The Best Places to Buy Men’s Wedding Bands

There are a lot of factors to consider when judging wedding band prices. A $10 silicone ring from Amazon and a $500 gold band from an independent brand are both good deals, they’re just for two very different rings. James Allen is our pick for the best budget-conscious ring shopping because it offers competitive prices across the board, from techy ceramic bands to classic white gold rings.

The best deals to be had are with alternative metals — James Allen’s most affordable men’s wedding bands are a variety of titanium styles that retail for $90. But (this is one of the big perks of James Allen) there’s almost always some kind of promotional discount or sale; at the time of writing, those $90 titanium bands are going for $67. At the more traditional end of the spectrum, there’s a textbook 14k white gold band going for $240. To put that in context, the same style from Tiffany & Co. would run you over $1,000. 

James Allen’s selection covers a lot of stylistic ground, from plain comfort fit bands to diamond-studded designs and rugged hammered finishes. Which means that, whatever kind of ring you’re searching for, there’s a good chance that James Allen has a high-quality option at a very reasonable price.

Pros

• Wide selection of the most popular ring styles
• All made using quality materials and at an accessible price

Cons

• Cheapest rings are relatively expensive considering the material used

Runner Up

Etsy may not be the first place you’d think to shop for a wedding band, but the site has a surprisingly good variety of very well-priced rings. A recent scroll revealed solid 14k gold rings for under $200 and numerous options under $50.

The wedding band options available to men today are more diverse than ever before. Which is a great thing — but, seeking out indie designs can require a bit more legwork than going to a traditional store. Greenwich Street Jewelers, however, makes shopping outside the box easy.

They carry a variety of independent designers, like Chris Ploof and Todd Pownell, whose wedding bands look unlike what you’ll see at most stores. The designs are unique but still easily wearable: hand-hammered finishes, mixed metals, discreet diamonds. These wedding bands are cool, but not too out there.

It’s a multi-generation, family-run shop located in New York City but also has a robust online store with the same thoughtfully curated inventory and friendly customer service (they’ll even do virtual appointments). Greenwich St also has its own in-house collection of more traditional styles, so it’s easy to compare an d decide which route you want to take. They offer free shipping and returns and a lifetime guarantee on all products.

Pros

• Diverse selection of unique designs
• Choice of non-traditional or traditional

Cons

• Not the most budget friendly (options start around $600, most non-traditional designs are $1,000 and up)

Runner Up

David Yurman may be best known for traditional jewels, but the brand’s men’s wedding bands offer a surprisingly nontraditional mix of materials like meteorite and unique designs.

While wedding bands have traditionally been in a precious metal of some kind, technological innovations have led to a slew of rings beyond gold or platinum. These hard-wearing, virtually indestructible materials have created a whole new category of wedding bands geared toward men with active lifestyles. Whether your job requires a lot of hands-on labor or you’re an avid athlete, these bands are tough enough to handle whatever you throw at them.

Manly Bands is our pick because it offers a broad selection of non-traditional materials, from techy things like silicone and carbon fiber to more idiosyncratic finds like meteorite and even dinosaur bone.

They conveniently rate the durability of the various options but don’t do a lot of comparing of the various materials (we’ve done that in more depth here) so it can be frustrating if you’re trying to weigh the merits of tungsten versus titanium. Within each material there are numerous styles to choose from, whether you skew more traditional or want to make a statement. They offer free shipping, but returns will cost you $30.

Pros

• Wide selection
• Durable materials and styles

Cons

• Difficult to compare different materials
• Can’t try on in-person

Runner Up

Enso exclusively sells silicone rings (in most every variation you might want) and is worth checking out for its “Elements” rings which are made of silicone blended with precious metals like gold.

For many people, the idea of jewelry is synonymous with a little blue box. Tiffany & Co. has been selling the dream (and top-notch jewels) for over 180 years — in other words, they have the whole process perfected. If you’re going into a physical store to try on wedding bands, there are two main things that you should be getting: a wide, diverse array of options (the bigger the variety, the more likely ring shopping will be a one-and-done situation) and exceptional customer service. Tiffany hits the mark on both counts.

