Until recent years, the request for men’s engagement rings was not particularly common in many countries, even though in some parts of the world it is usual for both men and women to wear a ring after a proposal has taken place. This is changing however and jewelry designers are including engagement rings for men as part of their collections because there is a growing demand.

Whilst in Brazil men have always worn a plain band on the right hand as a signed of being engaged and in Argentina a plain silver band worn on the left hand of a man is customary, other nations have not had the tradition as part of its culture. With more women than ever proposing to men and the general rise in the amount of jewelry owned within the male population, the quickly growing trend for men in any country to want to wear an engagement ring is perhaps not unexpected.

Style of ring

The majority of men enjoy jewelry to be clean and simple in design but at the same time stylish and projecting aspects of their personality. This is now being reflected in the rings being offered by jewelry experts such as Whiteflash and whilst many are interchangeable in that they can also be a wedding band, slim white gold rings sourced through their designer jewelry partners are being sought after to wear as an engagement ring.

Just as with women’s engagement rings, there are no rules when it comes to the size, style or design of a ring for a man. As well as the smooth, plain bands being purchased by men, those with distinctive features such as two tone metals or with integrated diamonds are being worn to show that there’s an engagement ring for every lifestyle and favoured look.

Ease of wear is paramount when it comes to an engagement ring for a man. Many may never have worn jewelry on the hand and won’t want to feel restricted at work or perhaps when playing sports when wearing the engagement ring. With this in mind, perhaps the most popular option is the comfort fit; easy all day wear where the inside of the ring is domed so there’s as little sensation on the finger as possible. This is especially popular with men as they are easier to slide over a larger knuckle.

Favoured metals

Blue Nile is a specialist when it comes to a range of metals being available in hundreds of styles of rings for men. They also stock alternative metals to suit particular tastes; in addition to gold and platinum, many rings are available in tungsten and cobalt. These metals give a very unique look and feel to the engagement ring and also have different properties in terms of durability. If budget is a deciding factor, less traditional metals often offer a substantial cost saving.

Whilst yellow gold may be the most popular choice for wedding bands, many men – and women – are preferring the white metals for engagement rings. Palladium, platinum and white gold offer a very contemporary look as well as the feel of luxury and when teamed with the addition of features such as small diamonds, the ring takes on a very special look to it.

Subtle accents

The tradition for men’s engagement rings in countries where it is firmly part of the culture may be for a plain, simple band to be worn, but in nations where the trend is a new part of society, many are opting for personal accents which make the ring very individual.

Diamond specialist Ritani now offers rings for men which have their gemstones carefully woven into the band design. Small, subtle flashes of brilliance sit in the ring, often as a pave setting and just enough to give the hint of the style of the wearer.

Two tone rings are also high on the list of men wanting a ring which isn’t a plain band. The combinations can include white and yellow gold or chrome and cobalt and as well as different colours being chosen, different finishes are mixed on the same ring to give small features which make the ring really stand out.

Engraving is the ultimate personalisation; messages, dates, phrases and symbols are being added to the inside of the band in the same way some women have similar mementoes permanently scribed into their engagement ring. It’s private, shows ultimate love and is a permanent reminder of the one the man is to marry.

Experts predict that engagement rings for men are set to become as commonly worn as those by women in just a few years time. Love is about two people joining together for a lifetime and for many men they welcome the chance to show their commitment in the form of a symbol of unity.