Wedding - Suzanne Crudden Custom Jewellery

Rising Gold Prices: Rethinking Wedding Rings Without Compromise

Suzanne Crudden — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:06:21 +0000

Rising Gold Prices: Rethinking Wedding Rings Without Compromise

Over the past few years, many couples have noticed the same thing while planning their wedding: the price of gold. And although the price of gold has being going up consistently over the past few years, the price keeps rocketing up! Naturally, this can raise questions when it comes time to choose wedding rings.

But higher gold prices don’t mean fewer options. In fact, for many couples, they’ve opened the door to more thoughtful, flexible, and meaningful choices.

Today’s wedding rings are less about following a single tradition and more about choosing what fits your lifestyle, values, and budget. Whether that means adjusting proportions, exploring different metals, or reworking existing jewellery, there are plenty of ways to design beautiful wedding rings without compromise.

Why rising gold prices are changing wedding ring decisions

Gold has long been the default choice for wedding rings, but as prices rise, couples are understandably becoming more intentional. Rather than automatically choosing a traditional gold band, many are asking better questions:

How will I wear this ring every day?
What matters more: colour, durability, or symbolism?
Can we design something meaningful without overspending?

For couples in Toronto and across Canada, where cost-of-living conversations are very real, this shift toward intention makes sense. The good news is that custom design allows for flexibility, creativity, and control, even when gold prices are high.

Smaller gold bands: classic or custom

One of the simplest ways couples are navigating higher gold prices is by choosing smaller or “less wide” gold bands. A slimmer profile uses less material, but more importantly, you can still choose to go classic or custom. Smaller bands can still be customized to fit and compliment your engagement ring.

This choice isn’t about “downgrading.” Many clients prefer a narrower band because:

It pairs beautifully with engagement rings
It feels lighter and more comfortable
It can satisfy an understated, minimalist aesthetic

Many of the gents prefer a thinner band because they might not be used to wearing jewellery. With a thinner width and lighter weight smaller gold bands can be easier to adjust to everyday wear.

10k vs 14k gold: choosing what works for you

Sometimes during our meetings we find that people aren’t aware of the differences between gold karats. To know which karat of gold works best for your wedding rings you can consider the below points.

10k gold contains less pure gold, making it:

Durable and resistant to wear
Slightly lighter in colour (in yellow gold)
More affordable

14k gold offers:

A warmer, richer gold tone (in yellow gold)
Over 50% pure gold in the alloy

Choosing 10k over 14k is not about cutting corners. It’s about making an informed decision based on your lifestyle, budget, and how the ring will be worn. For a plain band perhaps you would go for the 14k.

Or perhaps you’d opt for 10k if you wanted to allocate some of the budget to a custom design or gemstones. For hands on jobs or active lifestyles, 10k gold can be an excellent and practical choice.

Alternative metals: titanium and tungsten wedding rings

Another growing area of interest is wedding ring alternatives to gold, particularly titanium and tungsten. These metals are chosen not as substitutes, but as intentional design choices.

Titanium wedding rings are known for being:

Lightweight and comfortable
Extremely strong
Sleek and modern

Tungsten wedding rings offer:

A substantial, bold feel
Exceptional scratch resistance
A darker, contemporary tone

For couples looking for non-gold wedding rings that are durable and modern, these materials offer affordable wedding ring options with their own distinct character.

A few notes on alternative metals. First, we are unable to custom make rings in alternative metals. Our studio is set up for precious metals and these alternative metals require entirely different tools and equipment. We also cannot set gemstones in alternative metals.

Next, alternative metal rings usually have a minimum width of 5mm and are often not available in finger sizes smaller than 7.

Sterling silver wedding rings: accessible and customizable

Sterling silver wedding rings can be a beautiful and meaningful option for couples looking for more affordable wedding ring options especially when designed thoughtfully.

