Wedding bands
for both of you
in Upper Montclair
Bring the engagement ring and we shape the band around it, so the two sit together with no gap. Both of you fitted in one appointment, in gold or platinum.
Book a Fitting
Why a band leaves
a gap against the ring
Nine times out of ten the band is fine. The gap comes from the shape of the ring it has to sit against, and that is fixable once someone looks at the ring itself.
A straight band is a circle. An engagement ring usually is not, once you look at it side on. If the stone sits low, or the setting flares where it meets the shank, a straight band cannot reach the ring and you get a wedge of daylight between the two.
A high set ring is the easy case. The stone sits above the finger, the shank stays narrow, and a straight band closes against it with no shaping at all.
A low set or flared ring needs a contour. The band is shaped to follow the outline of the ring rather than run past it. The shaping is done with your ring on the desk, because the gap being closed is a fraction of a millimeter and no two settings flare the same way.
Three steps,
and nothing cast until you approve it
Bring the ring, or both of you
If there is an engagement ring already, bring it. If you are choosing everything together, come together. Either way the fitting is done on your actual hands rather than from a size chart.
The profile decides the band
We look at how the ring sits, where the stone is set and how the shoulders flare. That is what determines whether a straight band will close the gap or whether it wants a contour.
See it before it is made
Anything custom starts as a 3D rendering, then a printed model you can wear. Nothing is cast until the proportions are settled on the hand rather than on a screen.
Coordinated beats
identical
Two bands do not need to match to look like a pair. Matching the metal and roughly the height is what ties them together, and it leaves room for two people with different hands and different jobs to wear something each of them actually likes.
Karat is a separate decision from color. 14k and 18k gold can look almost identical side by side, so the choice between them comes down to how the band gets worn rather than how it looks in the case. There is a longer explanation in our 14k vs 18k gold guide.
Width is worth deciding rather than defaulting. A band the same width as the engagement ring shank, or a shade narrower, keeps the stack balanced. Going wider is a real choice and not a wrong one, it just wants to be on purpose, and a noticeably wider band usually needs about a quarter size up to feel the same on the finger.
Comfort fit is domed on the inside rather than flat, so it rolls over the knuckle instead of dragging. Most people prefer it once they have worn both, and it matters more the wider the band gets. It also runs slightly snugger for the same nominal size, which is why both bands are sized on your hands here rather than read off a chart.
If a ring ever needs adjusting later, that is ordinary ring resizing work, and gold and platinum can be sized for a lifetime. Titanium, tungsten and carbide cannot, which is the trade rarely mentioned when they are sold.
Real reviews,
from real couples
Eddie and Stephanie are the best jewelers I’ve ever worked with! They are incredibly kind, patient, and truly take the time to sit down with you, listen to your vision, and understand exactly what you’re hoping to create. You can tell they genuinely care about making pieces that you’ll love and feel confident wearing. They are always open to conversation and revisions throughout the process, and they never once made me feel silly for asking questions, changing or refining my vision, or overthinking any detail. They’re also incredibly transparent throughout the process and keep you updated along the way, which made me feel informed and comfortable from start to finish. They made me feel completely comfortable throughout the entire process. Their work is beautiful and done with so much integrity, and I always felt valued as a customer. Their process truly feels customized to each person. There are no shortcuts or band-aid fixes—they take the time to make sure everything is done the right way. It was such a pleasure working with them on our rings and a pair of earrings for my mom. Every piece came out beautifully, and I’m so grateful for the care they put into everything. I look forward to continuing to work with them for years to come!
Stephanie and Eddie are amazing - I will be working with Astra Jewelers for all of my jewelry from now on! When my boyfriend and I walked in for our appointment to discuss a custom engagement ring on June 13, a kind group of customers were leaving the studio and told us how much they enjoyed their experience with Astra and we’ll be happy here. And they were 100% right. During that first appointment, Stephanie and Eddie thoughtfully listened to what I wanted for my custom ring and offered ideas when I was not able to verbalize what I envisioned. They were so welcoming, easy to talk to, and made us feel like this very important chapter in my boyfriend’s and my lives are in the best hands. Following our appointment, Stephanie kept me updated via text about the artist doing the renderings, clarified my visions even more, and helped communicate my unique, non-traditional dream “nature-inspired” engagement ring to the artist. She was responsive and helpful with my disorganized thoughts over text, and within weeks we had the most beautiful, creative, uniquely-mine ring ready for pickup. Our experience with Astra Jewelers was incredibly pleasant, calming, and stressless. Stephanie and Eddie are the best people to collaborate with, the best people to get the job done, and just overall a wonderful couple. We cannot recommend Astra Jewelers enough!
