands and also new stuff. A really gorgeous platinum diamond eternity band is $1800, and yeah, I think thats a little more bang for my buck.
posted by katiethelady 163 posts 7 months agoHooray for Doyle and Doyle! That's where I've gotten all my wedding jewelry! My band was not eternity, just 1940s platinum w/7 tiny diamonds, $900.
FI bought a plain platinum band from a different jeweler 5 1/2mm for $1300.
posted by LM 76 posts 7 months agodepends on the metal...
if you want a lower cost option, try tungsten or titanium
posted by Anti-Zilla 385 posts 7 months agoHe wants white gold with three channel set diamonds, so I am thinking it will be around $1000 for his. Mine is a similar design to my e-ring but without the center stone, and looking at what we paid for the parts and pieces of the e-ring (and factoring in the increased cost of gold) It looks as if mine (ten channel set diamonds in white gold) will be around $2000. We are ordering them before the end of the month, so I'll find out soon.
posted by suzanno 1,978 posts 7 months agoIn the UK, my plain 2mm platinum band (made by a friend who is a jeweler, so no need to pay a middle man) was £400. She echoed what everyone has been saying about the cost of platinum skyrocketing-- apparently, we could sell our bands back in a few months and expect to make a profit!!
posted by BA 74 posts 7 months agomy fiance's was about 4 or 5 mm wide, i think, no stones, and titanium, and it cost us $200. my band will be $500, with channel set diamonds halfway around, 18k gold.
posted by staceyb 178 posts 7 months agoMy band was a plain 2mm half-round in 18k, and it was $300. His was a 6mm band with hammered detailing in the center, in 14k, and it was, I think, $400. This was about a year ago, for reference.
posted by tanya2s 276 posts 7 months agoMy band is a double faux-eternity (stones go 80% around) and my FI is a 8mm wide 14K white gold band. They each cost $600
posted by knudsonwedding 194 posts 7 months agomine is a plain plat band, 3mm for 775, FI's is also a flat-ish plat band, 4mm for 1250.
posted by clessy00 35 posts 7 months agoIt just depends what you get. Mine is a Tacori eternity band and done in platinum so it was about $3500 and his is a Scott Kay in palladium do it was only $700. So it really just depends what you get but when you go the designer way prices do go up. Plus, like others have said the prices of metals are also up.
posted by Lillindy 280 posts 7 months agoMine is from Sam's Club. FI bought it as a set so it was $1500 for both the e-ring and the wedding band. White gold, half eternity band, matching e-ring with 1/2 carat princess cut diamond in the middle. And it appraised at twice what he paid for it.
posted by prettykatie 158 posts 7 months ago