With the increase in the prices of precious metals in recent years, some alternative materials have begun to gain popularity and take center stage in the world of jewelry, especially in the making of wedding bands. But the fact that they have become popular is not only because they are less expensive, but also because they provide the perfect balance between durability and a sleek, modern look.
So whether you are looking for handcrafted jewelry pieces or more modern and contemporary designs, you will find that there are many alternative materials out there today. Therefore, knowing about them will help you to choose intelligently which one best suits what you are looking for. Here’s a list of the most popular alternative materials you’ll find on the market today.
8 trending alternative materials
1. Stainless steel
This is a strong metal popular in jewelry and fashion watches. It is an alternative material to gold and platinum that is affordable and similar in appearance to a white precious metal. Its white silver tone and its reasonably low price, together with its easy maintenance, hardness and resistance are its main advantages.
However, its main disadvantage is that it does not allow you to modify its size. What could mean that over the years and when our hands change size, we will have to stop wearing our wedding ring. Another downside is the fact that some types of stainless steel can contain nickel, a component some people are allergic to.
2. Titanium
Among the alternative materials, titanium stands out as a light, white to gray metal that is resistant to corrosion, oxidation and is very durable. With the additional advantage that it does not fog up. and it is suitable for people with allergies to nickel, since it is a pure metal, which makes it hypoallergenic. Although it is more expensive than stainless steel, but much cheaper than precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum.
However, it has the disadvantage that it is a difficult material to modify. So shrinking or enlarging it can be more expensive than a new one and the other is that not all jewelers work with it. Which makes it not recommended for wedding rings.
3. Cobalt
Cobalt is characterized by being a very resistant metal. This alternative material is four times harder than platinum, making it highly resistant to scratches and corrosion. Being also a hypoallergenic metal, it is ideal for people with sensitive skin. Cobalt jewelery exhibits a natural bluish-white to greyish-white color, so if your ring were to feature any stones, the more electric shades of blue, green or purple would work well together.
However, it does have the disadvantage that it is heavier than other alternative metals like titanium, which gives it a heavier feel when used in wedding bands..
4. Tungsten
More commonly known as tungsten carbide, this beautiful black metal boasts the highest melting point of any metal on earth. So it is approximately 2 to 3 times harder than titanium and almost as hard as diamond, with a rating of 9 on the Mohs scale where diamond has a rating of 10. These characteristics certainly make it one of the the best metallic options to make wedding bands.
Tungsten jewelry is actually pieces of tungsten carbide. An alloy that is made from 80% tungsten and 20% a mixture of carbon and other metals. It is possible to find it in gray or glossy white. It is a very durable and scratch-resistant material, hypoallergenic and very economical. Also, they require little maintenance, they don’t lose their shine as easily, so they can stay shiny for a long time.
It is important to note that despite its hardness it can be brittle. So, if a tungsten ring is dropped or severely hit on a hard surface, it can fracture.
5. Black Zircon
Zirconium is obtained from the gemstone zircon. It is a ductile, malleable and refractive metal that has a high resistance to corrosion and breakage. In its natural state it has a shiny, silver-gray color, very similar to steel and titanium. However, when exposed to special heat treatment, a chemical surface oxidation reaction occurs that forms a hard zirconium oxide layer on the outside.
This oxide layer is non-corroding, scratch resistant, and unlike blackened titanium, it will not wear away. But, if it is hit against a hard material, such as cement, rocks, diamonds, etc. It is possible that these could cut through the ceramic layer, exposing the silver zirconium below.
This alternative material has several advantages. Among them, it does not present a danger to the environment, it is biocompatible, non-toxic and does not cause allergies, since it is a pure element that does not contain any irritants in its composition.
6. Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber is a synthetic material made up of fibers composed of carbon atoms. Which are joined together in crystals and are aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fiber. A characteristic that gives it high resistance and that adds to its great flexibility and low weight as its main advantages.
Therefore, in addition to jewelry, it can be found in almost any means of transport, from bicycles to fighter planes made of carbon fiber. However, when it comes to jewelry, there is a wide variety of jewelry and accessories such as rings and pendants with carbon fiber inlays. Although recently it has become popular as one of the alternative materials to make wedding bands, since they provide a different, modern and very beautiful style.
7. Niobium
This metallic element, which in its natural state is pale in color and has several properties that make it ideal for making jewelry. Among them we have that it is soft, malleable, resistant to corrosion, although less than titanium but it is cheaper and easier to find and accepts anodization. The latter means that the metal can be colored and obtain a wide variety of colors, such as blue, red, pink and many more.
This is achieved by immersing it in an electrically charged bath to create brilliant colors without plating or painting the surface. With the advantage that the colors will not flake or chip like veneered or painted surfaces can. In addition, we are talking about an inert metal, or that makes it ideal for hypoallergenic jewelry, so the use of this alternative material in smaller jewelry pieces such as rings and earrings is common.
8. Palladium
Among the most common alternative materials today we could not stop talking about palladium. A white precious metal that is becoming a popular choice for jewelry for a number of reasons. Like, for example, the fact that it is a durable material, which makes it a good choice for rings and other frequently used jewelry. Also, it is more affordable than gold or platinum and lighter than platinum, which means it can be used for substantial pieces.
Additionally, palladium is hypoallergenic; however, most palladium jewelry is an alloy of 95% palladium and 5% other metals. For example, palladium 950 is 95 percent pure palladium, usually mixed with five percent ruthenium, and palladium 900 is a mixture with 10 percent iridium. So depending on what other metals are used, allergies could be a problem for sensitive people. But in general it is hypoallergenic.
However, we cannot forget that this platinum group metal offers many of the benefits of platinum. Among them its bright white color, purity and resistance, but at a more affordable price. However, palladium is not as rare or as dense as platinum. Additionally, palladium does not require plating to maintain its brilliant white color and will not tarnish.