Why Should You Engrave a Ring?

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Why Should You Engrave a Ring?

Your own wedding rings will become even more cherished when they are engraved with a message that's significant to you. It's never too late. You can engrave your wedding rings any time, before you're married or years afterwards.

A traditional inscription includes your names and wedding date, but you can be more creative with the engraving. Choose a special phrase--from a poem, from a song, from your time together, from religious writings--the choices are endless.

Size the Rings Before You Engrave

Make sure your rings are sized before they are engraved, especially if the phrase is long, because the letters could be damaged during the sizing procedure.

Hand Engraving

Hand engraving is done with a tool called a graver--think of it as a miniature chisel. The sharp, chisel ends of gravers are formed into different shapes that offer different looks for the text. Multiple shapes let engravers choose the best tool for the type of lettering you request.

Many experienced hand engravers are artisans who can put your inscription into any style of text you desire. Some engravers can even produce intricate symbols.Hand engravers sometimes prefer to work with gold rings, rather than platinum, since the softer gold has more "give" under the engraving tool. On the other hand, platinum doesn't wear away as easily as gold, so once it's there an inscription in platinum is usually more durable.

Machine Engraving

Machine engraving is accomplished with different types of power-driven engravers that work off of templates or computer aided designs. The jewelry is inserted in the machine and when turned on the machine forms the letters.

Machine engravers burrow into or spread the metal apart to create letters. Some machine engravers offer only block lettering, so be sure to ask about available options.

Before You Engrave a Ring

- Ask to see examples of a hand engraver's work. Ask the same of a company that produces machine engraving.

- Do the sample engravings appear to be fairly deep cuts (longer lasting) or shallow cuts (which will often wear away more easily)?

- Find out which type of lettering your jeweler feels will be most durable on a ring worn every day.

- Ask how long it takes to have the rings engraved to be sure there's time to complete the job before the wedding ceremony.

- Will rings be sent out for engraving, or is it done in-house? There's always a risk of loss when rings are sent out.

- Are the rings insured while in the jeweler's possession or when sent to another party for work?

Top 10 Engraving Ideas for Wedding Rings

Do you plan to engrave a personal message in your wedding rings? Have you thought about what the message will say? Engravings range from simple and traditional dates and initials to coded messages that only the brides and grooms understand. Here are a few engraving ideas from members of the About Jewelry & Accessories community.

1. Your Names and Wedding Date

For brides and grooms who prefer a classic approach, this engraving never goes out of fashion. There should be room for at least your first names, but you can use initials if space is tight. It might not matter to you now, but engraved names and dates can help someone who tackles family research in the future.

2. Forever

Forever.. a simple word with an important meaning. Wrap your intent to stay together always (there's another top engraving) around your finger, where you'll be reminded of it every day. You can include your initials and wedding date if you like.

3. Amor Vincit Omnia

Latin for "love conquers all." Engrave a message in Latin and few people will understand it, making the sentiment more personal to you and your spouse.

4. Phrase from a Song

Anything from "All you need is love," to "I got you, babe." What lyrics are meaningful to you? Are they short enough to engrave inside a wedding ring?

5. Nicknames

Brides and grooms sometimes engrave each other's nicknames inside their wedding rings.

6. A Religious Phrase

Choose a portion of a phrase or verse that's significant to your religion.

7. Symbols

A heart, the peace symbol, the symbol for eternity--many hand engravers can add a symbol to the inside of your wedding bands.

8. A Special Phrase

Choose a personal phrase, one that only you and your future spouse understand the meaning of. Go ahead, inscribe the phrase in your rings, let everyone guess its true meaning. And there's no reason why the phrases must match--each of you can choose a special sentiment.

9. Phrase from Your Wedding Vows

Engrave a few short words from your wedding vows. The phrase you choose might signify love, respect, trust, eternity--anything you want to convey to each other. Some couples let their sentiments float around the exterior of wedding bands. Adorn the outside of plain bands with a special engraving.

10. Poetry and Literature

Words from any special poem or book, sentimental to comical. You're off to a good start. Now, before you choose an engraver, make a few decisions to help make sure that your engravings last forever.