Choosing a Metal for Your Wedding Band

When it comes to buying a wedding ring, the first choice you have to make is to consider what kind of metal is best for you. Most wedding rings today are made from either gold or platinum, and come in a myriad of colors and designs.

Gold is the most common type of metal used in wedding bands. Gold comes in different karat levels that are based on the purity of the gold. Pure gold is 24 karat gold; however this is too soft to work with for most types of jewelry, so various alloys are added to the gold to make it stronger and more durable. More common for use in wedding bands, 18 karat gold is 75% pure gold and 25% alloy, whereas 14 karat gold contains 58.3% pure gold and 41.7% alloy.
The color of gold depends upon its content. The higher the gold content, the richer the color will be. Depending on the type of alloy used, gold can be turned into different colors as well. White gold is perhaps the most popular of colorized gold, but by adding certain alloys to the gold it can be colored rose or even green.

Platinum is also very commonly used for wedding bands. It is an extremely strong metal, much stronger than gold. Rather than scratching or becoming nicked, platinum condenses upon itself, becoming stronger and denser than before. Platinum is an extremely dense metal, and will feel heavier on the finger than a gold band would feel. Because platinum is so strong and dense, it is much more expensive than gold. While platinum is commonly used for making wedding bands or engagement rings, it is not often used in other types of jewelry, because it is so high priced.
Platinum is an excellent choice for a wedding ring because it is extremely durable, and less likely to show signs of wear and tear than other metals would. It is also naturally white in color, making it easier to care for than a white gold band, which will have to be plated with rhodium from time to time in order to maintain the silvery white appearance that a platinum wedding band naturally has.

Ultimately the decision comes down to an individual’s taste, preferences and budget restrictions when making a choice of this magnitude. But no matter the style or design of the rings, you should be sure that you are choosing the best product for you.