For this discussion, we will refer to wedding bands as rings without stones. Wedding rings will refer to rings with stones. There are many traditions around wedding bands and wedding rings. Some religious affiliations require the bride and groom to have wedding bands only—no wedding rings. Sometimes the groom’s ring will be a band with a small diamond set in it. Your options are many, and since we have already covered diamonds, here I want to talk about the many different types of wedding bands.
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Sometimes couples choose simple wedding bands to reflect their personal style, or because they are environmentally conscious and don’t want to support mining operations that harm the environment. Whatever your reasons for considering a wedding band, there are some amazing options out there that most people are not aware of. The groom often opts for a wedding band, and if you don’t want the traditional gold band, there are many other choices available to you.
Your options include many different metals, inlays, and layered metals. Gold by itself is very soft which is why gold is mixed with other metals like zinc, copper, nickel and silver. It creates a harder metal that is more resistant to scratches and abrasions. Yellow gold is gold’s natural colour. White gold is basically a gold ring that is plated with rhodium. Rhodium is a shiny white metal that has a very hard surface which resists abrasions and scratches. And then there is rose gold which has a slightly pink colour. This is created by adding more copper into the mix when strengthening the gold with other metals.
Pure silver is very soft by itself, and like gold, is mixed with other metals to create strength and durability, which we call Sterling Silver. I never see silver as a wedding ring, but often silver is inlaid into another metal to create a wedding band like in this Tungsten Carbide ring. What, you may ask, is a Tungsten Carbide?
Tungsten is a very hard and dense metal, but like all pure metals is susceptible to scratches and abrasions. So, it is mixed with a carbon alloy using a nickel binder to create Tungsten Carbide. Stay away from Tungsten Carbide that has been made with cobalt. As you can see, Tungsten Carbide rings come in a wide variety of styles. You can have inlays of metals, river rock, or even mother of pearl. These rings often come with a choice of a white or black diamond, but what is fueling their popularity is the price. A basic Tungsten Carbide ring is under $100, and if you choose one that has diamonds inlaid, they start at around $200. Compare that to a traditional wedding ring, and you will see why it is gaining popularity.
Think men. Think cars. Think chrome. Think engines. It’s a guy thing, and Cobalt Chrome rings reflect that perfectly. These rings look like white gold and platinum, but at a much better price point. This ring with 3 diamonds is approximately $300. And we are talking a SI clarity, G colour, and each stone is .1 cwt. A viable choice if your budget is stressing you.
Titanium is another metal that is hypoallergenic, very strong and lightweight, and is a popular choice for men. They come in plain bands, but also with designs, inlays, and other design features. Most of these rings are under $100 in price, and look great. Of course, the rings with diamonds are more costly.
The last metal we will talk about is Platinum. Platinum, Gold and Silver are the three metals normally associated with fine jewellery. Platinum rings, like their gold counterparts are much higher priced than these newer metals. Platinum rings are usually 95% platinum, and 5% mixed metals for strength. Platinum will lose its shine over time, but a jeweller can buff it to get back the luster. When buying platinum, look for the mark 95 Plat—similar to finding the 14K or 18K on gold jewellery.
Whether you choose the traditional metals like gold, silver and platinum, or opt for the more modern alternatives like Titanium, Tungsten Carbide or even Cobalt Chrome, you have many beautiful choices in a wide range of prices. Enjoy shopping!