Silver is a softer metal than gold, which means ring thickness matters. When choosing a sterling silver wedding ring, opting for a slightly thicker band helps ensure durability and longevity for everyday wear. This isn’t a drawback it’s simply a design consideration that allows the ring to age well.

Tarnishing is another important factor to understand. Sterling silver does tarnish over time, but interestingly, rings worn daily tend to tarnish less than those left sitting in a jewellery box. Regular wear naturally polishes the surface, keeping the ring brighter with minimal maintenance.

While the price of silver has also increased in recently, it’s not even close to being comparable to the cost of gold. For couples navigating rising gold prices, silver can offer a classic look at a much more accessible price point.

As with any metal, the key is understanding its properties and designing accordingly. When done well, a sterling silver wedding ring can be both practical and deeply personal.

Reusing yellow gold jewellery: meaning over market price

One of the most meaningful ways to design around budget is by reusing existing yellow gold jewellery. Whether it’s an inherited piece or a ring with personal history, reworking gold allows couples to carry stories forward in a new form.

Using family gold can:

Reduce material costs
Preserve sentimental value
Create a one-of-a-kind custom design

This approach is especially powerful for couples who want their wedding rings to represent connection not just between each other, but across generations. It’s a reminder that the true value of a ring isn’t tied to current gold prices, but to the meaning.

Designing wedding rings around budget without sacrificing meaning

You can still make meaningful wedding rings while making budget conscious choices despite the price of gold.

By adjusting band width, karat, metal choice, or reusing materials you already own, couples can design rings that feel deeply personal and are beautifully made.

For many Toronto couples, this approach aligns perfectly with a desire for sustainability, practicality, and long term wearability.

More choice is the real luxury

Rising gold prices may have changed the conversation around wedding rings, but they haven’t diminished what matters. If anything, they’ve encouraged couples to slow down, ask better questions, and choose rings that genuinely fit their lives.

Whether you’re drawn to a slimmer gold band, deciding between 10k and 14k gold, exploring alternative metals, exploring silver options or reimagining inherited yellow gold, there are many options.

Because the most meaningful wedding rings aren’t defined by market trends they’re defined by the meaning and the stories they carry.

The post Rising Gold Prices: Rethinking Wedding Rings Without Compromise first appeared on Suzanne Crudden Custom Jewellery.

Top Bridal Trends for 2024

Suzanne Crudden — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 22:46:03 +0000

The Top Bridal Trends of 2024

Bridal season is full swing! Here we’re going to take a look at the top bridal trends for 2024. So far we’ve seen a few trends that have definitely stolen the spotlight including: wide wedding bands and engagement ring bands, the continuing popularity of lab grown diamonds, solitaire engagement rings with large centre stones, bridal stacking ring sets and men’s bands with some added complexity.

Wide Bands

Is the dainty trend finally coming to an end? Over the past decade or so there has been a definite preference for slight, minimalist bands. Engagement rings with super thin bands and the accompanying dainty wedding ring have been very popular. If this trend is indeed coming to an end, as goldsmiths, we couldn’t be happier. Very thin and dainty bands can be beautiful but they are rarely durable. And for a ring you wear everyday, durability is important.

Wide bands are definitely among the top bridal trends for 2024 that we’ve seen first hand. Men have always preferred a wider band but we’ve seen the ladies requesting them this year too. The width of engagement ring bands have been creeping up as well. In engagement ring bands what we’re seeing is that, rather than the super thin bands of 1.5-1.7mm in previous years, people are choosing slightly wider bands at 2-3mm wide.

One of the reasons that dainty bands became popular may be due to the price of gold. A ring will be less expensive if it contains less gold. In contrast, a wide band costs more because there is much more gold in a wider ring. The price of gold keeps rising, hitting new heights as each month passes. Could increasing gold costs have an effect on the wide band trend or slow it down? We shall have to wait and see.

