Yellow gold wedding band

18 carat yellow gold wedding band: composition and hallmark

A yellow gold wedding band sold in France almost always carries a hallmark of 750/1000, or 18 carats: 75% pure gold alloyed with silver and copper for the jewel’s warm colour and mechanical strength. Pure gold, at 24 carats, is too soft for a ring worn every day: it would warp within a few months. Copper reinforces the hardness and deepens the golden hue, while silver slightly tempers the colour. Some models come in 9 carats (375/1000), a common hallmark in the United Kingdom but rarer on the French market, where 18 carat gold dominates wedding band shelves by far.

Reading the hallmark on the ring

The hallmark stamped on the inner face of the band gives the gold content without any ambiguity. An eagle’s head mark indicates 18 carat gold made in France. Imported jewellery carries different hallmarks depending on its country of origin and its gold content: it’s best to ask for the invoice detailing the hallmark at the time of purchase, especially for a piece of jewellery meant to last a lifetime.

Parisian band, half-round band or ribbon: which yellow gold wedding band shape to choose

The classic Parisian band comes in 3 or 4 mm widths: three twisted strands meeting at a point, an instantly recognisable shape that suits a thicker men’s ring just as well as a slimmer women’s model. The half-round band, more discreet, hugs the base of the finger without visible extra thickness at the back; it’s a common choice for anyone already wearing an engagement ring on the same finger. The comfort-fit band, with a slightly domed inner profile, slides on more easily and stays comfortable over the years, particularly if your finger size fluctuates slightly from one season to the next.

For a finer look, the 2.5 or 3 mm ribbon band recreates the look of a fabric knot across the top of the finger. All these shapes are available with or without set diamonds, one or several pavé stones depending on budget and band width. For a wedding pairing two gold tones, this ring blends effortlessly with a white gold wedding band worn by the other spouse, or with a rose gold wedding band for a more contrasted duo.

Yellow gold or white gold: what’s the difference for a wedding band

White gold doesn’t exist in its natural state: it’s pure gold alloyed with palladium or nickel, then coated with a rhodium plating that gives it its silvery tone and shine. This rhodium plating wears away over time, through contact with soap, chemicals or intensive daily wear, and lets the underlying alloy’s yellowish tint show through again after one to two years on average, which calls for periodic refreshing at a jeweller’s. Yellow gold, on the other hand, isn’t plated: the colour comes from the alloy itself and doesn’t change over the years, which is why some couples return to this choice after trying white gold on a first wedding band. Conversely, white gold shows off a set diamond more, since its sparkle stands out better against a light background than a warm one.

What diameter and finger size for a yellow gold wedding band

A wedding band’s size is determined by finger circumference in millimetres, ideally measured at the end of the day since fingers swell slightly with heat or exertion. A jeweller measures this with a set of ring sizers; failing that, a piece of string wrapped around the finger and then measured against a ruler gives an approximate value, to be double-checked before ordering. Common sizes for a women’s wedding band range from 50 to 56, and from 58 to 66 for a men’s model, but every hand shape has its own variations: it’s better to measure precisely than rely on an average.

• Parisian band 3-4 mm: suits slim fingers as well as larger builds, comfortable grip for everyday wear
• Half-round band or ribbon 2.5-3 mm: preferable if an engagement ring is worn on the same finger
• Comfort-fit band with domed profile: recommended if weight or finger size varies over the year

Wearing and caring for a yellow gold wedding band day to day

In France, the wedding band is traditionally worn on the ring finger of the left hand, a custom inherited from the Roman belief in the vena amoris, a vein once thought to run directly to the heart. Yellow gold withstands daily contact with water and soap well, but is sensitive to swimming pool chlorine and certain household products that dull its shine over time. Regular cleaning with lukewarm soapy water, gently brushed, then rinsed and dried with a soft cloth, is enough to keep the ring’s shine without resorting to harsh chlorine-based products, which attack the alloy.

The space available for engraving the inside of a yellow gold wedding band remains limited: short first names or initials with a date in DD/MM/YY format read perfectly well, whereas a full sentence quickly becomes illegible on a band just 3 or 4 mm wide. This engraving is done on the back or inside of the band, a common practice for a wedding band more so than for an engagement ring worn alone. Some couples pair a set yellow gold wedding band with a rose gold ring for the engagement stage, to visually distinguish the two steps of the commitment.