You can’t judge a book by it’s cover. And you can’t judge a groom just by glancing at him. However, you can tell all about his style by looking at the wedding band he chooses to wear.

The days of plain ‘ol wedding bands are long gone. Now more than ever, men are expressing their unique personalities through the fashionable rings they choose to wear.  Moving away from plain bands, today’s grooms have a plethora of options that include various gems, precious metals and symbols.

We recently sat down with our friends at Gemvara to review some of the top tips for guys who are getting ready to go through that all-important ring shopping experience:

TIP – Consider your lifestyle

Unless you plan on not being married long, you’re going to be  wearing your wedding band all day, everyday. This makes it extremely important to find a ring that’s durable and will hold up to your daily activities. Whether you’re a gardener, a computer programmer or avid golfer, find a ring that’s going to be comfortable. This might mean trying on dozens of options, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Men's 'Two Roads' Sterling Silver Wedding Band

TIP – If you’re going with a gem, protect it

Guys are becoming very fashion forward with the gems that they choose to add to their wedding band. From diamonds to rubies to sapphires, they’re plenty of options for including some extra dazzle to the ring. If you do decide to go this route, be sure that the setting will protect the gem (especially important if you often work with your hands).

TIP – Know your metals

Gold, platinum, tungsten and titanium all make for great bands. Traditionally, wedding band metals have been 14k gold or 18k gold. Both of these materials are precious enough to symbolize your union and durable enough to take years of heavy wear. Platinum is an extremely popular choice for all jewelery, and especially wedding rings. One of the big things it has going for it is that it doesn’t scratch — making it extremely durable. Tungsten and titanium are not considered precious metals, however they can serve as a stylish alternative to gold and platinum. It’s worth noting that tungsten and titanium cannot be re-sized, so make sure you’ve got the correct size when you order!

Men's Sterling Silver 'Crosswalk Ring' with Black Onyx

TIP – Don’t wait until the last minute

We know that wedding planning can completely take over your life. However, you don’t want to wait until the last minute to find your band. You and your fiancee should start looking about two months before the wedding. Keep in mind that even if you find your perfect ring on day one of looking, you’ll need time to get the ring sized correctly. So don’t push it!

TIP – Don’t get lazy

It’s easy to get lazy after you get married. Caring for your wedding band is one area where husbands to tend to slack off. However, it’s really not difficult to keep this piece of jewelery clean and in tip-top shape. To properly care for your ring, clean with mild dish soap. You should soak  the ring and gently brush to remove any dust and then finish up by rinsing and patting dry with a soft cloth.

Men's 'Mortise and Tenon Ring' Sterling Silver Band with Black Diamond

If you’ve already picked out your wedding band, Gemvara can also help you with your wedding day gift to your bride. They offer some fantastic, innovative styles of rings, earrings, and necklaces designed by top talented designers. You can even personalize jewelry on their site to fit style and budget. You can connect further with Gemvara by following them on Twitter or liking them on Facebook.

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Have you thought about what style of wedding band you’ll be wearing? What will your ring say about you as a groom? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

disclosure: gemvara is a sponsor of the man registry’s groomsadvice blog

Guest Blogger Profile: Whiteflash.com

Visit Whiteflash.com for titanium wedding bands & diamond engagement rings

Titanium has become a standard of choice in today’s jewelry industry. Along side platinum and gold shoppers are faced with a multitude of options when it comes to metal. Traditionally gold and platinum have taken center stage in popularity but silently titanium has established itself as a formidable rival. As with any major jewelry style, there are many question that emerge when considering whether or not to buy titanium:

Is it indestructible?

Is it more expensive?

Does it scratch easily?

What are other alternatives (like tungsten which is heavier and feels “better quality” whereas titanium is very light – used in engineering projects?

Can it be resized?

What type of maintenance?

And now some answers…

Titanium is a light, grayish color metal that holds up like steel, but feels like aluminum. Titanium hold up to wear and tear, while being lightweight. What more could one ask for? As a material is very light and extremely durable although it is not indestructible. In particular, titanium is used in a number of industries including the military, aerospace and sporting goods. As a result, titanium jewelry is highly resistant to corrosion and scratching.

Another alternative is a metal called Tungsten. Tungsten is a very heavy and hard metal for its size (4x harder than titanium) but can scratch easily. Tungsten will hold its shine and shape longer than any other jewelry available on the market.

A downfall of both of these metals is that they can NOT be re-sized so make sure that you get your finger size before ordering! In comparison to gold and platinum, titanium and tungsten are more cost effective and can give you the same look. You can purchase several titanium or tungsten rings for the price of one gold or platinum ring. Both tungsten and titanium are strong metals, but how would each react if you slam your finger in a door? The titanium would bend and the tungsten could possibly crack. A tungsten ring would be safer for your finger.

Both metals have their own pros and cons but it is ultimately a decision made by you.

We recently stumbled across a very cool company that’s launched an edgy brand of men’s tungsten rings. Introducing 3headedpony.com

The two best words in online shopping: free shipping.

We know you don’t wanna hear us babble about anything else, so we’ll let you hear it straight from the horse’s errr pony’s mouth:

Dude, you’re whipped, you might as well face it. Let’s be honest, the least you can do is get a killer ring out of the deal. Genuine Tungsten Carbide Bands by 3HEADEDPONY are scratch-resistant and permanently polished. We ask the hottest chicks we can find to pick out the styles offered on 3HEADEDPONY. Unfortunately, they are always too busy. You’ll still find styles that you and the Mrs. will dig, we promise. Did we mention that we ship USPS Priority mail for free, just in case your pre-wedding task list snuck up on you? Check us out at 3headedpony.com