Continued Popularity of Lab Grown Diamonds

The continuing popularity of lab grown diamonds is another of the top bridal trends for 2024. In both wedding rings and engagement rings we’re seeing the continued interest in lab grown diamonds for both price point and aesthetic reasons.

Since lab grown diamonds are chemically identical to earth mined diamonds they have the best benefits of a diamond, namely sparkle and durability, with none of the downsides, such as cost and origin issues.

Bridal shoppers now have more flexibility within their budget, choosing options that may not have been available in the past. For example, instead of going for an “off the rack” earth mined diamond engagement ring you could instead invest your budget in a ring custom made, just for you, with a lab grown diamond instead.

Solitaire Engagement Rings with Larger Centre Stones

Solitaire engagement rings remain a timeless choice, and in 2024 they’re making a statement with larger sized diamonds and gemstones. Thanks to the affordability of lab grown diamonds, couples can now indulge in larger stones without breaking the bank.

In addition to large lab diamond centre stones, we’re also seeing large coloured gemstones as an emerging bridal trend for 2024. Solitaire engagement rings with large sapphires are particularly popular. Blue, teal and green sapphires are the colours that we’re bringing in most often for our clients to see in person.

One note to keep in mind if you are interested in a large centre stone is that it will need to sit higher from your finger. The larger the stone, the deeper it is and therefore the higher it sits off of your finger. When a gem sits higher off of your finger you’ll notice that it “gets in the way” a bit more such as when you put your hand in your pocket or when putting on gloves. If you are looking for something very practical a larger gemstone might not be the right choice.

Customized Bridal Stacking Ring Sets

Bouncing from the stacking ring trends, some brides are opting for a wedding ring stack. Another one of the top bridal trends for 2024 is creating multiple wedding bands so that you can stack them all together. This is especially popular for people who aren’t planning on wearing their engagement ring everyday. Instead, they are planning to have a ring stack of multiple wedding bands, some with diamonds, some plain and some with patterns or engravings.

It’s a great idea to create your own custom set of wedding rings so that they fit and look just the way you want. In addition, going the custom route will ensure that the stack fits with your engagement ring should you decide to wear them all together.

Men's Wedding Rings with Patterns, Engravings, or Gemstones

Gone are the days when men’s wedding rings were limited to simple bands. Grooms are embracing creativity and personalization, choosing rings with patterns, engravings, and even gemstones. In 2024, men’s wedding rings are becoming more of a reflection of individual style and personality.

We’re seeing gents opting for diamonds and gemstones in their wedding rings more than we’ve ever seen in the past. White and black diamonds are the most popular. In addition to gemstones we’re also seeing different shapes of wedding bands such as knife edge and signet style or square edged. Patterns with grooves, hammered textures and beveled edges are also popular.

Bridal Trends for 2024 in Summary

The top bridal trends for 2024 reflect a blend of changing attitudes toward technology and innovation as well as a turn toward more substantial and individual designs. Innovations in lab grown diamonds have opened up the options to a whole new set of consumers. An appreciation of bolder designs has led to the increased popularity of wide bands in general and men’s wedding ring choices. Flexibility on the definition of a wedding ring has led some to consider wedding ring stacking sets. So far the bridal trends for 2024 have turned out to be some of the best we’ve seen in years!

If we’ve peaked your interest with any of these trends and you have questions, we’d love to help! Or check out our wedding rings in our shop!

The post Top Bridal Trends for 2024 first appeared on Suzanne Crudden Custom Jewellery.

Men’s Wedding Bands

Suzanne Crudden — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 20:13:15 +0000

Custom or Classic: What's Your Men's Wedding Band Style?

There are many styles of men’s wedding bands and ways to customize them. Are you a classic man that likes a simple high-polished yellow gold wedding band? Perhaps you’ve spent a lot of time on designing the perfect engagement ring and want to get in on the fun yourself?! I personally love a classic wedding band: the subtle curves of a half-round shape and a high polish finish, oh-lala! But I also love to design something special that may include a gemstone or a custom finish to the surface. A lot of men don’t know the options available to them. So use this as a guide to help narrow your likes and dislikes.

