In 2020, roughly 1.68 million people got married in the United States. Traditionally, married couples present each other with wedding bands that symbolize their love during these ceremonies.
Wedding bands serve many purposes besides the symbolic. For example, they provide a sign to other people that you are no longer on the market. However, not all wedding bands are equal.
There are several wedding band materials that rings can utilize. It’s challenging to find the best wedding band material for your rings.
If you’re unsure how to find a unique wedding band material, keep reading! We’ll explore the best materials for your rings in this guide.
Is Gold the Best Wedding Band Material?
Gold is the classic metal for rings. There are several reasons for this.
Gold has a beautiful polish that requires little maintenance. It’s also malleable, making it easy to shape without bending the final product. Gold is also a scratch-resistant material that can come in several colors.
These colors include:
- yellow gold
- rose gold
- white gold
Yellow gold is the traditional gold color that you’ve seen on wedding rings. In contrast, rose gold has a pink-red hue that stands out from yellow gold. Finally, white gold has a silvery sheen that resembles silver more than yellow gold.
However, not all gold has the same quality. Regardless of the color you choose, gold comes in different karats. Karats function as a scale for telling how pure your gold is.
The purest gold comes in 24-karats. However, gold with more alloyed components is a more durable solution. It can be challenging to navigate the karat scale to find the best gold.
In other words, while gold is the traditional material for wedding bands, it’s not the strongest. You may find an alternative material for wedding bands more suitable to your daily needs.
Platinum Wedding Bands
If you like the look of a white gold ring, you may find a platinum option is right up your alley! Platinum rings have the same silvery sheen as a white gold option. However, unlike white gold, platinum is naturally a white metal.
In other words, platinum rings will not fade over time. White gold requires a plating of rhodium that keeps it white. However, this plating can fade over time.
Platinum is also a denser metal than gold. Because of this, you may find a platinum ring feels heavier than gold. It’s also a stronger and more durable metal.
Finally, platinum is a hypoallergenic metal. Famously, gold can cause allergic reactions. Some of these reactions include symptoms like:
- swelling
- rashes
- redness
- itching
- peeling
- dark spots
Platinum can help you avoid this issue if you have allergies. However, platinum is also a more expensive material than gold. You’ll likely pay much more for a platinum ring than for the average gold ring.
Palladium Wedding Rings
Palladium is a more affordable alternative to platinum. It has the same color as platinum and resists tarnishing. Like platinum, it is also a hypoallergenic substance.
However, palladium also has some downsides. It’s a less durable metal than platinum, which can cause some problems later.
That said, a palladium ring can provide many of the benefits of platinum for a much more affordable price. So, consider purchasing this material for your wedding band.
Tungsten Wedding Bands
If you’re less interested in traditional wedding band materials, you may like a tungsten wedding band. Tungsten is one of the hardest metals in the world.
Manufacturers mix tungsten with several other metals to form tungsten carbide. Tungsten is an excellent material for resisting scratches. If you live an active lifestyle or work with machinery, tungsten can be a much more viable ring material than gold.
However, there is a downside to tungsten. Because of their hardness, tungsten rings are easier to break. However, they’re also a much more budget-friendly option for wedding bands.
Silver Wedding Rings
Sterling silver is one of the oldest materials for jewelry in the world. It is also a much more affordable material than many leading wedding band metals.
However, silver also has many of the best qualities of gold. For example, it is a highly malleable material that makes it easy to shape. However, the metal can mix with copper to become a sturdy ring material.
However, there are some downsides to using silver. First, silver oxidizes easily. This oxidation causes your ring to tarnish easily.
Fortunately, there’s a solution to this problem. As long as you polish your silver regularly, you can prevent it from tarnishing. Instead, you can retain the metal’s shine and sheen for years.
Stainless Steel Rings
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and metals like chromium. Unlike silver, this metal resists tarnishing and rusting.
These features make stainless steel much easier to maintain. Likewise, it resists scratching, making it an excellent choice for wearers who live an active lifestyle.
Unlike platinum, stainless steel is a light material for rings. As such, it’s more comfortable to wear.
Similar to platinum, stainless steel is a hypoallergenic material. Anyone can wear this ring and avoid health ramifications.
Another advantage of stainless steel rings is that many more people can afford them. Stainless steel wedding bands are among the cheapest solutions on the market. You won’t have to worry about going bankrupt for these rings!
Find the Best Wedding Band Material Today
Gold isn’t the only material for a wedding band. Instead, there are several metals you can choose from to suit your needs. Your lifestyle and professional life could help you find the best wedding band material for you.
So, check out the best options today! Soon, you’ll find the best rings for you and your significant other to share for the rest of your lives.
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