Every bride wants their engagement ring to be unique, but what about the wedding band? This second ring can sometimes be overlooked and is usually a simple ring made to symbolise a couple's official union.
While some wedding rings will feature a discreet engraving such as a special date, a loving phrase or the names or initials of their partners, there are other ways to make your band even more personal.
Jewellers are seeing the rise of the elaborately shaped wedding band, which really came into fashion years ago but is becoming ever more popular among couples. Celebrities such as Natalie Portman and Carrie Underwood have opted for this style, meaning their two rings sit perfectly next to each other.
© Lewis Malka
"There has been a huge increase in people wanting their wedding band to sit flush alongside their engagement ring," diamond expert Lewis Malka told HELLO! Online. "As a result of this more people are requesting this during the initial design process of their engagement ring and therefore the ring is being made with this in mind."
Other couples are going one step further and making the elaborate wedding ring the "main feature".
The most popular styles asked for are "jigsaw" wedding bands – whereby the wedding ring and the engagement ring fit together like a jigsaw piece – and the simple "wave" wedding ring that matches the curve of the engagement ring.
Other designs that couples could think about are – the "under/overlay" wedding band, which is set under or over your engagement ring; the "wishbone" band, which is similar to the "wave" but has a pointed tip; and the "caged" wedding band, whereby your engagement ring is sandwiched between a twisted wedding band.
© Lewis Malka
"The immediate advantage of having a shaped wedding ring is that the band will sit flush with your engagement ring," said Lewis. "Another is that you know you are having a bespoke ring made to suit your exact needs, which makes it a lot more personal.
"The cons include the fact that the rings will naturally twist on your finger and won't always be sitting together. Also, when there are times you only wear the wedding ring, would you be happy with the shaped ring on its own?
"The moulding shouldn't cost too much more, and I would estimate it would be around 20 to 30 per cent more than a conventional straight band."
© Lewis Malka
Lewis usually asks the bride-to-be to hand over her engagement ring for him to work with, to ensure that both rings will perfectly sit next to each other when complete.
"A solitaire engagement ring is relatively straightforward to shape around, but other designs such as a cluster require a more unusual shape and therefore more precision," said Lewis.
"As all my rings are handcrafted, this is usually done using a needle file and a very sharp eye! The whole process is not too dissimilar to a standard straight ring, just with bumps and grooves."
Would you have a shaped wedding band? Leave your comments below.