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Nov 06, 2024

16 Best Wedding Bands for Men 2024: How (and Where) to Buy a Ring | British GQ

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Finding the right wedding band, for yourself or your soon-to-be spouse, seems like it

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Finding the right wedding band, for yourself or your soon-to-be spouse, seems like it should be easy; you probably know this person pretty well by now. But much like planning a wedding itself, hunting down the ring of your dreams can be a bit of a challenge. Maybe you've recently learned that your other half dreams of nothing more than an extremely big and bold ring to subvert all the minimal-leaning clothes in their closet. Or, while doing some very important internal reflection, you realised you actually kind of want a classic wedding band—but nothing too stuffy.

Whatever style you’re after, we’ve got you covered. The beauty of buying a wedding ring in 2024 is that it can come from anywhere and look like anything; whether it's wrapped up in a little blue box, sourced from your favourite indie jeweller, or picked from a 12-pack you ordered purely for the express shipping. (Frankly, it can even be totally nonexistent, though if you’re planning to go sans ring you probably wouldn't be reading this right now.) All of this being said, there’s a huge array of options out there—and more options, as anyone dealing with a wedding caterer well knows, just means more anxiety.

So to help make your imminent union as stress-free as possible, we've sourced the best wedding bands for men, and slotted them into four essential categories you should familiarize yourself with before the big day. Figuring out your fiancé was the one might’ve taken years, but finding your ride-or-die ring should only take minutes.

Sleek, simple, and always in style, these are the bands you probably saw your parents exchange on their wedding video. They’re still crafted from warm gold or cool silver, but much like the department store your folks bought theirs from, the genre has undergone a bit of transformation lately. Today, you can choose from any number of fuss-free circular bands, but you can also opt for a luxe modular silhouette or a jewel-inset version that’s left intentionally open-ended. (Don’t read too much into the symbology there.) The best part of taking the more traditional route is the chance to re-examine — and possibly re-define — what tradition looks like to you in the first place.

Tiffany & Co.

Mejuri

Farfetch

Miansai

Cartier

David Yurman

If the idea of wearing a wedding band didn't cross your mind until this very moment — maybe you never imagined yourself as the settling down type, or just disliked the idea of wearing a single piece of jewellery for the rest of your life — good news: in 2024, any ring can be a wedding ring if you like it enough (and your partner’s cool with it, of course). If you're newly pro-band and want something with a little more fashionable than the usual options, there's an onslaught of extremely wavy rings waiting for you to slip them on.

Mr Porter

Mr Porter

Mr Porter

Farfetch

Farfetch

Versace

If your relationship to Mother Earth ranks only slightly below your relationship to your significant other, your wedding band should reflect your values. So before you spend a couple months' salary on a ring, you’re going to want to assess its materials (and where they were sourced). Maybe your future spouse strictly opposes buying newly-minted precious jewels, or maybe you just can’t see yourself springing for a natural diamond with a clear conscience. Whatever factors are compelling you to put the planet first (or, at least, at a close second), there’s no shortage of eco-conscious, ethically-made, and — yes — incredibly fly bands to choose from.

Vrai

Alighieri

Kinn

Bliss Lau

Catbird

Brilliant Earth

Sometimes you need to take your wedding band off, and sometimes you end up forgetting where you put it down. Best case scenario, it fell to the floor, and after a few minutes of frantically scanning the ground with your phone's flashlight, it's back on your finger before anyone notices. The worst case scenario, though — the one that leaves you in dire need of a replacement, pronto — can be a crushing emotional and financial hit. There is, however, a third option. If you're the forgetful type, you could swing over to Amazon and order yourself a four-pack of extremely affordable silicone rings that'll look the part for an incredibly budget-friendly price. Added bonus that you'll save yourself the headache going forward.

Amazon

Amazon

Amazon

Amazon

Amazon

Amazon

When it comes to wedding bands, alternative metals like silver are an increasingly popular option, says Bernard James, the Brooklyn-based jeweller behind the eponymous GQ-favourite brand—but gold still reigns supreme. James has also noticed customers gravitating towards traditional silhouettes for the big day, but customising their rings to make the them feel extra special. “There's something so clean about a classic, semi-round band,” he says. “However, I see a lot of men eager to really spice things up with their main band, or even [buy] a second, more designed band for special occasions. This special touch can come in the form of adding a few stones or playing with the shape altogether.” In other words: if you're a style-conscious person who sees an opportunity to flex, seize it.

You can order a ring sizer online, but it’s always best to visit your local jeweller – especially if you want to get it right the first time. If you can’t make it to the boutique, James says a sizer will do the trick, just be sure to keep in mind that your fingers swell throughout the day depending on the temperature and (gulp) your diet. “Give yourself some room for any fluctuations, but not too much room, because you don't want it to slip off easily,” says James. “Don't be afraid to ask for 1/4 or 1/2 sizes – it can make a world of difference!”

Much like your soon-to-be-spouse, your wedding ring is going to be a keeper. So how do you ensure it looks pristine through many happy, sun-dappled decades of pure marital bliss? Most solid gold rings can be cleaned the easy way: by washing your hands or wearing them in the shower, James says. (If that feels uncomfortable — or for the real clean freaks—he recommends looking into an ultrasonic cleaner.) But if your ring is so grimy it looks like you unearthed it on your honeymoon, or you just don’t trust yourself to clean it at home, take it to the pros. Your local jeweller will be able to work its way into all the nooks and crannies you can’t reach with a good old dose of soap and water.