The Difference Between Light, Medium & Heavy Weight Wedding Rings

Light medium and heavy weight wedding rings

A comparison of a light-weight, medium-weight and heavy-weight court wedding ring?

Most plain wedding ring styles come in several different thicknesses. Our three standard depths across our various profiles include light-weight, medium-weight, and heavy-weight wedding rings.

Essentially, the depth of a ring affects the overall weight in any given finger size. The gram weight of most precious metals influences the cost. For this reason, a heavy-weight band costs far more than a light-weight band.

Profile Light Weight Medium Weight Heavy Weight
Widths 2mm-8mm 2mm-8mm 2mm-8mm
Depth 1.3mm 1.7mm 2.1mm
Finger Sizes F-Z+ F-Z+ F-Z+
Metals All All All
Fingerprint Engraving No Yes Yes
Standard Engraving Yes Yes Yes

The following combination of factors dictates the final cost of any ring design.

Band Thickness

The chosen width of your wedding ring.

The finger size of your wedding ring

Your choice of precious metal

And finally, any additional personalisation applied, such as engraving

Lightweight wedding rings, medium-weight wedding rings, and heavy-weight wedding rings all vary in thickness by approximately 0.5mm.

The diagrams below show the popular slight-court design in each thickness.

Mottistone – RWD002 (light court), Osborne – RWD001 (medium weight court) and Ashey RWD012 – (heavyweight court wedding ring).

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Light-weight wedding rings

Example – Mottistone RWD002 light court wedding ring

Light Weight Court Profile Wedding Ring

Our lightweight band is also known as low profile. In a typical court light weight wedding ring, this style has a depth of 1.3mm, making this the thinnest option. A slim wedding ring has two main advantages. Platinum wedding bands provide a lighter, more comfortable and more affordable option. Secondly, the shallow profile on the finger is less noticeable and more comfortable when the hand is closed. Lighter profiles make wider men’s wedding rings less costly by comparison to other heavier designs. But, if you’re considering an engraving such as a fingerprint design, we suggest a heavier design.

Medium-weight wedding rings

Example – Osborne RWD001 medium-weight court wedding ring

Medium Weight Court Profile Wedding Ring

A medium-weight court profile band is our most popular wedding band. The thickness, or depth, gauge or wall measures 1.7mm in depth. Medium profile rings balance a substantial weight—neither too light or too heavy. Furthermore, a 2.5mm ring matches most standard engagement ring bands. We craft a variety of Medium-weight wedding bands in flat, court (with comfort fit) and D-shape designs. We sell medium-weight rings as our standard-weight designs. For clients who request a guide to the gram weight, please contact us with your preferred style, width and finger size.

Heavy-weight wedding rings

Example – Alverstone RWD014 heavy-weight court wedding ring

Heavy Weight Court Profile Wedding Ring

Heavy-weight wedding rings suit large fingers, especially when made in widths over 6mm. Based on our court ring design, they offer a chunky feel with a depth of typically 2.1mm or more. Heavier weight bands with deeper walls make suitable bands for setting diamonds, often used as eternity rings. Princess-cut diamonds require a heavy ring profile on account of their depth. Diamonds set into lighter profiles may protrude through the underside of the ring. By measuring both the depth of the ring and the depth of the intended diamonds, a jeweller can assess the suitability of a band for adding diamonds.

Ensuring the correct finger size for your wedding ring

The most common dilemma faced by clients has to be finger size. Most plain bands are suitable for size adjustments, but patterned, engraved or customised wedding rings require the correct size. For this reason, we created a perfect size service alongside any purchase. Our video below explains how this works, available in our showroom or to order online.

How to get a heavy-weight wedding ring at a fraction of the cost

We have two suggestions if you would like a heavy-weight wedding ring without the cost of a heavy ring (owing to the extra gram weight of the metal).

Consider 9-Carat Gold

Firstly consider 9-carat gold instead of 18-carat gold. This lighter option makes a more affordable precious metal choice, available in white, yellow and rose gold colours.

Consider a Titanium wedding band

We also suggest affordable Titanium wedding rings in an exciting range of styles. We create most of our Titanium designs as a standard 7mm width in heavy-weight designs. We never price Titanium wedding rings by gram weight, unlike precious metal rings. For this reason, heavy, wide designs make an affordable choice of ring. Moreover, any engraving and custom effect can be applied.

Best wedding rings for engravings

If you are considering engraving, we suggest a medium-weight wedding band. As mentioned already, fingerprint rings require at least a medium depth. A medium-weight wedding band allows plenty of depth for any pattern cut into the ring by laser engraving.

View examples below or find out more on our dedicated fingerprint wedding ring page explaining how we turn a wedding ring into a fingerprint ring.

Sentimental and important - fingerprint engraved wedding ring set

Medium-weight bands engraved with fingerprints as part of our bespoke wedding ring service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do thicker rings feel tighter?

Wider rings feel snugger, but thicker rings feel no tighter since the inner diameter remains the same as a ring with less depth. However, some ring profiles feel looser owing to the internal shape. For example, flat court bands.

Do rings get looser over time?


Rings can feel looser over time, but this is normally due to weight loss or seasonal fluctuations with a fall in temperature. Warmer seasons result in a tighter fit by comparison.

Are lighter rings more comfortable?

Yes. Test this by closing your fingers while wearing a shallow ring. By comparison, a deep ring feels less comfortable.

What is the lightest metal for a wedding band?

Referring to weight, Titanium is the lightest metal for a ring. This non-precious metal provides a low-cost alternative to heavier precious metals. We create Titanium wedding rings in various widths, styles and finger sizes.

Should you be able to shake a ring off the hand?

If your ring can be shaken off the hand, then your ring is too large. To ensure the correct finger size, ensure your wedding ring can only be removed when your hand is outstretched, and the ring has to be worked over the knuckle. Ensure your ring size is snug, otherwise, you risk loss during everyday wear.

About Mark Johnson

My name is Mark and I'm founder at Serendipity Diamonds. By day you'll find me working in our showroom—in a variety of roles. My work (which I love) ranges from photographing jewellery, to writing blog posts and helping clients with my colleagues Drina, Emily and Debbie.

About Mark Johnson

My name is Mark and I'm founder at Serendipity Diamonds. By day you'll find me working in our showroom—in a variety of roles. My work (which I love) ranges from photographing jewellery, to writing blog posts and helping clients with my colleagues Drina, Emily and Debbie.