In terms of the actual product offering, there’s lots to choose from — classic or modern, gold and platinum but also titanium and steel — and, in most cases, the stores stock even more than what’s shown online.

And as far as customer service goes, expect the royal treatment: plush private shopping suites, a bottomless supply of champagne (or even Scotch), thoughtful advice and expertise. Your purchase locks you into that service for life with a lifetime guarantee and services like complimentary polishing and cleaning.

Pros

• Extensive selection and diverse options to choose from
• First class customer service

Cons

• Not all stores offer the same selection
• Stores are not conveniently located for everyone

Runner Up

Cartier is even older than Tiffany and offers the same extremely high level of service with more European flair. If you’re in it for the champagne, Cartier has its own cuvée.

Given that your wedding band is less of an accessory and more of an appendage, customization is worth serious consideration. You’ll be wearing it for the rest of your life, don’t you want it to feel personal to you? While many brands offer customization services to varying degrees, our pick is independent jeweler Anna Sheffield. As a smaller company, Sheffield is nimbler in accommodating special requests than most bigger brands. And because the majority of Sheffield’s pieces are made-to-order, the options for customizing are particularly extensive.

Every band Sheffield sells can be customized. Want it a bit thicker? Thinner? Hammered finish? Matte brushed? Engraving inside? Hidden diamond? The sky is the limit, and creativity is encouraged. We also want to call out that all of Sheffield’s engraving is done by hand — laser engraving is pretty common these days but hand engraving not only looks better, it is more deeply engraved so it will last longer. 

In addition to stores in New York and LA, you can arrange a virtual consultation with Sheffield’s atelier regardless of your location and they’ll be happy to discuss how to make your dream wedding band a reality (or, if you aren’t so sure what that looks like, they’ll guide you towards finding the one).

Pros

• Everything is customizable in numerous different ways
• They’ll even create a totally bespoke design

Cons

• Prices start around $400
• Customization is not the most budget-friendly

Runner Up

If the custom creation you’re envisioning is more of a plug-and-play situation, Revolution Jewelry has an online customization tool that allows you to pick the material, shape and width for a semi-custom wedding band.

There are two main schools of thought when it comes to matching wedding bands for couples: get two of the exact same ring or get two very similar, complimentary bands. We’re partial to the latter because, rather than searching for one ring that makes you both happy, it allows you and your future partner some room to make your own, individual choices.

Maybe she wants a ring with diamond pavé—do you necessarily want that much bling? The beauty of Single Stone’s wedding band selection is that it offers a slew of bands that have the same general design, but with one more masculine option and one more feminine option.

The differences between these matching bands are subtle: one with diamonds, one without, one that’s slightly thinner, one that’s thicker. But when seen side by side, there’s no mistaking that they were designed as a pair.

Beyond just offering more options for either sex, Single Stone has a wide variety to choose from. Whether you skew more minimalist or want something with unique details, Single Stone has bands that will satisfy both you and your betrothed.

Pros

• A wide range of complimentary masculine and feminine ring styles

Cons

• Single Stone has a lot of unique designs but not as many super simple
• Very traditional bands

Runner Up

Vrai has a narrower selection of more traditional styles but it’s a great place for finding classic bands that either match exactly or are complimentary.

With close to 300 stores in 40 states, Jared is one of the biggest jewelers in America. But more than just its broad reach, Jared has been in the jewelry game for a long time. They’ve got wedding band shopping down to a T. That’s why it’s our pick for the best chain store: Jared has easily accessible locations and a solid selection of the most popular wedding band designs.

The choices run the gamut from edgy black tungsten to timeless white gold. And while some models are in the four-digit range, the majority of Jared’s wedding bands are relatively well-priced.

Beyond the merchandise, Jared prides itself on service and every store has an on-site design and service center to accommodate custom orders and repairs. There’s a reason it’s the biggest jewelry chain in the country: Jared makes wedding ring shopping easy.

Pros

• Easily accessible locations
• Reliable service

Cons

• A lot of options but mainly traditional
• Generic designs

Runner Up

Kay is part of the same company as Jared and offers an equally solid ring-shopping experience, although with fewer locations.