As the world evolves and sheds gender norms, more and more people are searching for
engagement rings for men. Traditionally, the idea of an engagement inspires the vision of a man
getting down on one knee and proposing to his would-be bride. In recent years, many women
are proposing to men and many men are also proposing to men. If you fit into one of these
positions, you might be asking yourself what choices you have when it comes to engagement
rings for men.
Engagement Rings for Men with a Center Stone
If you’re wanting the engagement ring for your guy to have a center stone, you have lots of
options. At AW Jewelry, we are able to obtain a wide variety of center stones whether you’re
looking for a traditional diamond or a colored gemstone. In addition to natural diamonds, you
have the option of lab grown diamonds and fancy colored diamonds of natural or lab origin.
Petite or Bold?
If the man in your life prefers the prettier and dainty rings, you might go for a garden inspired
men’s engagement ring. Any engagement ring style you see for women could also be a
potential option for engagement rings for men too. Garden-inspired rings usually have thinner
bands with intertwining metal resembling vines or leaves.
If you’re thinking about a bolder, more masculine approach, you might consider the look of a
signet ring. Signet rings were originally used to stamp important documents. An emblem of a
family crest or other unique design was engraved on the center of the ring. Most signet rings
had wide bands that rose up to the flat design. Instead of an engraving, you might opt to put a
diamond or gemstone.
If you’d like engagement rings for men that are somewhat in the middle of bold and petite, you
may like the look of a Toi et Moi engagement ring or a cathedral engagement ring.
Toi et Moi engagement rings have become a recent engagement ring trend made famous by
celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Megan Fox, and Emily Ratajkowski. Toi et Moi engagement
rings for men typically have a thinner band and two center stones. The stones in a Toi et Moi
engagement ring are usually different shapes, with one angled differently than the other. They
can also be of different carat weights. The two center stones depict the equal importance of
both partners in the engagement ring.
Cathedral engagement rings have a unique architecture resembling the look of a cathedral
building. The two sides are usually wider and raised, leading up to the center stone. A bar
usually connects the side underneath, like a bridge. You can choose to have stones on the
sides that lead up to the center stone, or have them bare. Some people choose to have the
metal sides etched with ornate designs.
The great thing about engagement rings for men with wider bands is that you have a large
amount of metal to really personalize it. We can etch out designs in the metal, initials, dates, or
even names to give the engagement ring an extra special touch.
Engagement Rings for Men Without a Center Stone
When looking for engagement rings for men, you can opt to choose an engagement ring that
doesn’t have a center stone. These would typically look like the different wedding bands for men
that you see in stores. Band-styled engagement rings for men are typically chosen for their
masculine appearance. Some men prefer them because they have minimal maintenance
compared to engagement rings for men with center stones.
With Stones or Without Stones?
Just because you’ve chosen an engagement ring without a central stone doesn’t mean it has to
be void of stones completely. Many engagement rings for men can have stones set into the
metal, depending on its width and the desired size of the stones.
Engagement rings for men that have flat bands leave stones well protected. The more a stone
sticks out of its setting, the more vulnerable it is to potential damage. When the stones are flush,
they are protected. You can easily clean the ring instead of trying to clean between spaces.
You may choose to have the stones spaced out with metal between or you may have many
stones in the band for extra sparkle. Princess cut or baguette style channel set bands are a
great way to have lots of sparkle while still retaining a masculine look. They create a road of
sparkle with no space between the stones.
If choosing engagement rings for men with stones, we advise only choosing precious metals.
Many men’s engagement rings and men’s wedding bands follow the trend of alternative metals
such as tungsten carbide, titanium, and stainless steel. While these metals are generally more
affordable, they cannot be resized or reset if a stone falls out. Instead, you will have to get a
new ring entirely.
Precious metals like gold and platinum are malleable and can be resized and have stones reset
in the same ring, preserving the sentiment of having the same ring you were proposed to with.
Even if you choose engagement rings for men without stones, we still advise choosing precious
metals over alternative metal engagement rings for men. These rings are mass produced by a
variety of companies and are limited in their designs.
Most engagement rings for men and women are crafted in 14K gold. The most popular metal for
engagement rings is 14K white gold. At AW Jewelry, you have the option of choosing 14K or
18K gold engagement rings in yellow gold, white gold, or rose gold. Platinum is also an
excellent choice that we offer.
When choosing white gold engagement rings for men, it is important to remember that the
silvery white appearance of white gold will fade over time. The ring will need rhodium plating,
usually once a year. The fading does not represent the quality of the white gold, but is standard
with all white gold jewelry. Platinum rings have a similar bright white color, but do not require
rhodium plating.
If the maintenance of white gold doesn’t sound like something the man in your life would want to
keep up with, you may opt for our other white metal known as platinum. Platinum is a more
dense metal than gold, which is why it usually costs more and has a heavier weight. It takes
more platinum to create a ring than it does gold, which contributes to its higher price. However,
you may find platinum worth its cost, as it is more durable than white gold and it retains its color
without the need of additional maintenance.
Our jewelers are able to create a variety of textures and designs if you choose engagement
rings for men without stones. If you want your men’s engagement ring to be simple, we can give
it the classic high polish look with your choice of width.
Typical men’s wedding bands run between 6-8mm, but if you’re wanting a thinner band, you
might opt for 2-4mm instead. Just because you’ve chosen a men’s engagement ring without
stones, doesn’t mean it has to be plain.
Some men’s engagement rings without stones have different finishes, such as a satin finish.
Satin finishes are done by applying abrasives to the metal that result in a subtle texture and
distinct appearance. You can also have ornate details etched into wider rings with
personalization such as engravings, flowers, ribbons, and other favorable designs.
The metal of a man’s engagement ring can also be molded, not just engraved. Braided bands
are a great way to make the metal unique without any additional engravings or etchings. You
could even opt for a two-toned look of multiple golds, such as a yellow gold and rose gold
braided men’s engagement ring.
Custom Engagement Rings for Men at AW Jewelry
At AW Jewelry, the possibilities for men’s engagement rings are endless. You can go as bold or
traditional as you like. Our jewelers are able to facet a variety of shapes, even beyond the
traditional shapes that other retailers offer.
Simply bring in your own ideas or outside inspiration, or collaborate with our designers to come
up with a one-of-a-kind engagement ring for the special man in your life. Together, we can make
his and your dreams come true. Contact us today to start your engagement ring.