The best plain wedding bands for women come down to metal first, then width and profile. Yellow gold suits a traditional look. White gold and platinum suit a cool, silvery tone. Rose gold gives a softer, warmer one. Palladium gives you the white look for less than platinum. A 2mm to 3mm court profile in your chosen metal is a safe choice for everyday wear.

A simple band looks easy to buy until you start comparing. With no stones or pattern to distract you, the metal, the width and the finish are all you have. Two rings that look identical online can wear very differently after ten years, and their prices can differ by hundreds of pounds.

We are A Star Diamonds, a family-run jeweller in Hatton Garden, and we make wedding bands to order in our London workshop. This guide takes the five metals that simple wedding bands for women are made in. For each one you get the look, the widths and profiles that suit it, and what it costs to own.

1. Yellow gold

Look and wear

Yellow gold is the traditional choice, with a warm glow that flatters most skin tones. In the UK you will mainly see 9ct (37.5% gold), 18ct (75%) and 22ct (91.6%). 18ct has the richer colour, while 9ct is harder and paler, so it resists dents better.

Over the years a plain yellow gold band collects fine scratches that soften its shine into a satin look. A jeweller can polish them out whenever you like.

Choose 18ct for colour and 9ct for toughness, then spend your effort on getting the profile right.

Widths and profiles

The court profile is the classic. It is rounded on the outside and comfortable on the inside. Flat and D-shape profiles look more modern. Three widths cover most choices:

• 2mm court: delicate, and sits neatly beside a solitaire
• 3mm court: the all-round default
• 4mm flat: more presence, with a clean, contemporary look

Price and care

Yellow gold sits in the middle of the price range. The carat matters, but weight matters just as much, so a 4mm band costs noticeably more than a 2mm band in the same gold. Clean it in warm soapy water with a soft brush. On rings we make, polishing and cleaning are free for life.

2. White gold

Look and wear

White gold is yellow gold mixed with white metals, then usually plated with rhodium for a bright, mirror-white finish. Unplated, it has a soft grey-ivory tone. The plating wears thin over time and shows a slightly warmer colour underneath.

That is the one real trade-off. If you love the crisp white look, plan for occasional re-plating.

White gold looks like platinum on day one, but only with re-plating does it keep looking that way.

Widths and profiles

White metals show crisp edges well, so flat and bevelled profiles work nicely here. A 2.5mm to 3mm flat band pairs cleanly with a diamond engagement ring in white metal. Comfort fit, with a rounded inner edge, is worth asking for on any width above 3mm.

Price and care

Price is close to yellow gold of the same carat and weight. The extra cost is the re-plating, which most jewellers charge for and which is needed every few years, depending on how you wear the ring. If you have a metal sensitivity, ask for a nickel-free alloy before you order.

3. Rose gold

Look and wear

Rose gold gets its blush from copper. 9ct looks deeper and pinker, and 18ct looks softer. Copper also makes the metal tough and hard-wearing, and the colour does not fade or plate off.

Tone varies between jewellers, so compare the band against your engagement ring in person if you can.

Rose gold is a good plain-band choice because the colour runs right through the metal.

Widths and profiles

Slim bands suit rose gold best. A 2mm court or soft D-shape looks delicate and romantic. It also stacks well beside a yellow or white gold engagement ring if you like mixed metals. Go to 3mm if you want a more visible band.

Price and care

Rose gold costs about the same as yellow gold at equal carat and weight. Care is simple: warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. A short date or message engraved inside the band is a nice touch on a plain ring, and engraving is complimentary with us.

4. Platinum

Look and wear

Platinum is naturally white, so it never needs plating. The UK standard is 950 platinum, which is 95% pure and hallmarked to show it. It is dense and heavy, and a 3mm platinum band feels noticeably weightier than the same gold band.

When it scratches, the metal is displaced rather than lost. Over time it develops a soft patina. It is also hypoallergenic, which suits sensitive skin.

If you want white metal that never fades, platinum is the long-term answer, but you pay for it.

Widths and profiles

Platinum’s weight suits 3mm to 4mm bands, where you really notice the substance. It is also strong enough for a slim 2mm band, which holds its shape well. Court and flat profiles both work. Choose by how you want the ring to look, not by durability.

Price and care

Platinum is usually the most expensive metal of the five, because of its purity and density. Ask any jeweller what resizing costs before you order. For rings we make, resizing is free for life.

5. Palladium

Look and wear

Palladium belongs to the platinum family. It is naturally white, needs no plating and is hypoallergenic. It is lighter than platinum, so a wider band feels comfortable. It also develops a soft patina rather than a bright mirror finish.

Palladium is less common in high street shops. If you want it, ask the jeweller up front whether they work in it.

Palladium gives you a permanent white band at a lower price than platinum.

Widths and profiles

Because it is light, palladium suits 3mm to 4mm widths without feeling heavy on the finger. A flat or soft court profile both look good. A comfort-fit inner edge is worth asking for at the wider end.

Price and care

Palladium typically costs less than platinum, which makes it the budget route to a white metal that does not need re-plating. Resizing can be harder than with gold, so check what your jeweller offers before you choose it. Clean it as you would platinum, with warm soapy water.

Choosing your plain band

Pick the metal that matches your engagement ring and your daily life. Yellow and rose gold give warmth, white gold gives a bright finish that needs re-plating, and platinum and palladium stay white without plating. Then settle on a width, usually 2mm to 3mm, and a profile you find comfortable on your finger.

If you would like to see the metals side by side, book a complimentary consultation at A Star Diamonds. You can book in person or online, talk through your budget with one of our design consultants, and have your band made in Hatton Garden in a few weeks.