Wedding Bands
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Wedding Bands NZ — Handcrafted in Auckland, Built for a Lifetime
A wedding band is the ring that actually stays. The engagement ring is chosen for a proposal, worn through the engagement, and carries the diamond's brilliance. The wedding band is chosen together, placed at the ceremony, and worn every day for the rest of a marriage. It is the simpler ring often without a centre stone, sometimes without any diamonds at all and yet it is the one that never comes off. Getting it right matters more than most couples realise until they are choosing it.
At TJ Diamond, every wedding band is handcrafted in our Auckland studio in 18ct gold or platinum, with free engraving on all plain and lightly detailed bands. We craft contoured wedding bands to pair with any engagement ring including rings made elsewhere and offer matching sets, individual designs, and bespoke commissions for couples who want something made specifically for them.
The First Question — Contoured or Straight Band?
This is the most practically important decision for anyone who will wear a wedding band alongside an engagement ring, and it is the one most couples are not told clearly before they choose.
Straight band: A uniform ring that is the same width and profile all the way around. The simplest and most versatile option. Sits flush against an engagement ring with a low, flat setting solitaires with slim plain bands, bezel settings, or engagement rings where the centre stone does not rise significantly above the band. If you have not yet chosen an engagement ring, a straight band is safer if it pairs with any engagement ring style.
Contoured or curved band: A band shaped specifically to fit around the setting of a particular engagement ring. Designed for engagement rings with a protruding centre stone or an architectural setting that would prevent a straight band from sitting flush. The contour follows the exact profile of the engagement ring, sitting against it with no gap. TJ Diamond crafts contoured wedding bands to pair with any engagement ring in our collection or made elsewhere bring your engagement ring to our Auckland studio for a precise fitting.
If you are unsure which you need, bring your engagement ring to our Auckland studio. Our jewellers will assess the profile and advise whether a contoured band is needed for a flush fit.
Width Guide — Finding Your Band Width
Band width is the measurement of the ring as it sits on the finger, in millimetres. It is the most personal choice in wedding band selection and is most accurately assessed in person, because photographs and online listings consistently misrepresent how widths feel on different hands.
Women's wedding bands
1.5-2mm: The most delicate choice. Very fine and minimal on the finger. Best for wearing alongside a significant engagement ring where the wedding band should recede rather than compete. Not suitable as a standalone ring.
2-3mm: The most popular women's wedding band width in New Zealand. Visible and substantial, reads clearly as a wedding band, but does not overpower an engagement ring beside it. The all-round choice.
4-5mm: A wider, more significant band. Often chosen as a standalone ring without an engagement ring, or as the primary ring for wearers who prefer a bolder profile. Suits wider fingers particularly well.
Men's wedding bands
4-5mm: A lighter, slimmer men's band. Suits wearers who prefer a low-profile ring or who have narrower hands. The most understated men's option.
6-7mm: The most popular men's wedding band width in New Zealand. Clearly present on the hand, traditionally masculine in proportion, suits most hand sizes well.
8mm and above: A bold, statement band. Suits broader hands and wearers who want the ring to be clearly visible. Available in plain, brushed, and textured finishes.
Width feels different from how it looks online. A 2mm band looks identical to a 4mm band in product photographs. In person, they feel completely different. Our Auckland studio holds all widths for comparison before you choose.
Metal Finishes — Plain, Brushed, or Textured
High polish: The most traditional finish. A mirror-bright, reflective surface that shows the full depth and richness of the gold or platinum. Classic, formal, and the most widely chosen finish for women's wedding bands in New Zealand. Scratches are more visible on a polished surface, though our lifetime warranty covers professional re-polishing at no charge.
Brushed or satin: A deliberately matte surface created by fine parallel lines drawn across the metal. Softer in appearance than a polished finish. Conceals minor scratches significantly better than high polish. Increasingly popular for both men's and women's bands for its contemporary, understated character.
Hammer-textured: An artisan finish where small hammer marks create a dimpled, organic texture across the band surface. Handcrafted in appearance. Particularly popular for men's bands and vintage-inspired women's rings. Combination finishes hammer-textured centre with polished edges, for example are available as bespoke options.
Diamond Wedding Bands — Pavé, Eternity, and Set Bands
Diamond wedding bands add continuous sparkle alongside the engagement ring or as standalone pieces. Three main configurations:
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Pavé band: small round diamonds set closely together along the top half or the full circumference of the band. Available in half-pavé (diamonds on top only) or full pavé (diamonds fully around). Adds sparkle that complements any engagement ring's brilliance.
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Half eternity: diamonds set along approximately half the band's circumference, the top section visible on the hand. Can be resized more easily than a full eternity. A versatile diamond band that suits both standalone wear and pairing with an engagement ring.
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Full eternity: diamonds set continuously around the entire band. The most abundant diamond coverage and the most impressive visual impact. Cannot be conventionally resized accurate sizing before ordering is essential. Available in channel-set (flat, smooth surface) and prong-set (maximum sparkle) configurations.
Matching Sets or Individual Choices
Some couples choose matching sets the same metal, same finish, same design scaled in width for each partner. Matching sets create a visually unified pair and are particularly meaningful when both bands are placed at the same ceremony. Other couples choose entirely different designs that reflect each partner's individual taste. Both approaches are equally valid.
The most practically useful guidance: if you both want the same metal, matching is easy. If you prefer different metals, contrasting is the right choice. Mixed metal bands combining two metals in a single band, such as a yellow and white gold combination are available as custom options.
Engraving
Free engraving is available on all plain and lightly detailed TJ Diamond wedding bands. Common choices: the wedding date, partner initials, a short phrase with personal significance, or a symbol. Engraving is applied to the inner surface of the band and is a private message visible only to the wearer. Character limits depend on band width; a 2mm band holds approximately 12-15 characters; a 6mm band holds approximately 25-35 characters. Confirm the exact text before the order is finalised, as engraving cannot be removed.
Metals for Wedding Bands
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Yellow gold, yellow gold engagement rings: 18ct yellow gold is the most traditional wedding band metal, never needs replating, and develops a warm patina appreciated by many long-term wearers. The correct choice for couples whose engagement rings are also yellow gold.
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Rose gold, rose gold engagement rings: 18ct rose gold's blush warmth suits both feminine and contemporary gender-neutral band designs. No replating required.
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Platinum, platinum engagement rings: the most durable wedding band metal, work-hardening rather than eroding with daily wear. No plating or maintenance required. 30-40% more expensive than equivalent gold at the same width and specification.
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White gold: 18ct white gold alloyed with palladium, rhodium-plated for a bright white surface. The plating wears and requires professional replating every 1-3 years — a consideration for a ring worn every day for decades. Not TJ Diamond's recommended choice for a daily-wear wedding band. Platinum is a better long-term investment for buyers who want a white metal band.
Order Timing When to Choose Your Wedding Band
We recommend choosing and ordering wedding bands at least 8-10 weeks before the wedding date. Custom contoured bands and engraved bands require additional production time. All bands are crafted to order in our Auckland studio, not pulled from pre-made stock. Contact us to confirm the production timeline for your specific band design and wedding date.
Book a studio consultation to compare widths, finishes, and metals in person before ordering. See examples of contoured bands alongside engagement rings. Contact us to arrange a studio visit or virtual consultation.
Our lifetime warranty covers all TJ Diamond wedding bands including re-polishing, prong maintenance on diamond bands, stone resetting, and resizing for the life of the ring.