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Of the three main styles of love ring generally worn – engagement rings, wedding rings and eternity rings – it is usually the wedding ring that tends to be rather plain. Perhaps the most popular style of all is the simple precious metal wedding band. This has no gemstones, no patterns and no bespoke distinguishing features; just a plain yellow or white gold band. Many people say, quite understandably, that the wedding ring itself is not what is important; it is the sentiments and the commitments that are shared by the couple getting married, the rings themselves being purely symbolic.

In America and Britain, the engagement ring tends to be the showy love ring, generally featuring a solitaire diamond, or a series of stones in various configurations; the trilogy ring is one of the most popular styles of multiple stone engagement rings, with three small stones in a row. These days, jewelers are offering more glitzy wedding rings also, from discreet ones featuring tiny embedded diamonds, to dazzling wedding bands with a centerpiece diamond and other small stones as accents. These, while looking absolutely beautiful, have not caught on in a big way yet, especially as they are far more expensive than plain bands.

Other countries have their own idiosyncracies where wedding rings are concerned. For example, in celtic countries such as Ireland and Scotland, it is fairly common for the rings to be engraved or embossed with celtic imagery, such as a continuous knot all the way around them. And the Irish Claddagh rings are sometimes exchanged at wedding ceremonies; these feature two hands holding a heart, with a crown above the heart, the symbolism referring to love, friendship and loyalty.

Like the love ring trio of engagement, wedding and eternity rings – commonly worn together on the same finger in the UK for women who have been married for a long time – a popular French wedding ring configuration consists of a trio of interlocking rings. In this case, they stand for faith, hope and love.

Ultimately, a couple’s wedding rings are an extremely personal thing, and whether they opt for plain gold bands or something more bespoke, designed especially for them, most important is what they represent: fidelity and lifelong commitment to each other.