Researching men’s wedding bands and finding the right one for your future husband can be a daunting task. Aside from the plethora of designs and styles available, the many metal choices can quickly overwhelm couples during the selection process. Fear not, because we went down the rabbit hole that is wedding band metallurgy. We’re not getting into style and aesthetics on this one; that’s up to you and your personal taste. What we will talk about are the various choices in metals and how one may be a better fit for certain budgets or lifestyles. Let’s go!
Yellow Gold
Typical Investment = $$
The O.G. of wedding bands, gold, or “yellow” gold, never goes out of style. Gold is a soft metal and must be mixed (alloyed) with other metals to make it more durable. Higher karat weights of gold indicate more gold content, but lower durability. For a wedding band, we’d suggest 14K or 18K. Benefits of yellow gold include a classic style and easy resizing, polishing, and engraving. Hey, they don’t call it “the gold standard” for nothing!
White Gold
Typical Investment = $$
Similar to yellow gold, white gold is alloyed with metals to make it more durable and to whiten the color. White gold is also dipped or electroplated with a very hard, very white coating of metal, usually rhodium, to help increase the whiteness and durability. White gold rings will need to be re-dipped every year or two to maintain their shiny white color. If you have sensitive skin or allergies to nickel, you may want to consider another metal.
Platinum
Typical Investment = $$$
Platinum is a very dense metal, which means platinum bands will weigh a bit more than similar rings. Platinum is hypoallergenic, so it’s great for people with skin allergies. It is also naturally very white and does not need plating like white gold. It is more scratch resistant than gold, but it will build up a patina of wear, which is a hallmark of its look. Platinum can be resized, polished, and engraved.
Palladium
Typical Investment = $$$
Palladium is similar to platinum in that it is a very white, hypoallergenic metal that does not need plating. Palladium is somewhat lighter than platinum (roughly equivalent in weight to 14K gold) and slightly more durable. Due to the similarity in price and performance, we recommend platinum over palladium since local jewelers may be more used to working with platinum for any repairs or servicing.
Tungsten
Typical Investment = $
Tungsten has become a very popular choice in recent years due to its high durability, scratch resistance, and reasonable cost. Many men also find the darker gray tones of the tungsten rings appealing. Tungsten rings come in a variety of patterns and gray tones, including white, gray, and black. A few downsides of tungsten rings are that they cannot be resized and they are not able to be polished, though they are the most durable and scratch resistant metal on the market. Tungsten alloys may contain nickel, so again, skin allergies can be an issue. If you want a polished finish on your ring and don’t want to baby it or have it re-polished frequently, tungsten is the way to go.
Titanium
Typical Investment = $
Titanium steel alloys offer improved durability, scratch resistance, and a super light weight. If you hate the feeling of anything on your finger and weight is a concern, titanium may appeal to you. Titanium looks similar to white gold, though it is not quite as bright white. Due to the strength of the metal, titanium bands can be difficult to remove in emergency situations and may not be a good choice for certain professions.
Cobalt
Typical Investment = $
Cobalt offers a hybrid of the benefits of tungsten and platinum. It is slightly harder than titanium and second only in scratch resistance to tungsten. Cobalt is very white in color and does not require plating. Cobalt bands be found with nickel-free varieties that are hypoallergenic, but most cannot be resized. Cobalt may be a good option to consider if you want the best attributes of tungsten and platinum at a more palatable price point.
Pro Tip
If you choose a precious metal ring such as gold or platinum, consider buying a backup ring for travel or heavy wear situations. Tungsten makes a good choice here due to the wide variety of styles available, its excellent durability, and reasonable price. Silicone wedding bands, like those from Qalo, are also a popular choice for sportier applications.
Whew, got all that? We told you it could be overwhelming! But hopefully this quick guide makes shopping for your husband’s wedding ring just a little bit easier! What metal is your guy going with? Comment below and let us know!
