There are many types of metals to choose from when selecting a wedding band. You need to take the metal of the band into as much consideration as you do the diamond and other stones. A custom jeweler who specializes in artisan gold wedding bands can create a piece that’s uniquely yours, while an established brand-name jeweler can save you money but cost you quality in the long run. All metals have pros and cons, so you need to take your lifestyle into account as well as your taste in jewelry.
Metal Options
Gold is a timeless option, and rhodium plating will improve the durability. Gold mixed with silver and copper creates a warm look. You can get white gold by mixing palladium and silver. Gold mixed with just silver will give you a yellow-green look. You can get a pink or rose color by combining gold and copper.
Silver is the most affordable of the precious metals. Sterling silver is mixed with copper and other metals to make it more durable; it is harder than pure silver but still able to get scratched and marked easily. Both silver and gold are too soft to be pure and have to be mixed with other metals to be durable enough for jewelry.
Gold and silver are the most common choices, but metals like platinum, cobalt, stainless steel, titanium, and tungsten, are more durable. Platinum has increased in popularity and is 30 times more rare than gold, making it more expensive. It does not tarnish or oxidize; however, you will have to buff out some scratches occasionally. Cobalt looks similar to platinum but is more scratch-resistant, and you can easily resize it.
Stainless steel is more affordable than the metals mentioned above, and it can be polished to take on different looks. It has 10 percent chromium in it to resist oxidation and is hypoallergenic. Another bonus is that you can clean it with dish soap and water.
Titanium is another sturdy scratch resistant metal but weighs less than stainless steel. It has become a popular choice for men’s wedding bands. On top of that, you can get it in black, gray, or silver colors; it is also hypoallergenic.
The last metal I will mention is tungsten, it is four times harder than titanium. This ring is also hypoallergenic and requires little maintenance because of how hard it is. If you choose this metal, you will not be able to resize the band, so make sure it is fitted correctly before you buy it. If you would like to read more about tungsten and what else it is used for, visit this site.
Although several of these metals are very durable, it is recommended to remove them when working with harsh chemicals like chlorine.
Certain labor jobs or sports can cause scratching so ask your jeweler whether or not your activities are harmful to your ring. For more information on choosing a band, visit this site.
Choosing a Jeweler
There are two main options you have: you can go to a major retailer, or you can choose Artisan made jewelry. Major retailers are often the cheaper way to go, but they do not always have the best quality and some take shortcuts. How and where they obtain their materials is not always known by the employees that sell you your ring.
Artisan bands are better quality because a lot of time and effort goes into creating them; they do not use fancy machinery which also makes them more environmentally friendly. Artisan jewelers also have a passion for their craft and take pride in their work. Because they like their work to be flawless, you can guarantee that they will want to correct any defects or problems you have with their product. Another great reason to choose artisan made jewelry is that the materials are obtained ethically, and they are not taking shortcuts; they keep value in mind.