Lieberfarb Men's Platinum Band

By Jewelry and Style Expert, Michael O’Connor

I’m sure that almost every guy has been criticized at least once, by their girlfriend or fiancé, about what they’ve worn to one event or another. Let’s face it women spend an extraordinary amount of time planning the perfect look for each occasion. Guys just don’t usually think in the same way. This doesn’t mean that guys don’t care about they way they look. It just means that they don’t want all the fuss that goes with it.  They just want the right look made easy. Even when it comes to something as important as a wedding band, something that will be worn every day for life, many guys often default to, “It doesn’t really matter, just get me something”.  What many guys mean though is “just get me something that works for me”.

Well here comes the easy part, and you don’t have to be a jewelry maven to make the best choice. Simply break down the process into two steps – value and character.

True Knots Men's Platinum Band

First, let’s talk value. When buying anything, everyone wants good value no matter what you spend. Therefore, let’s talk about the material used. Guys tend to lead active lives and a wedding band is going to be worn every day, so it needs to stand up to daily activity and not wear down easily – it needs to be durable. Choosing the right woman to be your wife and getting married is one of the most significant changes that a guy will make in his life so a wedding band needs to be special and significant – it needs to be a treasured material. Following this logic, only a precious and durable material is truly appropriate. Out of the many metals available for wedding bands this places platinum at the top of the value list. Platinum is one of the most durable jewelry metals and won’t wear down as easily as others and it’s also the most precious of metals at 30 times more rare than gold. Additionally, platinum jewelry is usually 90% – 95% pure as opposed to gold, which is usually 58% – 75% pure, making it better value for the money.

Now, let’s talk character. One easy way to determine what you might like to wear for the rest of your life is to choose a character you can identify easily with. For example are you more of a James Bond type of guy? Is your style sleek and sophisticated with an easy elegance – shaken and not stirred? If so, think about rings with elegant patterns, a mix of matte and shiny finishes, or perhaps a few diamond accents. Rings like Lieberfarb’s mixed finished styling are very elegant.

Are you more of a Rhett Butler? Is your style rough and ready for anything – Frankly, I don’t give a damn? You might want to consider more angular styling and matte finishes such as Jeff Cooper’s “Duet Collection” or Ritani’s hammered style band with a matte finish.

Or are you like Clark Kent? Steel and strong on the inside, cool and unassuming on the exterior – I don’t know what you mean, Lois? Rings like True Knots’ classic platinum wedding band are perfect.

So you see? Breaking down a guy’s style doesn’t need to be all fuss and muss. Simply break the decision down to the two needs. Value, to make sure you’re getting the best for your money, and Character, to get the style that’s right for your. For all the styles mentioned and an entire gallery of ring choices, or to learn more about the value of platinum, visit PreciousPlatinum.com and find your perfect style.

The Man Registry’s GroomsAdvice blog is proud to share these exclusive tips for finding the groom’s wedding band by Michael O’Connor, Jewelry & Style Expert

Guest Blogger Profile: Michael O’Connor

Michael O'Connor's wedding band tips are a must read for all grooms.

Now more than ever, couples are expressing their special personalities and relationships in the wedding rings they choose to wear. Men have moved away from settling for just a plain band. The trend is for rings imbued with meaning and character—customized in some way from textured finishes and special gems to carved symbols and engraved inscriptions.

Men are becoming more adventurous in the band styles they choose, as design options for gents continue to expand. Jewelry designer Scott Kay, known for his platinum engagement rings, now has a growing and diverse collection of men’s wedding rings in strong, masculine patterns from rope and weave to bolted and gothic hand forged looks.

Scott Kay Platinum Wedding Band

In a recent online poll, about a third of bridegrooms insist on comfort fit style bands, a quarter prefer a masculine satin/brush metal finish, which looks amazing on platinum, 15% set diamonds, and 10% each include precious stones, carved designs, and two-tone metal looks.

When deciding on wedding bands, just remember it’s not so much about matching your band to your bride’s as it is about harmonizing the rings. There needs to be something that illustrates that the bands go together. To synchronize your rings, I advocate metal harmony. And of all the metals to choose, platinum provides the durability needed for every-day-wear, while expressing your greatest commitment.

Hearts on Fire Platinum Men's Wedding Band

Platinum wedding bands have a masculine weight, they’re tarnish free and look great over time. Its density and weight make it more durable than other jewelry metals, able to hold stones securely in their settings and not wear down as quickly as other jewelry metals. Because most platinum jewelry is 95% pure, unlike 18k-gold that is only 75% pure, it’s hypoallergenic, a bonus to those sensitive to metals. And diamonds and gemstones look amazing against the pure and natural white luster of platinum.

Celebrity bridegrooms prefer platinum including actor Josh Kelly who traded rings by Ryan Ryan with film star Katherine Heigl, and tennis champ Andy Roddick who exchanged Tiffany rings with his bride Brooklyn Decker. Other platinum band fans include Russell Crowe, Adam Sandler, Tom Cruise, and Will Smith.

Furrer-Jacot Platinum Groom's Wedding Band

But if you think platinum is out of reach, know that many of today’s innovative designers are creating handsome platinum pieces for under $1,000. While platinum may be slightly more expensive than gold, it provides the best value for your money. In some cases the price differential between platinum and gold is small.

I usually advise couples to look for their wedding bands while shopping for the engagement ring. If not then, at least start shopping six months prior to your day. Most jewelers offer layaway plans so you can pay off the rings in time. If you postpone the decision until the eleventh hour, you’ll likely have to “settle” for something. By that time in the process, you’re probably over budget, making smart considerations like platinum and desired extras like diamonds no longer viable.

