Who says women are the only ones who get to wear an engagement ring? These days, a growing number of men are electing to show their commitment by wearing an engagement ring of their own.
On top of that, modern grooms are customizing their rings by selecting unique materials and one-of-a-kind inscriptions. If you’re curious to learn more about custom men’s engagement rings, then check out our comprehensive guide.
If you’re like most people, you probably picture a woman proudly flashing a glimmering diamond ring when you hear the term engagement ring.
While female wedding rings are definitely expected, more and more men are choosing to wear engagement rings these days.
In fact, 5% of men reported wearing an engagement ring (also called a mangagement ring). Plus, a full 67% of men said they’d be comfortable wearing this type of ring
Male engagement rings are relatively unknown, but they’re not a new idea. In fact, department store L. Bamberger & Co. advertised a line of male rings way back in 1926. Unfortunately, these rings were too ahead of their time and didn’t take off.
That started changing in the 1940s when actor Humphrey Bogart was spotted wearing a wedding ring. Nowadays, men, especially Millennials, are choosing to wear both wedding and engagement rings.
Men are opting to wear engagement rings for a number of reasons including:
Now that you have a better understanding of what men’s engagement rings are and why they’re important, it’s time to look at choosing a custom engagement ring for your male partner.
With so many options on the market, choosing the perfect ring can be tricky. We recommend using a combination of your budget and your partner’s style to guide your decision.
The next few sections will cover everything you need to know about materials, sizing, customization, and buying options for male engagement rings.
Because custom mens engagement rings are such a new idea, the sky’s the limit when it comes to designing a band. You could go the more traditional route and choose from a number of precious metals, or you could look into alternative materials.
Carbon fiber – Lightweight and incredibly durable, carbon fiber rings are an easy, low-maintenance choice for the man in your life.
Selecting the perfect ring size is one of the trickiest and most stressful parts of buying an engagement ring for your partner, especially if you’re trying to keep your plans a secret.
Luckily, there are lots of ways to overcome this challenge. The easiest way is to measure the diameter of a ring your partner already owns. Then, use a ring sizing chart to convert the measurement to a ring size.
If your partner doesn’t have any other rings, you can measure their finger using a length of string, then convert the measurement using a ring sizer chart. Alternatively, most jewelry companies will send you a complimentary plastic ring sizer.
It’s also important to keep in mind that most rings can be resized after purchase. That said, certain materials like carbon fiber and tungsten cannot be resized, so steer clear of these materials if you’re worried about fit.
While you can certainly purchase an engagement ring off the shelf, designing a ring to your exact specifications is much more fun and unique.
On the most basic level, you can choose from a number of materials, shapes, widths, settings, colors, and designs.
Then, depending on the material you select, you may be able to engrave your partner’s ring, perhaps with your initials or an important date.
Regardless of what you choose, make sure to keep your partner’s preferences and personal style in mind.
Some well-known jewelry companies offer a small selection of male engagement rings and men’s wedding rings but for the time being, this is not the norm.
Not only do smaller online retailers offer a bigger selection and more competitive prices, but they also give customers more choices in terms of customization. Some of our favorites include:
Unlike the common wisdom that says an engagement ring should cost the equivalent of three months of salary, there aren’t any rules around the price of male engagement rings.
While not having any guidelines to follow may feel unnerving, it frees you up to make a well-informed decision based on your preferences and other proposal costs.
That said, men’s engagement rings (even customized ones) tend to cost much less than the $6,000 average for female engagement rings.
Naturally, the amount you spend is dependent on the materials you select, any precious stones included in the design, and other customization you add. With that in mind, expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $10,000.
If you think of an engagement ring as a gift, it makes sense that the person giving the ring should be the one to pay for it. The same is true for purchasing men’s wedding rings.
If you want to follow tradition, then a man should wear an engagement ring on the left hand until the wedding day. After getting married, a man can use his engagement ring as a wedding band or move the engagement ring to the right and wear a wedding band on the left hand.
Same-sex couples might choose to wear their engagement rings on their right hand. This has been a long-standing tradition, even before marriage equality became law.
Now that you have a complete picture of what custom men’s engagement rings are, we hope you feel more comfortable selecting the right one for your partner. Just remember–you can’t go wrong with your partner’s favorite color or a thoughtful inscription.
Once you’ve got the ring sorted out, make sure to check out our Engagement Photo Tips!