Gold and Platinum Wedding Bands

Gold and platinum wedding bands are the most popular choice when choosing a wedding ring. One must consider the longevity of the ring: it needs to last a lifetime. Different karats of gold can be used depending on budget and lifestyle of the wearer. For example: if you plan to wear your wedding band everyday and you use your hands a lot, you may wish to use a lower karat gold so it is more durable for everyday wear. If you like to see a patina develop or like the feel of a heavier piece of jewellery you will want to consider Platinum.

Both platinum and gold wedding bands will stand the test of time and are often passed down from one generation to the next as they are easily sized and refurbished. We recommend trying on wedding bands in different metals, widths and sizes to see how it looks on your hand. Skin tone and hand proportion can play a role in what suits your hand. And since this will be something you wear everyday, this should be considered.

Unique and Artisanal Wedding Band Finishes

There are many finishes that can applied to the surface of a wedding band. You can check some of them out here. Some surface treatments last longer than others depending on how much they are carved/engraved into the surface. A high polish finish requires the least amount of maintenance over the years. It may get a little dull overtime with some scratches but it is easily polished if needed. When it comes to giving metal a surface treatment (matte, satin, oxidised, grit) the one with the best longevity is a true grit finish. In this style, a steel bur is used to engrave the surface of the metal. The metal is burred away leaving permanent carvings into the wedding band. One may find that the other finishes like a matte, satin or oxidised finish my need maintenance over the years.

The art of hand engraving wedding bands is as old as the trade of jewellery making itself. It requires a specialised skill set and is usually performed by a highly trained individual with years of experience. Each metal performs a bit differently when being engraved and thus, creates a slightly different result. For example, Platinum produces a stunning result due to it’s malleability. It allows the crafts person a unique working canvas to carve and move the metal exactly as the design dictates. Lower karats of gold are harder to engrave due to the alloy content making the materials springy or hard. A similar result can be achieved, the engraver just needs to work a bit harder.

Steel and Titanium Men's Wedding Bands

Tungsten and Titanium wedding rings have been in fashion for a number of years. They are less expensive then gold and platinum and offer some interesting finishes that can’t be achieved with traditional materials. There are however some drawbacks to consider.

Wedding bands made from Titanium and Tungsten cannot be re-sized. They are also hard to remove in an emergency as they cannot be as easily removed or cut off as precious metals.

All in the Fine Print

Engraving on the inside of a wedding band is a beautiful way to commemorate your wedding date but you can engrave almost anything! There are a few different ways to engrave wedding bands: hand engraving, laser engraving and machine engraving.

Hand engraving produces a result that will last decades. This is because the crafts person can deeply carve into the metal. Often, hand engraving can take more time to complete as there aren’t many people with this skill set. It’s not the best choice for all you last minute planners! It is also the most costly option but when thinking about something you will have forever, I would argue the cost is worth it.

Engraving wedding bands can be completed by laser as well. This is a quick and inexpensive option. There are hundreds of fonts to choose from and symbols can also be engraved. Laser engraving does not carve very deeply into the surface of the metal so it will wear away faster over time.

Lastly, machine engraving is a middle of the road alternative in terms of cost and result. It is quite limited in terms of the fonts and sizes available but it carves into the metal well producing a result similar to hand engraving.

Textured Wedding Bands

Another very popular style is the textured men’s wedding band. A texture is anything that is applied to the surface of the ring. This can include a hammered texture, a grit texture, a patterned texture etc.

We find the most popular is the hammered texture or the rock finished texture. The rock finish is a version of the hammered texture but with larger facets. An example is shown in the picture here.

Men's Wedding Bands with Diamonds and Gemstones

We find the most popular is the hammered texture or the rock finished texture. The rock finish is a version of the hammered texture but with larger facets. An example is shown in the picture here.

