Inside engraving is a common way to personalize a wedding band, because it changes nothing about how the ring looks to anyone else. It is a private message that sits against the skin. Outside engraving is decorative: a pattern, a border or a motif cut into the surface, which turns a plain band into a detailed one and suits men who want their band to stand out a little.
Patterned engraving has a vintage character. If your partner's engagement ring carries engraved or milgrain detail, browse vintage engagement rings to see how the two styles can echo each other.
A wedding band is narrow, so fewer words read better. Short phrases, initials and dates stay legible and leave breathing room around each letter, while a long sentence crowds the band and becomes hard to read without taking the ring off and tilting it to the light.
Check every letter and number twice before you approve the text. A misspelled name or a wrong date is the kind of mistake that is hardest to fix once it is cut into metal, and it is far easier to catch on a screen than on a finished ring.
Get the fit right first. Resizing a band means cutting the shank and adding or removing metal, and an inscription running around the inside can be disturbed in the process. Rare Carat sends a complimentary ring sizer, so he can measure at home late in the day, when fingers are fuller, with the width you plan to buy in mind; confirm the size before anything is engraved.
If the band is meant to be a surprise, ask a friend who knows his size, or let the sizer be the one part of the plan he is in on. It is better to wait for the right size than to engrave a ring that will not fit.
Harder metals keep engraved lines crisp for longer. 14K gold resists wear better than 18K, so fine lettering holds up well, and platinum, which moves rather than loses metal when scratched, also suits engraving. Inside text is protected from most knocks anyway, but an outside pattern takes contact every day, so the metal matters more there. Browse men's jewelry for other pieces to wear alongside the band.