On the 24th day of July in 1997 I started wearing a yellow gold wedding band placed on the ring finger of my left hand by my wife Cindy. I have worn this ring every single day since then only taking it off once, after losing an argument with a nurse as I was going in for open heart surgery, I trusted only Cindy to guard this ring for me until I was cleared to wear it again.
Lately my gold band has started to get thin, and also egg shaped from my years of wearing it. I guess that wearing it every day is not that easy on yellow gold, or maybe it's just me that's not easy on the equipment.
This Valentine's day Cindy gave me a 1997 penny made into a keyring, with "I still do" and the date of our wedding 7/24 engraved on it, and with a heart around the year 1997 on the penny.
Along with this penny she also presented me with a new wedding band, so I can save my original gold band from becoming so thin that it breaks.
When we got married the choices for wedding bands was either white or yellow gold, I wanted a yellow gold band and that is what we chose. It wasn't long before my ring was scratched and scuffed and no longer new looking, but I still wore it everyday.
We had to replace Cindy's set not long ago and now our original bands and her first engagement ring are stored safely away together under lock and key... Yes the original ones are still that important to us.
I now know that yellow gold, although a preferred precious metal, is not as durable of a metal as is other choices available today.
Stainless, Sterling, and Colbalt are nice choices for a bright shiny look, and also less expensive than the precious metals.
Titanium and Tungsten are a lot more durable and come in a gray finish that I think is a more "manly" look, I'm not sure if you would agree, but I like it.
There are a lot more choices for wedding bands available now, a lot more choices than just the precious metals and the ones that I mentioned above. We all know and love the white and yellow gold and have worn these for years, but a lot of other metals are a lot more durable and look just as good.
Cindy
made an excellent choice in my opinion. My new band is a comfort fit Tungsten that is resistant to scratching, breaking, or getting bent out of shape. Cindy really looked ahead on this one and got me something that is going to last a very long time, I won't be taking this one off either...
And with that said, I still do too.
What is your favorite metal for a wedding band, and did you ever replace your original band or set for a new one?
Lately my gold band has started to get thin, and also egg shaped from my years of wearing it. I guess that wearing it every day is not that easy on yellow gold, or maybe it's just me that's not easy on the equipment.
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| My new penny and wedding band from Cindy. |
Along with this penny she also presented me with a new wedding band, so I can save my original gold band from becoming so thin that it breaks.
When we got married the choices for wedding bands was either white or yellow gold, I wanted a yellow gold band and that is what we chose. It wasn't long before my ring was scratched and scuffed and no longer new looking, but I still wore it everyday.
We had to replace Cindy's set not long ago and now our original bands and her first engagement ring are stored safely away together under lock and key... Yes the original ones are still that important to us.
I now know that yellow gold, although a preferred precious metal, is not as durable of a metal as is other choices available today.
Stainless, Sterling, and Colbalt are nice choices for a bright shiny look, and also less expensive than the precious metals.
Titanium and Tungsten are a lot more durable and come in a gray finish that I think is a more "manly" look, I'm not sure if you would agree, but I like it.
There are a lot more choices for wedding bands available now, a lot more choices than just the precious metals and the ones that I mentioned above. We all know and love the white and yellow gold and have worn these for years, but a lot of other metals are a lot more durable and look just as good.
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| My new tungsten wedding band. Love the beveled edges |
And with that said, I still do too.
What is your favorite metal for a wedding band, and did you ever replace your original band or set for a new one?
Nice! We will be married 15 years in October, so both his and mine are still in good shape.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your upcoming 15th Anniversary in October SW, 15 is just the beginning of a lot of other memorable Anniversaries to come.
DeleteHubby and I wear matching gold band. The cool thing is we went looking for wedding rings and these two we picked out and they fit. Not sizing needed for either one. We knew it was the right set for us. We don't take them off either except for surgical procedures and I guard his or he guards mine until we can put them back on. Sounds like we're two happy married couples.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ☺
Sandee, your matching gold bands were definitely meant to be with you finding a set right away that fit the both of you. I agree it does sound like we are both two happily married couples, it appears our mindset on a lot of things is very similar.
DeleteA great day to the both of you too.
