Wedding Ring Metals – The Facts
Every couple getting married would like all aspects of their wedding and marriage to be special, unique and meaningful. During recent years, there has been a big increase in the different metals used for wedding rings and there are many new and exciting wedding ring designs to choose from now in keeping with those demands. Gold and silver are still popular but are no longer the only metals with which to have your wedding rings made from.
Jewellery designers are continuing to surprise us with their inspirational use of diamonds and other gemstones in wedding rings and the newer range of metals being used have opened up a whole new realm of stunning wedding bands that truly are original.
Since gold, silver and platinum are the best known materials used for wedding bands, in this article, we will look at some of the newer metals, palladium, titanium and tungsten, what makes them special and some of the benefits of buying a wedding ring made from one of these metal types.
Palladium
Palladium has been around for a long time but because of difficulties with casting, it has only recently been used in jewellery to any great extent. It is a pure and precious metal from the platinum family and as such has many of the same characteristics as platinum which is a highly desirable metal but rare and hence, expensive. Palladium is a naturally white metal with a shiny finish and its’ popularity is steadily increasing in engagement and wedding ring designs.
Titanium
Titanium is a natural metal abundantly available for mining, but while not a rare metal, the jewellery made from this material is certainly not common. Titanium has been used in a variety of industries since the early 1950′ because of its properties, chiefly its resistance to corrosion and its strength to weight ratio. It is a lustrous metal and doesn’t require any special coating to make it strong or save it from getting scratched as it is naturally so, unlike white gold.
Tungsten
Tungsten or tungsten carbide as it is better known is the hardest metal used in wedding bands. Some even claim it to be an “indestructible” metal as its reputation for durability is second to none. It is virtually scratch proof and will retain its shine forever. Tungsten wedding rings come in many designs, can be mixed with other alloys, can be lasered or engraved for amazing designs and can be inlaid with diamonds, wood and other materials.
With the growing trend for more contemporary wedding rings, the newer range metals are well in favour. They are very different from the traditional wedding band and have both a new age look and feel about them. With a wide variety of original designs to choose from, these metals have other features that make them special. They are very hard metals making rings made ideal for everyday wear, and titanium and palladium are incredibly lightweight materials.
Additional benefits of buying wedding rings made from these materials are that they are hypoallergenic if the ring is not mixed with other metals, eg, palladium and gold, so a great choice for those with sensitive skin. They are low maintenance unlike other materials and hold their shine well.
These new metals continue to prove to couples today that unique wedding rings, that are classy and stylish, that will stay looking as good as new and at prices that won’t cost the earth can be found.