wedding band vs. anniversary band

What is the difference?

FH saw a few bands he likes for me on line and they are under the heading called an anniversary band, but it looks no different to me than a wedding band with diamonds.

Would it be okay for FH to give me an anniversary band at the wedding?

well, once apon a time (I believe as recent as the 80's), a wedding band was supposed to be a plain band.... at best a band with a few tiny diamond chips.... There was no such thing as a channel set wedding band with 20 diamonds....

I think that was the era during which the 'anniversary band' was born....

In the past wedding bands matched. The bride and groom got the same band (Just in different sizes) they were typically also very plain.
An anniversary band has diamonds. Typically 3 or more. Diamonds are typically smaller than your engagement ring diamond.

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Posted by portjeffbride

well, once apon a time (I believe as recent as the 80's), a wedding band was supposed to be a plain band.... at best a band with a few tiny diamond chips.... There was no such thing as a channel set wedding band with 20 diamonds....

I think that was the era during which the 'anniversary band' was born....

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ITA w/ quoted post ! !

the 3 stone diamond rings are 'past, present future' rings. The new 'journey' jewelry that is out is to signify how your love has grown as time goes on (the diamonds start out smaller and 'travel' to bigger)

It's just a name. Get whatever you like ! !

DH could give you a ring from a cracker jack box - what's important is that it means something to both of you. The designation the jewelry companies give them are nothing more than fancy marketing. Get what you want!

Sure, you can have anything you want, really. Although it helps if it's still some sort of 'band' style ring, so that other people recognize it as a wedding ring. Although plenty of brides these days get one ring with large diamonds as both an engagement ring and wedding band.

Styles have changed over the years. Filigree bands were popular a hundred years ago, and then in the 1920s and 30s people liked engraved rings, you see a lot of them at antique jewelers. Some of those had small diamonds, sometimes all the way around. Then it went back to plain bands again, mostly. My mom's ring from 1962 has three small diamonds in a diagonal pattern on it. These days it seems like most people get diamond bands, even some of the men.

My ring is totally plain, a domed platinum band. I initially did want a gemstone band, but my fiance is Jewish and believes in the idea that a wedding band should be plain, no stones, an unbroken band symbolizing the marriage. And I do like that idea, the 'unbroken circle' part. So it's plain. Not all Jewish people believe this, in fact I think most don't these days. I believe that some Orthodox rabbis won't marry couples with a diamond band, so some couples borrow a plain ring, and then later use the diamond band. Anyway, this does NOT mean that I wouldn't like an 'anniversary' band in future. Either diamonds, or maybe aquamarines, I love them.

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Posted by Pencils

Sure, you can have anything you want, really. Although it helps if it's still some sort of 'band' style ring, so that other people recognize it as a wedding ring. Although plenty of brides these days get one ring with large diamonds as both an engagement ring and wedding band.

Styles have changed over the years. Filigree bands were popular a hundred years ago, and then in the 1920s and 30s people liked engraved rings, you see a lot of them at antique jewelers. Some of those had small diamonds, sometimes all the way around. Then it went back to plain bands again, mostly. My mom's ring from 1962 has three small diamonds in a diagonal pattern on it. These days it seems like most people get diamond bands, even some of the men.

My ring is totally plain, a domed platinum band. I initially did want a gemstone band, but my fiance is Jewish and believes in the idea that a wedding band should be plain, no stones, an unbroken band symbolizing the marriage. And I do like that idea, the 'unbroken circle' part. So it's plain. Not all Jewish people believe this, in fact I think most don't these days. I believe that some Orthodox rabbis won't marry couples with a diamond band, so some couples borrow a plain ring, and then later use the diamond band. Anyway, this does NOT mean that I wouldn't like an 'anniversary' band in future. Either diamonds, or maybe aquamarines, I love them.

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wow thanks for the history! and i never thought about it like that..that is the sweetest thing.. i think i may want a plain wedding band now too!

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Posted by Bride 2 Be
wow thanks for the history! and i never thought about it like that..that is the sweetest thing.. i think i may want a plain wedding band now too!

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No problem. I did a LOT of research on vintage engagement rings and wedding bands. My engagement ring is vintage, from the 1940s. I love it, no one has a ring quite like mine. And, yes, I really love the symbolism of the unbroken ring. Eternal, with no interruptions, in precious metal. It's quite important that the ring be a precious metal, too, in the Jewish tradition.

Anyway, these are the rings I was thinking of, from the Topazery . Their stuff can be a little overpriced, you have to watch it, but they have some amazing gemstone and diamond jewelry, both estate, modern, and vintage copies. Both of these rings are copies of the 1930s style band wedding or anniversary rings with stones. One is all aquamarines, one is a mix of aquamarines and diamonds. I asked them how much to custom make me a ring with aquamarines and platinum, and they wanted $2K for it, which is a bit much.