An engagement gets all the spotlight, but your wedding band has a less obvious set of requirements. It has to complement your engagement ring, not irritate your fingers on a daily basis, and retain its elegance long after the celebrations are over
That makes finding the right lab grown diamond wedding band all about subtle details
In Singapore, couples can choose from yellow gold, white gold, rose gold and platinum wedding bands in a range of styles from classic row of diamonds to baguettes and curves. You’ll also find current Singapore collections featuring baguette, round, emerald and mixed style diamond wedding bands in a variety of widths, so you’re not limited to the traditional look of a row of round brilliant diamonds.
What Makes a Lab Grown Diamond Wedding Band Unique?
It’s all in the provenance of the stone.
Lab created diamond wedding bands are made using man-made processes rather than naturally occurring geological ones. They are different to diamond simulants such as cubic zirconia, with the Gemological Institute of America noting that laboratory created diamonds have the same “chemical, optical, and physical properties” as naturally occurring diamonds. The two common methods of diamond synthesis are Chemical Vapour Deposition and High Pressure High Temperature.
When it comes to a wedding band, this means you get the visual and physical attributes of a diamond, but with another option when it comes to allocating your ring budget.
The origin of the diamond should always be clearly stated, but for larger stones or those with individual features it’s worth requesting an independent laboratory report. This will confirm whether a diamond is laboratory created, but also provide details on the 4 Cs for the particular stone.
Prioritise Your Engagement Ring When Shopping for a Wedding Band
A lovely wedding band can still be the wrong wedding band.
The best way to judge is to view your engagement ring at an angle and note the height of the basket, the size of the centre stone, the presence of a halo or another projecting feature. A straight wedding band cannot follow the contours of the engagement ring and will leave a noticeable gap. This isn’t always a bad thing, but if you want a close fit then it’s worth looking at a curved or contoured option. This type of lab diamond wedding band can follow the lines of the engagement ring, but a straight band can work well if the engagement ring setting has sufficient space for it to nest close.
Always try the rings together and view the combination from different angles rather than looking at the wedding band in isolation. Assess the fit from the top, the profile and the palm view to see how everything works together.
Half-Eternity or Full-Eternity: What’s the Real Difference?
Eternity bands may look beautiful, but there are some real differences between half and full options.
The full eternity band has diamonds set into the shank going right around the ring. This creates a striking option with diamonds on display from all angles, but it can be harder to resize a fully set eternity band to a different size. A half eternity or partial diamond band leaves sections of plain metal around either the front or back of the ring. This provides a better fit for some wearers, but it can also leave more space for resizing the band in the future.
Consider your fingers and whether they’re sensitive to the presence of prongs or other features. Try on a band for more than just a few seconds to test for comfort.
Diamond Settings Have a Substantial Impact on the Ring
It’s easy to overlook the small differences in construction when it comes to rings, but these variations become magnified over the lifespan of the ring.
A prong setting creates a row of prominent diamonds set using metal claws. This allows the maximum amount of light to enter the stone, but it’s worth checking for comfort. Some people find the protruding prongs uncomfortable against their adjoining fingers while others like the sparkle they create.
With channel set diamonds, the stones are housed in rectangular slots along the shank. This type of setting creates a neater look, but the channel set shank can be a challenge to some wearers.
Pavé settings are another popular option, but they create a different impression to a row of diamonds on claws or in channels. Pavé settings use tiny diamonds that are pushed into metal beads to create a sparkling surface, rather than a row of prominent individual stones.
A bezel set wedding band surrounds each diamond with metal to create a contemporary look. The bezel set wedding band is less likely to snag on clothing, but it creates a less open look than some other settings.
There’s no right or wrong wedding band setting, but it’s always worth thinking about the differences in comfort, appearance and impact. Ultimately, it comes down to finding the style that suits your hand and the look you want to achieve.
Consider Metals When Shopping for a Lab Grown Diamond Wedding Band in Singapore
The choice of metal influences the overall look and feel of the ring.
Yellow gold offers a striking alternative to the white colour of a diamond, while rose gold creates a warmer option. White gold is another popular choice and platinum is frequently seen as the ultimate wedding band metal. In Singapore, NOVITA DIAMONDS jewellers can offer lab created diamond wedding bands in a range of metals, including 18K gold and platinum. Compare different finishes and consider how these metals interact with your skin tone.
Don’t forget to ask about purity and whether the ring can be resized. If you’re trying to match an engagement ring, then it’s always easiest to go with the same metal. Mixing metals can create an interesting and eye-catching combination, but it needs to be done with care.
Look Beyond Carat Weight When Comparing Lab Made Diamonds
The carat weight of a diamond is a measure of its mass, but it doesn’t indicate overall quality.
The weight needs to be put into context with the colour, clarity and cut of the stone. According to IGI, “equal carat weight lab made diamonds can vary in colour, clarity and cut”. This is also true of natural diamonds, but it’s always important to think about the cut when choosing a diamond wedding band. The cut determines how light interacts with the diamond, and it needs to be suitable to the style of the ring. Similarly, not all diamonds need to have the same level of colour and clarity.
It’s even more important to ask about cut, colour, and clarity when looking at rings with multiple small diamonds. You should always ask if the stones have been matched, as it’s harder to notice the difference in a single stone. A basic row of similarly sized and coloured diamonds will create a better effect than a set of mismatched stones with impressive specifications.
A Ring Size Can Be Too Small or Too Big Based on Width
The width of your ring can be deceptive.
A wider band offers more elegance and it creates a greater impact, but it won’t feel as comfortable against your finger as a narrow band in the same size. Stacking your engagement ring with your wedding band might also change the fit. A combination of your engagement and wedding rings could stretch out the size of your wedding band, depending on how tight it fits individually.
You should also remember that the fit can change based on the time of day or your activity. A band that feels fine when buying may become uncomfortable to wear when the temperature rises, as is the case in Singapore. Always try the full stack of rings rather than relying on the ring size of one individual band, and ask how easy it is to resize a ring once you’ve bought it. This is always important, but it becomes even more vital if you’re buying online.
What to Ask Before Paying for a Lab Grown Diamond Wedding Band
A good webpage provides a wealth of information, but it can’t answer all your questions about a ring you intend to wear for years.
Ask about the metal purity, total carat weight of the diamonds, the style of the setting, the ring measurements, whether the diamonds are lab-grown, whether the ring can be resized, the warranty or after-sales service and which grading reports (if any) are provided by the jeweller.
Compare the prices for comparable rings, bearing in mind the amount of precious metals used, the carat weight of the diamonds, and the complexity of the setting.
For shoppers in Singapore considering speciality retailers, it’s worth noting that NOVITA DIAMONDS is one jeweller that provides a range of lab-created diamond jewellery alongside other local options.
A Lab Grown Diamond Wedding Band Should Fit into Your Practical Lifestyle
Your wedding jewellery may be a highly personal choice, but the final decision can sometimes be surprisingly pragmatic. If you’re working with your hands on a regular basis, you want a lower profile for your wedding band. Someone who wants to maximise the amount of sparkle in their wedding jewellery will choose a different style to someone who wants an elegant but minimal band. Eternity bands may look beautiful, but some people opt for a narrower half eternity wedding band in order to leave the entire centre of the ring open and let their engagement ring take visual precedence.
It’s also worth looking ahead to the future and considering how easy it will be to clean and service your wedding band. Small prongs and intricate settings on a ring you barely ever take off will benefit from a professional inspection. The most suitable lab grown diamond wedding band will always strike a balance between being impressive on the mannequin and being comfortable in your day-to-day life.