To Solder or Not to Solder…

To solder or not to solder…that is the question! And it’s a question we at Mark Michael Diamond Designs get asked frequently by many new brides. What does it mean to have your rings soldered together in the first place? Generally speaking, soldering is the process by which two metal items become joined together into one. This is done by adding a gold or platinum filler metal. The filler metal has a lower melting point so it bonds the two jewelry pieces together but does not damage or melt the original rings.  In our experience, most brides choose to have their wedding rings soldered together, but the decision is a personal choice depending on your lifestyle and personal taste.  

Soldering your rings together does have two main advantages: less wear and proper alignment. It is for these two reasons why Mark Michael Diamond Designs typically recommends having your rings soldered together.  The two main advantages are:

1.    To preserve and protect your rings. When worn separately, your engagement and wedding ring will spin and rub up against each other. This friction causes additional wear resulting in the metal to wear down and become thinner over time. Soldering two rings into “one” ring preserves your rings beauty over time.

 
2.    To keep your rings aligned. Not only will you be preserving your rings by joining them together, but you’ll notice that they fit better too. By soldering your rings in place you won’t need to reposition your rings because they’ll always be perfectly in place!

The main reason brides choose to not solder their rings together is for the flexibility of wearing their rings together or separately. Some brides like to have the option of wearing their wedding band  only, perhaps while at work or for travel.  Of course, if you still want the option of wearing a band on it’s own, Mark Michael Diamond Designs has many stackable or stand-alone rings that are a perfect companion for travel or working around the house!

One final end note is that soldering is not a permanent process. The solder can be removed and your rings can be separated at any time.  Soldering is done on-site in our Maple Grove studio and usually completed within 24 hours.

Thank you so much for reading and please let us know if we can answer any other soldering or jewelry related questions. We look forward to hearing from you!