Men's Wedding Bands with Unique Profiles

A unique profile refers to a plain band but with a shape other than flat or half round. Typically a classic men’s wedding band will be either half round in profile or flat in profile.

Other interesting profiles you could select are knife edge, squared off, a drop edge, grooved, etc. Check out our inspiration gallery below for different profile options as well as examples of other types of bands that we’ve discussed above.

Find Your Inspiration

Hopefully this helped you narrow down some options. We’d love to hear if you have any questions or already have an idea in mind!

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Recycled Gold Wedding Rings

Suzanne Crudden — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 22:50:32 +0000

There are different ways to create recycled gold wedding rings. One way is to use certified recycled metal. Another, which I employ most often, is to reuse heirloom jewellery.

Recycled Gold Wedding Rings

Goldsmiths have always recycled gold since the beginning of the trade. What is left over after a project, the “scrap”, is collected for refinement or use in another project. We even collect the gold dust!

When creating a new piece, not from existing heirloom or scrap gold, I use SCS-Certified 100% recycled metal.

Other recycled precious metals such as platinum and sterling silver are also available.

Reusing Jewellery in your Wedding Rings

Why take anything else from the earth if you don’t have to? Reusing your heirloom jewellery is not just a great ethical choice, it’s also a deeply meaningful choice.

Wedding rings and heirloom jewellery are often passed down but sometimes they are not wearable. Perhaps the style is not to your liking, perhaps it doesn’t fit, perhaps there are some stones missing. Whatever the reason you are not wearing your heirloom pieces, it’s a shame to keep them tucked away. They are meant to be worn and enjoyed, to celebrate memories as you create your own.

How to Create Recycled Gold Wedding Rings Using Your Heirloom Jewellery

What Kinds of Gold Work to Reuse?

The best kind of gold to reuse is yellow. The alloy of yellow gold is the most conducive to re-melting without issues. I’ve reused 10k, 14k, 18k and pure gold with fantastic results.

I’ve also had success with re-melting white and rose gold although those alloys tend to be more problematic.

White gold is a brittle alloy and when it is re-melted there is a greater chance of porosity (small air bubbles) in the casting. It is best re-used in an organic ring such as a hammered or textured wedding band.

Rose gold tends to be brittle when re-cast as well and have the same potential issues as white gold.

What if my Heirloom Jewellery isn't the Same Colour of Gold that I Want in my Wedding Ring?

In this case then we can use your pieces as credit toward the project. Unfortunately we can’t change gold from one colour to another. Unless you have 24k pure gold in which case we would be able to alloy it to the colour of your choice.

What if I Want to Add Other Metal or Gemstones to my Wedding Ring in Addition to my Heirloom Material?

If you would like to add additional materials to your wedding band, that’s no problem! For example in this picture we reused the 10k yellow gold to create the “stripes” and added palladium white gold for the base.

Or if you have heirloom gemstones you’d like to reuse in your ring we can harvest them and reuse them in your wedding bands. Sometimes smaller stones are harder to remove from their original settings. Ideally it’s best to reuse gemstones that are 2mm or larger.

What does it Cost to Reuse My Heirloom Jewellery in My Wedding Ring?

Generally speaking you will receive a savings of 50% when compared to a new ring if you are reusing your jewellery. I’ve written more about what to expect here if you’re considering reusing your heirloom pieces in your wedding bands.

What are the Benefits of Using My Jewellery to Create My Recycled Gold Wedding Rings?

First and foremost you will be carrying your precious heirloom jewellery with you everyday in the form that you are comfortable with. Next, there is an obvious financial benefit. And finally it is an ethical and environmentally responsible choice. Sounds like a good idea to me!

If you have more questions be sure to check out my page about the reusing process here.

The post Recycled Gold Wedding Rings first appeared on Suzanne Crudden Custom Jewellery.

