An engagement ring and a wedding band are two different rings for two different moments. The engagement ring marks the promise to marry, usually with a diamond at its centre; the wedding band, which many Lebanese call the mahbas (محبس), marks the marriage itself. This guide explains the difference, how the two are worn in Lebanon, and how to choose an engagement ring that a band will sit well beside. Our engagement rings in Lebanon are made to order around a certified natural diamond, and you can pair stone and setting in the ring builder.
The difference at a glance
| Engagement ring | Wedding band (mahbas) | |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic name | Khatem el khotbe (خاتم الخطوبة) | Mahbas (محبس), in some families dibleh |
| When it is given | At the proposal or the engagement gathering | At the engagement in many Lebanese families, or at the wedding |
| Who wears it | The bride-to-be | Often both partners |
| Typical design | A centre diamond in a setting: solitaire, halo, three-stone and more | A plain band in gold or platinum, sometimes set with small diamonds |
| What it marks | The promise to marry | The marriage itself |
The engagement ring
The engagement ring is given when a couple decide to marry: at a private proposal, at the engagement gathering with both families, or both. Today in Lebanon it is very often a diamond ring, from a classic solitaire to halo and three-stone designs.
It is also the ring with the most decisions in it: the diamond’s shape and grades, the setting, the metal and the size, which is why it is usually chosen first. Each of our engagement rings is made to order in Beirut, in about a week to ten days, around a natural diamond certified by GIA or HRD.
The wedding band, or mahbas
The mahbas is a simpler ring: usually a band of gold or platinum, plain or set with small diamonds. Unlike the engagement ring, it is often worn by both partners, and the two bands are frequently chosen as a pair.
In many Lebanese families the bands are not kept for the wedding day. The couple exchange them at the engagement, alongside the engagement ring, as our guide to Lebanese engagement traditions describes. In others, the rings are blessed or exchanged during the wedding ceremony itself, one of the customs covered in our guide to Lebanese wedding traditions.
Which hand, and when: Lebanese custom
Lebanon is home to many communities, and customs vary from one family to the next, so read what follows as common practice rather than a rule.
- During the engagement. In many Lebanese families, the engagement ring and the bands are worn on the right hand.
- At the wedding. The bands, and usually the engagement ring with them, move to the left hand, during the ceremony or soon after.
- On the left from the start. Other couples wear the engagement ring on the left hand from the day of the proposal, as is usual in much of Europe and North America, and add the band beside it at the wedding.
To know what her family expects, ask her, or notice how her married sisters and cousins wear their rings. It also matters for the fit: the fingers of her writing hand are often slightly larger, so size each ring for its hand. Our ring size guide shows how to measure discreetly.
Wearing both rings together
Once married, many women wear the engagement ring and the mahbas on the same finger. A common convention puts the band on first, nearer the palm, with the engagement ring outside it; some reverse the order or use different hands. Whether the two sit neatly side by side depends mostly on the engagement ring’s design:
- Solitaires on a slim band usually pair easily with a straight band.
- Cathedral settings, whose shoulders rise to hold the stone, often let a straight band sit close beneath the diamond.
- Halos and hidden halos can leave a small gap beside a straight band, depending on how low the head sits.
- Three-stone and wider designs may need a curved or shaped band to sit flush.
If a band will sit beside the ring later, tell us when you choose the setting, so the proportions are planned from the start. Our guide to choosing a ring setting explains how each style sits on the hand.
Matching sets and metals
Some couples choose the engagement ring and both bands together, as a matching set; others choose the bands nearer the wedding, once they can see what suits the engagement ring on her hand.
Metal is the point to settle early. A band in the same metal as the engagement ring keeps the two looking like a pair, and two rings of the same metal wear alike as they rub against each other day after day: white gold with white gold, yellow with yellow, platinum with platinum. Plain yellow gold bands are a familiar choice in many Lebanese families, while couples with a white-metal engagement ring often match it in white gold or platinum. Our guide to white gold, yellow gold and platinum compares how each looks and wears.
The groom’s band is usually plain and a little wider; the same metal is often enough to make the two bands read as a pair.
When to buy each ring
The engagement ring comes first. Allow about four weeks if you know what you want: time to reserve a certified diamond with a deposit, confirm the setting and size, and have the ring made to order in about a week to ten days. The bands follow, in time for the engagement gathering or the wedding.
Our collection today is certified loose diamonds and engagement rings made to order; wedding bands are not part of it yet. What we can do now is help you choose an engagement ring that will welcome a band later: ask us on WhatsApp how a straight or shaped band would sit beside the setting you like.
Common questions about engagement rings and wedding bands
What is a mahbas?
Mahbas (محبس) is the word many Lebanese use for the wedding band: a simpler ring, usually plain gold or platinum or set with small diamonds, often worn by both partners. In many families the couple exchange their bands at the engagement and move them to the left hand at the wedding. Some families call it a dibleh.
Is an engagement ring the same as a wedding ring?
No. The engagement ring is given at the proposal or engagement and usually carries a centre diamond; the wedding ring or band marks the marriage and is usually simpler. Many women wear both together once married, often on the same finger, which is why it helps to choose the engagement ring with a band in mind.
Which hand is the wedding band worn on in Lebanon?
It varies by family and community. In many Lebanese families, rings and bands are worn on the right hand during the engagement and move to the left hand at the wedding; others wear them on the left from the start. Ask her, or notice how her married relatives wear their rings, and size each ring for that hand.
Can I wear my engagement ring and wedding band on the same finger?
Yes, and many women do. A common order puts the band on first, nearer the palm, with the engagement ring outside it. Whether they sit flush depends on the setting: solitaires and cathedral settings pair easily with a straight band, while some halos and wider designs need a curved band.
Do you sell wedding bands?
Not at the moment. diamonds.com.lb sells certified natural loose diamonds and engagement rings made to order in Beirut. If you plan to add a band later, tell us when you choose the setting, so the engagement ring is designed to sit well beside one.