My wife and I had a great experience purchasing a pair of beautiful wedding bands here. Stephanie and Eddie were super helpful and pleasure to work with!
We purchased our wedding bands and engagement ring from Astra Jewelers. From beginning to end the process was not only smooth and efficient but fun. They never made us feel like we were asking too many questions and they guided us through the entire process. The rings turned out even better than we had imagined due to their input. They are skilled and knowledgeable about diamonds and fine jewelry. Their inputs were really helpful when designing the ring. They are able to provide not only 3d renderings of the designs but also 3d prints so that you can wear the rings and see them before they are created. They treat their customers like family. Amazing people, beautiful jewelry - highly recommend!!!
I had a great experience purchasing my ring from Eddie. He was knowledgeable, honest, and made the whole process smooth and enjoyable. Highly recommend!
Excellent professional service - very nice people and extremely knowledgeable about their craft. Highly recommend!
Lovely people to work with. Very responsive and helpful, even on short notice for a special occasion. An excellent experience. Highly recommend!
Came to Astra for jewelry repair since my engagement ring stone had fell off, Astra repaired the prongs and stone beautifully and quickly for a reasonable price. Owners were very friendly and knowledgeable!
Wedding bands,
answered
Why does my wedding band not sit flush against my engagement ring?
Almost always because of the profile of the engagement ring. If the stone sits low, or the setting flares out at the base, a straight band cannot get close and you end up with a visible gap. A high set ring usually takes a straight band with no trouble. The fix is a contoured band, shaped to follow the outline of your ring rather than run past it, and that is something we shape to the ring in front of us rather than order from a size chart.
Do our bands have to match each other?
No, and most couples do not match exactly. Coordinating reads better than matching. Picking the same metal and a similar height ties two very different bands together, while an identical pair on very different hands often suits neither. Come in together if you can and try both, that is the part a website cannot do for you.
Can you match a band to a ring I already own?
Yes, that is normal work here. Bring the engagement ring in, we look at the profile and the metal, and the band is shaped around what you already have. It does not matter where the ring came from. The result is better when the ring is in front of us rather than described, because the gap you are trying to close is measured in fractions of a millimeter.
What is comfort fit and do I want it?
A comfort fit band is domed on the inside rather than flat, so it rolls over the knuckle instead of dragging and sits with less friction through the day. Most people prefer it, particularly in a wider band. It also runs slightly snugger for the same nominal size, which is worth knowing before you settle on a number.
How wide should the band be?
For a stacked pair, a band the same width as the engagement ring shank or slightly narrower keeps the proportions balanced. Wider is a legitimate choice, it just wants to be deliberate rather than accidental, and a much wider band often needs a quarter size up to feel the same on the finger. We size both on your hand rather than working from the number in your ring.
Do you do men's bands?
Yes. Gold, platinum, and finishes from high polish through brushed and hammered. Worth knowing before you choose the material: titanium, tungsten and carbide cannot be resized or repaired later, because those materials will not take solder. A gold or platinum band can be sized for the rest of your life, which is the trade people are rarely told about at the point of sale.
When should we start looking?
Earlier than most people do, and earlier still if anything is being made rather than picked. Custom pieces here start as a 3D rendering, then a printed model you can wear before anything is cast, and that sequence takes time. If the date is close, say so at the appointment and you will be told plainly what is possible rather than optimistically.
Is it better to choose the band with the engagement ring?
If the timing allows, yes. Designing the two as a pair means the band can be shaped to the ring from the start rather than fitted to it afterward, and a flush fit is far easier to achieve that way. Plenty of couples arrive with the ring already bought and that is completely normal, it just means the band is shaped around a fixed object instead of the two being drawn together.
What metals do you work in?
Yellow, white and rose gold, and platinum. White gold is rhodium plated for its brightness and that plating wears and is re-applied every few years, which is maintenance rather than a fault and is worth knowing before choosing it over platinum. Platinum costs more per gram and displaces rather than sheds when it is scratched.
Where are you and do we need an appointment?
Astra Jewelers is at 250 Bellevue Ave, 2nd Floor, Montclair, NJ 07043, in Upper Montclair. Walk in Monday to Saturday, 10:00am to 6:00pm, or book so someone is free to sit with you both, which is the better way to do bands. It is a private studio on the second floor and it serves Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Verona, Cedar Grove and the rest of Essex County.
FIND ASTRA IN UPPER MONTCLAIR
We are a second-floor studio on Bellevue Avenue. Appointments get you undivided attention. Walk-ins are welcome during opening hours.
Address
250 Bellevue Ave, 2nd Floor, Montclair, NJ 07043
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10:00am-6:00pm