A wedding ring is enduring symbol of love and long lasting commitment; it is a special piece of jewellery - perhaps the most important you will ever own. The purchase of a wedding ring is a significant moment in your life and should be a joy. However it has the capacity to produce stress and worry as you try to make the right decision - due to the huge variety of styles and materials on offer. This short article is intended to give you a few points to consider as you shop for that special ring.

Wedding ring as fashion item?

There are a huge variety of ring styles to choose from - from simple classic wedding bands to diamond studded works of modern art.

When choosing a ring - remember that you will be wearing it for the rest of your life. You'll probably be happier with a style that you really love rather than something that is simply fashionable. You'll wear it every day so you need to be sure that you feel comfortable with your choice.

There is a lot to be said therefore for choosing a classic simple wedding band over the latest fashion inspired diamond encrusted elaborate style of ring. However, if you prefer something ostentatious and flamboyant then you may tire of a simple band.

Commission a unique wedding ring

You don't need to opt for the rings you see in the shops as there are many talented designers who will be happy to guide you, discuss your choice and create a ring just for you. For example in Glasgow: Shona Fidgett the jewellery designer has a wonderful selection of rings and will also work to commission to design your perfect wedding band or engagement ring.

What to pay for a ring

Buy the best you can afford - this is a one-off purchase, you need a wedding ring that will last so the quality of material is important. Rings are usually gold but you could also choose platinum or silver and recently there has been a trend towards white gold. The latter is worth considering if you tend to wear silver or platinum jewellery .

A ring with a precious stone

If you want a ring with a precious stone, ask about the cut and quality of the stone. 'The Mohs scale' - is used to measure the durability of precious stones. Their resistance to being scratched. This is a scale of one to ten with ten being the hardest and 1 being the softest. Diamonds are a girls best friend and they are also ten on the Mohs scale.

The quality of the cut of a diamond is determined by how well it reflects light back to the viewer - rather than letting light dissipate through the bottom or the sides of the stone. Cut also has a scale reflecting quality from Ideal, Premium, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. Very Good and above is what you should look for and the quality of the cut will be reflected in the price. Cut is only one aspect that reflects the quality of a diamond, clarity and colour are also taken into consideration.

To tattoo or not to tattoo

These days some choose tattooed wedding bands. Think hard before going down this route as it has potential pitfalls such as the tattoo not coming out as intended. It's also difficult to remove if you change your mind.

Quick guide to buying a Wedding ring.