WEDDING RINGS: YOUR MOST USED METALS

The wedding rings They constitute one of the most beautiful traditions in the world. They represent the union and love between a couple, but they also imply the fact of allying with someone for life. Reason, for which they are also known as alliances.

This makes every detail that makes them up important, because together they are a declaration of eternal love. However, when choosing, one of the most striking details is the material they are made of. And it is that, currently gold and platinum are not the only options that exist, since we have an infinity of materials in the world of jewelry. Which could be a difficult decision.

But fortunately, if you are one step away from choosing your wedding rings, You have reached the right place. Since we are going to talk about the different options of materials that you can find in the market, analyzing their advantages and disadvantages.

Precious metals used in wedding rings

Platinum

Along with silver and gold, platinum is one of the precious metals. It is a durable, shiny and beautiful metal. The main characteristics of which are its hardness, its soft white tone and its resistance to oxidation and tarnishing, as well as being a hypoallergenic material. On the other hand, due to its hardness, the intricately engraved or embellished details on platinum rings often look sharper and more precise than on other metals.

However, it is worth mentioning that it is also 30 times rarer than gold, which makes it more expensive. In addition, it is 40% heavier than 14 karat gold and with time and use it will also tarnish and scratch. Although a jeweler can polish your platinum wedding band to remove any scratches.

Prayedthe most used option in wedding rings

Whether alone or in combination, gold is the most widely used material in awedding rings. And this is largely due to how precious it is and the possibilities it offers to make designs. Gold is a ductile, malleable material, it has a greater resistance to abrasion than silver and its oxidation is less.

But of course, its price is higher. Although one of its great advantages over other materials is the ease it offers when changing its size. Since it is normal for hands to swell with age.

There are different types of gold and each one is an alloy with varying proportions of other metals. Which also give it different colors and properties, the main alloys or colors of gold used for this purpose being the following:

Yellow gold

This is a mix of pure gold with a bit of silver and copper to give it a warm and shiny look. What makes the wedding rings in romantic and timeless pieces, this color being the most sought after.

Pink gold

This increasingly popular alloy in wedding rings and in jewelry in general, it is composed of pure gold plus copper. The more copper, the redder the metal. It is an option that combines very well with diamonds, besides they look very romantic. But it has a pale pink hue and less shine than yellow gold.

White gold

To obtain this color, pure gold is combined with palladium and silver or with nickel, copper and zinc. Among the gold alloys, it has the advantage of being the strongest and hardest. But its main disadvantage is that it is a dull material, with a dull yellowish-gray tone.

Therefore, it is usually given a rhodium plating to improve whiteness and durability. Although this bath will go away over time and its duration will depend on the use that is given to the ring and the pH of the skin of the person who wears it.

Silver

Silver has been valued for centuries and was once considered more valuable than gold. This bright white metal is characterized by being soft and malleable. Although it is much softer than gold, it is less resistant to abrasion, over time and it oxidizes more easily. But its biggest advantage is its price, being the most affordable of the precious metals.

Despite this, it is a beautiful and suitable material to make wedding bands, although of course evaluating its pros and cons.

Silver tarnishes, so it’s a good idea to store your wedding ring in bags and in a cool place to prevent tarnishing. Do not use tissue paper or paper towels to dry as they can scratch it.

Palladium

Palladium is also a naturally white precious metal and is more affordable than gold and platinum. Being also much lighter than platinum, but also more expensive as it is more scarce. It is a metal resistant to corrosion, oxidation and hypoallergenic.

The best part is that it is very durable, so a palladium wedding ring can stand the test of time. And it also offers the advantage that it can be restored without losing much metal, it does not tarnish or require a new coating.

Alternative metals used in wedding rings

Beyond precious metals there is a world of metals that have a modern and durable look. So they have become popular for wedding bands, especially for men who are not used to wearing jewelry. Between them we have:

Titanium

Titanium is a lightweight, white to gray metal that is affordable. In addition, it is hypoallergenic, corrosion resistant and durable. With the additional advantage that it does not fog up. 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.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel is an affordable, white-colored, precious metal-like appearance. Its white silver tone and its reasonably low price, together with its easy maintenance, hardness and resistance are its main advantages. But 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 the wedding ring.

Cobalt

Cobalt is characterized by being a very resistant metal. It 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 grayish-white color, so if your ring were to feature a stone, the more electric shades of blue, green, or purple would work well together.

On the other hand, it is heavier than other alternative metals such as titanium, which gives a heavier feel to its wedding rings.

Tungsten

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.