An anniversary ring is just one of the many ways for couples to express their enduring love years after their wedding day. If you're out shopping for that special someone in your life, then you probably have plenty of burning questions about your choice of anniversary ring. The following answers many of these questions while highlighting a few interesting aspects of anniversary rings you probably didn't know about.

Which Gemstones or Metals Should You Choose?

Each anniversary has a specific gemstone or metal attached to it. For instance, gold is normally reserved for first anniversaries, while a 25th anniversary (also known as a silver jubilee) is signified by silver jewelry. A golden jubilee, a 50th anniversary, is usually celebrated with diamonds. Sapphires, jade and rubies are other common gemstones used for specific anniversaries (5th, 12th and 15th, respectively).

It's completely up to you whether you want to follow in the footsteps of tradition or make a clean break from it by choosing the specific gemstones or metals your spouse wants.

How Should You Wear Your Anniversary Ring?

There are no hard and fast rules regarding how you should wear an anniversary ring, so it's completely up to you to decide how. Nevertheless, many people have their own preferences:

• Some women choose to wear their anniversary rings on the same finger as their wedding rings, especially if both rings are able to fit flush with one another.
• Others choose to wear both rings together, usually with their anniversary ring on the opposite hand as their wedding ring.
• Some choose to replace their wedding rings with their newly acquired anniversary rings.

Should Your Anniversary Rings Match Your Wedding Bands?

Your anniversary rings don't have to match your wedding rings. However, it's usually a good idea to have your anniversary rings use the same metal as your wedding rings. Depending on the style of anniversary ring you choose, you can easily complement your current wedding ring. For instance, a classic diamond anniversary band usually coordinates well with most wedding bands.

There's nothing wrong with wearing anniversary and wedding rings that have different metals. However, you may be happier with having both rings complement and coordinate with one another. It also pays to have your anniversary bands come in the same proportions as your wedding rings.

Anniversary Rings or Eternity Bands?

Eternity bands and anniversary bands look similar to one another and many couples even choose the former over the latter. However, there are a couple of distinct differences that help set anniversary rings and eternity bands apart:

• Whereas a diamond-inlaid anniversary ring only has a half band of diamonds covering the top portion of the ring, an eternity band has diamonds or other gemstones all the way around. Since eternity is synonymous with "forever," it only makes sense for these rings to have a never-ending band of stones.
• Unlike anniversary rings, most eternity bands can't be resized or engraved. However, there are semi-eternity bands with diamonds that only cover part of the ring just anniversary rings. Unlike full eternity bands, semi-eternity bands can be engraved and resized.
• Anniversary rings typically have a more pyramid-like geometric shape than most ordinary eternity bands. Eternity bands typically stick with the traditional channel setting.

It's totally up to you and your partner whether you want to choose an eternity band as an anniversary ring. Like anniversary rings, eternity bands can be worn together with gold or silver wedding rings, just as long as both rings fit flush with one another.

Asking yourself these questions can help tremendously when shopping for a one-of-a-kind anniversary ring to celebrate those magic years spent with the one you love. For further assistance, contact jewelers like Moonglow Jewelry.