A special thanks to guest blogger Michael O’Connor

Jewelry and Groom Style Expert expert Michael O’Connor stops by to share some tips exclusively for The Man Registry’s grooms on wedding bands.

Dilek Sezen Wedding Band Set

Let’s face it, if you’re reading this you’re most likely a guy who is heading down the aisle within the foreseeable future.  And as a guy who is heading down the aisle shortly I can assume that you have probably been through the process of purchasing an engagement ring. Therefore, you have recently received what you may feel is a significant jewelry education or perhaps more jewelry information that any one guy really needs to know.

But what did you really learn about jewelry that can help you make educated jewelry purchases in future, and you know there will be more! For that matter, what did you learn that will help you make the perfect choice right now, as you begin your search for wedding bands? The diamond education that you received while buying the engagement ring won’t help you now. You’ll need some good solid jewelry basics to help you make this choice, plus of course, a few options to suit your own sense of style and personality.

Men's diamond wedding band from Frederick Goldman

So let’s test your mettle (metal knowledge, that is). Do you know the differences between platinum and white gold? Do you know that 18 karat gold is better than 14 karat gold? Do you know why? Well 14 karat gold (based upon 24 karat being pure gold) is approximately 58.5% pure gold, making the balance of 41.5% a mix of other metals. These metals in the jewelry industry are called “alloys”. Alloys can range in composition from 1 specific metal to a combination depending upon the color of gold that the designer wishes. You should know right of the bat that all gold, when mined from the earth is yellow and there is no such thing as white gold, rose gold, or any other color gold that is found in nature other than yellow. Therefore the color is created by disguising the natural yellowness of gold by mixing a variety of other metals with it. Rose gold, for example gets its pinkish color by mixing alloys that are primarily copper. So like the bottom of a pot or saucepan, the piece takes on a pinkish hue. White gold is created in the same way, camouflaging the color of the naturally yellow gold with other “whitening” alloys. Additionally, with white gold, since it is never truly pure white in color due to the higher concentration of yellow gold to alloys, manufacturers usually apply a “plating” of rhodium, a naturally white metal, over the top to give the appearance of extreme whiteness (the rhodium will eventually wear off exposing a less white underneath). The same rule applies to other karats of gold. So when people say that 18 karat gold is “better”, what they really mean is that it has more pure gold and less alloy, being approximately 75% pure gold and 25% alloy mix.

When purchasing anything you wear it is important to keep in mind two things: where you will be wearing the item and how you will be wearing the item. Male wedding bands are no different.  You need to remember that you will be wearing it: 1. As a sign of your important commitment. 2. With everything that you choose from the time you put it on. 3. Every day, for life. Therefore it’s important to choose wisely from both a style perspective and a materials perspective. My advice on the matter is this:

Groom Wedding Band from Frederick Goldman

Male wedding band from Kirk Kara

A wedding band is the outward symbol of one of the most important commitments you will make during your lifetime.  As such, it deserves the distinction of being made from a precious and more rare metal. Just like you wouldn’t celebrate a major job promotion with a bottle of water and a bag of potato chips, celebrating your lifetime commitment to another needs to be marked by a something truly precious and special – not the same metal that your kitchen sink is made of.  Choose a precious metal such as platinum or gold to mark the importance of your commitment. Today even the best designers are offering a wide variety of weights and widths of wedding bands in order to appeal to any budget you may have so don’t feel you have to trade down to a non-precious metal in order to save money. Additionally, since you will be wearing the ring for life, you’ll want it made from a metal that can be refinished, restored or re-sized over your lifetime (I know that my fingers are not the same size they were 10 years ago).  You will also want your ring made from a metal that is durable enough to stand up to daily wear.  While platinum and gold are both precious metals each will wear over the long term in different ways with platinum being the more durable of the two. The reason is that platinum is more “dense” than gold and will loose little metal to everyday wear. That’s why the most important diamonds in the world are set into platinum, to ensure their security. However, if you like the yellow hue of gold, platinum is a naturally white metal and is not alloyed in the same way as gold. This means that it is purer, usually at 90% – 95% pure platinum, and the color, unlike gold because of the alloys, will always be true white.

When choosing a suitable style of a wedding band, remember again that you will be wearing this ring for many years. Think about how your personal style has evolved over the past number of years and choose a ring that you’ll be happy with for a long time.  If shiny is not your thing, many designers are showing beautiful matte or brushed finished bands with a rugged more masculine feel. If plain polished or brushed is just “too plain” some of the hottest designers today are adding beautiful carvings and patterns to men’s wedding bands to create interest. Also, don’t be afraid of think about a band with diamonds or colored gemstones if you like them. There are plenty to choose from and some gemstones may have special meaning to you, such as yours or your fiance’s birthstone, creating even deeper meaning behind your bands. And finally, although both of you may have different styles, and therefore want different rings, which if fine, one thing that should signify the pairing of those rings is the choice of the precious metal being used.

A special thanks to guest blogger Michael O’Connor

Wedding Band & Groom Style Expert Michael O'Connor

Michael O’Connor is one of America’s leading voices on jewelry, style and accessories and has become the “go-to” resource for editors and producers seeking information on current trends and celebrity information.  O’Connor as been involved in the luxury, jewelry and fashion industries in a career that spans over 25 years.  Starting originally as a jewelry designer and forecasting upcoming trends, O’Connor has worked with some of the most recognized brands and helped develop some of the most followed trends in the world (such as the 3-diamond “past, present, future” styling).  Throughout the year O’Connor works with numerous top celebrities and celebrity stylists helping them to accessorize with jewelry for awards shows, appearances and premiers.  Additionally, he works with leading fashion and accessories editors and television producers to select products for their photo pages, illustrate story lines and programs.