That's a cute and thoughtful gift :)
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I both have gold comfort bands. I actually lost my original band at a swimming pool several years ago. I was putting sunscreen on the kids and just left it somewhere, never to be seen again. But we replaced it with a band that better matches his, so - win!
Yes Abby it does sound like losing your original band turned out to be a win for you. I love the comfort band this is the first one that I have owned and it is amazing the difference.
DeleteI still have my little 'starter set' but it doesn't fit anymore so I don't wear any rings. I do have a few rings to my name but I can only wear them for a very short time......I can't explain it but after a couple of hours of having a ring on my finger I start to feel panicky and have to rip them off. Don't know why but that's the way it is. I think it is just lovely that you and Cindy care so much for your original rings and your promise to each other.
ReplyDeleteDelores, I don't blame you for not wearing your rings if they give you a panicky feeling after a while, It's not worth it for you to be miserable with the feeling that the rings give you. The starter sets mean so much and hold so many memories for me, I am glad that you still have yours.
DeleteThat's a very nice looking wedding band for a man in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteMy wedding band is made of "EDFORCE STAINLESS STEEL" which is very inexpensive, but no one would know by looking at it.
Thank you Lon, I appreciate it my friend. There are a lot of nice jewelry pieces made with Stainless Steel, and to me they do look just as nice and for the price vs their durability makes them a whole lot better bands than the expensive ones.
Deletep.s. thanks for posting my blog on the blogs that you like
ReplyDeleteI have you there Lon, and was happy to add you.
DeleteLove what Cindy did with the penny and your old ring! Just beautiful in thought and deed.
ReplyDeleteAfter my husband's stroke he soon found out his wheelchair chewed up white gold and we had to go to Tungsen. I like yours a lot but promise you'll take it off the minute you have any swelling in your fingers because they cannot be sawed off in an emergency situation. People have had to get their finger cut off instead. Vice grips is what they they keep in ER rooms to remove them when they can still come off.
Thank you Jean on the heads up on the swelling situation when you are wearing Tungsten, I'd rather have taken it off before the situation gets to where you can't...
DeleteI bet the Tungsten held up really well with your Husband using his wheelchair.
My husband lost his original band one winter when shovelling snow. The next spring one of the neighbour's children found it half-peeking out of the dirt driveway. We had replaced it in the meantime but we still have the original. I haven't been able to wear mine for years now. I used to get a rash under it which was itchy and then would get raw, and now my fingers are also fatter and I couldn't wear it even if I didn't get a rash. But I wear it in my mind :)
ReplyDeleteP.S. I really like your new ring - Cindy has great taste! And I love the penny with the date "hearted" . . .
DeleteJenny it is really amazing that your husbands ring was found after being lost while shoveling snow, that would make you cherish it all the more. You not being able to wearing your ring due to the reaction that you get is completely understandable, "But I wear it in my mind :)" is a really neat way to be with it.
DeleteI've gone through them like water.
ReplyDeleteI bet the one you have now is the greatest of them all Joe.
DeleteI'm on my third ring, but I took our gold bands some years ago and had a new ring made for Romeo, which he still wears. It's in a woven style, and originally it had some texture on it which is now shiny from wear, but still going strong. I do like the penny and the ring, very clever and heart warming. :-)
ReplyDeleteRomeo has to be really proud of that ring you had made for him, it sounds really nice and with the love you put into it makes it priceless.
DeleteI have simple one made of silver
ReplyDeleteAdam, that simple silver band sounds perfect my friend.
DeleteThat was a great gift! I like the look of your new ring.
ReplyDeleteI'm not much of a jewelry wearer. My rings are a set, the wedding band with 4 diamonds, and the engagement ring with 1. They are yellow gold. Even though I don't wear them a lot, the bands have become slightly oval. I guess I grip the steering wheel too hard!
Hick has a gold band, but he didn't wear it to work often, because of being in and out of electric boxes every day, and not wanting a lot of metal on him. He had a plastic digital watch, too. Now that he's retired, he wears his wedding band and a good watch. While he's digging around in storage sheds appraising junk.
Hick was smart not to wear his band doing electrical work, with my job I didn't have that hazard to worry about. Now Hick digging around in his storage sheds is much safer...