Inexpensive Wedding Ring Ideas

codepxl — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 17:55:57 +0000

Can less expensive wedding rings still be made of quality materials and designer created? Yes! It can be pretty complicated to budget for your wedding, large or small. Especially since there seem to be more ‘must haves’ each year.

So I thought I’d take this opportunity to talk about some inexpensive wedding ring ideas – all under $500! Your wedding bands can still be made of quality materials and designer made even if they are less expensive.

925 Sterling Silver Wedding Bands: $195-$500

Sterling silver is a great affordable wedding ring option. Typically wedding rings in silver range from $195 to $500 for plain bands without stones and depending on the design. As sterling silver is a soft metal it’s better to choose designs that can be made thicker so there is less chance of the ring becoming misshapen over time. By ‘thicker’ I’m referring to the metal thickness of the ring from the surface of your finger to the top surface of the ring, not necessarily the width.

Due to the softness of the metal it’s also likely that your ring will receive more scratches and dings with daily wear. A good idea may be to select a wedding ring design that already has a pattern on it so the scratches are not so obvious.

Also, you should be aware that sterling silver rings have the potential to tarnish or oxidize. Usually when a ring is worn everyday the natural oils in your fingers tend to keep the ring polished but, if there are any little nooks and crannies in your ring, you may expect tarnish to develop there.

Alternative Metal Rings: $195-$500

Alternative metals such as titanium, tungsten and stainless steel are great for inexpensive wedding ring ideas. The price point can’t be beat and they are extremely durable. On the down side they aren’t sizable due to their very specific and difficult working properties.

Because of these very specific working properties I’m unable to custom make an alternative metal ring. My studio is set up for precious metals such as silver, gold and platinum.

Alternative metals require an entirely different workshop set up. What I do instead is source alternative metal rings from suppliers for my clients. I can order certain designs in and if they aren’t quite right we can return them and try something else.

Also, if you were ever to find yourself in the emergency room and needing to get your ring off in a hurry, you should know that they are extremely difficult to remove via cutting. So if you ever felt that your ring was getting tight on your finger, for any reason, you’d want to take it off before it becomes too difficult to remove. On the plus side if you ever needed to keep an elevator door open you probably could do it with your super ring!

10k Gold Wedding Bands: $295-$500

Gold rings vary in cost depending on the amount of metal required. Therefore the smaller the finger size and the smaller the width, the less expensive they are. These considerations tend to coincide with many ladies rings because they usually have a smaller finger size and prefer thinner bands.

Often men’s wedding bands will be a bit wider which adds to the cost. If you’re trying to keep your costs to a minimum you may want to consider a men’s band that is 3mm wide or less.

If you’re looking for a fairly simple design with a minimum amount of metal there are many styles of wedding bands in 10k gold with a price tag less than $500! There are many colour options available in 10k gold including: rose gold, white gold and yellow gold.

Have you Considered Reusing Your Old Jewellery?

I’ve created many wedding bands and wedding ring sets by reusing old jewellery or heirloom gold. If you aren’t planning on incorporating gemstones and the design is fairly simple the cost will be around $500.

Ideally you will want to have enough metal weight for the entire ring so that you do not need to add any new material. Take a look in your jewellery box and see if there are any broken chains, single earrings or older style pieces you aren’t wearing anymore. As long as they are yellow gold we can combine them together to create your ring.

Here are some examples of wedding rings we’ve made for our clients by reusing their old jewellery. Find out more about reusing your old jewellery!

On a personal note, we do feel that traditional wedding band metals such as gold and platinum are traditional for a reason. They really are the most durable and workable metals out of all of the options. We say this not because we want you to spend more money, only because they really are the best suited to the purpose.

Of all the investments that go into the big day, your wedding rings are the items that you will be taking away with you for a lifetime. That being said, there’s nothing to say you can’t go with an inexpensive option in the meantime and upgrade later for a special anniversary! Ultimately we think you should always try to focus on what is most important to you and your partner.

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