DeleteIsn't it funny how your bands take on an oval shape, my original one did the exact same thing, almost like they are being custom fit.
When I first married in 1971, the choices were yellow gold in 9ct, 18ct or 24ct. We chose 9ct to suit our budget and when we divorced 24 years later the rings were still pretty solid, although scuffed and scratched. I don't know where they are now. I think I still have the ring from the second marriage, but I'd have to really search for quite a while to find it. Maybe I DID throw it in the ocean like I said I was going to. I have other gold rings and they have become less round after years of wear. I don't wear any rings at all now.
ReplyDeleteSame with us River, we also had to buy the lowest carat gold to suit our budget. You bring up an interesting subject as to what do you do with your bands after a divorce, I am sure there is a whole array of answers to this from throwing them into the ocean or losing track of them all together.
DeleteI like your new ring. I didn't know wedding rings were made in different materials. I'm not totally sure but I think it's mostly yellow gold in the UK, in different 'carots'. Mine was/is 24 ct which it seems is damage proof. Never took mine off and Joe never took his off but both rings are as good as new. Sadly, my ring resides in it's box now because the finger shape has changed. It lies alongside Joe's in my jewel box.
ReplyDeleteIt is good that you held onto Joe's ring also Valerie, there are a lot of great memories held within those rings, My Mom did the same thing and kept my step fathers ring, she wore it on a chain around her neck for a number of years.
DeleteHad my ring been 24 ct I am sure it would have not worn like it did.
Pppfffhh Nick looked at me after we got home from our wedding, said “are you happy now?” Then took his ring off and never wore it again. Hahaha. He said it in a jokeing way and I knew he hated rings. He used to be a mechanic and was afraid of wearing anykind of ring. Im not even sure where it is now but I have never given him a hard time about it. Our wedding bands were small and cheap but a year later, He bought me a bigger band and looks better with my diamond. I love it. I actually wear both my bands. And he still doesnt wear his. I told him when we go out on dates, I look like Im cheating. Haha.
ReplyDeleteWe have been married for 24 years. He even said hed marry me again. That will be on our 30th.
I may get him one of the silicone rings the next time.
Lisa
None of the mechanics that I know wear a ring, and it makes sense to me there is no reason to wear one at the risk of losing a finger.
DeleteI think that it is perfect for Nick to want to marry you again, and for your 30th will be really nice, this gives you time to get him used to the idea of wearing a silicone ring.
wow ,this is so touching topic for me Jimmy as we also prefer to keep wearing our wedding rings forever.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are amazing couple and love of both of you makes my heart warm .
Cindy gave you lovely birthday present though i can imagine that original rings still matter lot to you
Thank you Baili, I know how important your marriage is to you and I can see that you and your husband will wear your wedding rings proudly from now on.
DeleteI love the new ring and I also cherish the original one too, it is in a safe place where I can always find it.
My husband also never took off his wedding band until he was hospitalized. It looks like the medical profession could come up with some way to keep people from having to remove their wedding bands. Cindy was brilliant to come up with the 1997 penny key ring.
ReplyDeleteAnnie, I agree with you 100% "It looks like the medical profession could come up with some way to keep people from having to remove their wedding bands." I really loved the idea of the 1997 penny, I had never seen this done before...
DeleteCongratulations and a neat story. I always thought wedding bands should be gold, but personally I hate wearing jewelry.
ReplyDeleteI too always thought gold was the proper metal for a wedding band, not it's more the promise behind the ring than the material. And again like you there are a lot of people who don't wear any jewelry at all but this doesn't mean that their promise is any less.
DeleteReading this post brought tears to my eyes, as it is more powerful than any romance novel I've ever read, and proves that love is alive with a happy ever after. You are both so blessed to have found each other. If I had a choice for a ring, it would be platinum, but I enjoy white gold and sterling silver jewelry for the most part. Hugs and Happy Wednesday! RO
ReplyDeleteThank you RO, I am really honored for you to say this.
DeletePlatinum, sterling silver, and white gold are all excellent choices too, Cindy has a lot of sterling and white gold pieces that are really nice.
Have a great day my friend.