As soon as you hear the words “engagement ring,” your mind probably goes straight to the sparkling gem at its centre. Even though the rock is the main attraction, the metal of the ring is also significant. In fact, the metal foundation is one of the most important factors to consider when first looking for something like an engagement ring and perhaps a wedding band.
While the diamond’s shape and the “4 Cs” (cut, colour, clarity, and carat) make a huge difference in how the ring looks, the metal it is set in is just as important to both its durability and its aesthetic appeal.
Choosing the best material for your wedding band or engagement ring can be difficult due to the wide variety of options available. Relax; we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive guide to the most common types of ring metals.
The differences between platinum and palladium, and everything in between, are explained in detail here. In addition, you will find advice on how to determine which metal is ideal for your wedding and engagement rings.
How to Decide Which Metal Is Best for Engagement Rings
Before we talk about the most common types of ring metals, you should know that your choice will depend on a number of things. Here are some things you should know before you go shopping.
Think About the Price
Not all types of ring metal are made the same, so some cost more than others. If you are shopping on a tight budget, you will need to think about how much certain metals cost. The price of a metal is often affected by how pure it is. For instance, platinum is indeed a pure-white metal that is harder to find than others. This makes it a bit more costly.
Bear in mind, however, that a wedding band or engagement ring isn’t always a one-time expense. If you choose a cheaper metal like white gold and perhaps rose gold, the colour will likely wear off or change over time, so you’ll have to re-plate it.
Yellow gold is mixed with other metals to make white gold, which is later plated with rhodium. The layer of rhodium is very thin, so it will have to be put on again over time. Also, because rose gold has copper in it, it can oxidise and get darker over time. This is something else to think about as you purchase. Even though it’s fine to choose a cheaper option, it might cost more to keep up over the course of your marriage.
Remember the Centre Stone
A ring’s best metal can also be affected by the stone in the middle. Work with your jeweller to find a material that goes well with the shape or colour of the diamond you already have in mind. Or, if you know, for example, that your significant other really wants a gold band, an expert can help you choose a centre stone that should look lovely with that colour.
If you want a diamond with just some warmth, like a J colour grade or lower, yellow and maybe even rose gold is usually the best choice. The bright colour of the metal around the diamond cools down its warmth and goes well with it.
You wouldn’t believe it, but sometimes you can see the colour of the ring metal through the diamond centre stone. If you put a colourless diamond in yellow or rose gold, a few of the colours of the metal will show through the diamond at some angles. This can make the stone look less brilliant & sparkly than it really is. Work with your ring builder to choose a centre stone & metal that go well together.
Consider Your Lifestyle
The best type of ring metal for you may also depend on how you live. People who use their hands a lot will benefit from such a pure metal that doesn’t tarnish and is harder to shape than others. For example, white gold is strong, but over time, its colour can fade, especially if it rubs against another ring.
Because of this, keeping the white colour will take more work. So, the colour change may happen more quickly in people who wash their hands often or who use chemicals or thick creams and lotions often.
You also might want to stay away from certain metals if you have delicate skin or an allergy to alloys. White gold and rose gold are made with different alloys, so if you know you have an allergy, you should avoid these metals. On the contrary, platinum metal may not bother the skin as much.
Platinum is good for active people because it doesn’t cause allergies and lasts a long time. This is also true of tungsten & palladium, so if you can’t afford platinum, you can think about either of those as a safer, less expensive option.
Read on to discover more about the various types of ring metals for your wedding band or engagement ring, keeping these tips in mind.
Platinum
Platinum is first! It has become a fantastic pick for engagement rings as well as wedding bands because it’s a pure-white metal that won’t change colour or fade. It doesn’t break down. Platinum is very strong because it is dense and heavy, so it doesn’t wear down over time. Because of this, it is the best setting for diamonds.
It is also gentle on the skin, so the person who wears it doesn’t have to worry about any adverse reactions produced by the metal. A metal for wedding rings that don’t have any flaws? That’s worth a lot.
Palladium
Palladium is used for more than just Iron Man. It shines naturally in a grey-white colour. It doesn’t tarnish and doesn’t need to be plated with rhodium, so it’s easy to take care of. Palladium is a metal in the same family as platinum. It is 95% pure. Palladium is also hypoallergenic, which means it won’t cause allergic reactions like other ring metals might. It also has a lower density than platinum, so it feels much lighter than that heavy metal.
Gold
Gold is a great metal for making jewellery. Gold has been used to make jewellery for as long as people have been around. Why gold? The main reasons are its natural beauty and how easy it is to shape. With one ounce of gold, you can make a piece of wire that is five miles long.
It can be beaten into a thin layer that covers a 100-square-foot area. Gold shines as well. It keeps its shape and lasts a long time. These things are very representative of a connection, and an engagement ring should have them.
Rose Gold
Rose gold would be gold that has been mixed with copper. The colour of this metal used for engagement rings is very soft and may get stronger over time. It is made by adding more alloys that are copper-coloured and fewer alloys that are silver-coloured to gold. 14K rose gold has the same amount of pure gold as with the 14K white gold. The only difference is that the alloys have been mixed differently to give the ring a rose colour.
Titanium
Pure titanium is a naturally occurring, silvery grey metal. You won’t even notice you’re wearing it because of how light it is. Titanium is at most three times as strong as steel, making it an excellent material for a wedding ring. As a result of its fragility, titanium is frequently alloyed with other metals.
Sterling Silver
Among the most prevalent precious metals, silver is frequently used in jewellery, such as earrings, watches, bracelets, and rings. Silver is typically alloyed with the metal copper to make it stronger than it is in its pure form. Tarnish can form on silver if it is not polished regularly.
“Sterling” silver is defined as silver that is 92.5% pure and 7.5% of another substance, typically copper. It is because of this 92.5% purity standard that jewellery is frequently stamped with the numerals 925 or.925.
Cobalt
The hypoallergenic metal cobalt occurs naturally. It is the brightest white metal of the modern variety and can be mistaken for platinum. Cobalt doesn’t get rusty as silver does, and it doesn’t rust even without rhodium plating. Because of its lower density compared to other metals, cobalt may be shaped into more three-dimensional forms.
Cobalt’s exceptional hardness and scratch resistance contribute to its remarkable endurance and wearability; the metal also keeps its polish well.
Tungsten Carbide
Tungsten has a lustrous, dark grey colour. Since it is so much more durable than pure Tungsten, Tungsten Carbide is almost always the alloy of choice when working with this material. Tungsten carbide jewellery keeps its lustre longer than every metal. Since it is denser than both steel and titanium, Tungsten Carbide is favoured by many for its satisfying heft. Recent years have seen a rise in demand for tungsten.
Content Summary
- Even though the rock is the main attraction, the metal of the ring is also significant.
- Choosing the best material for your wedding band or engagement ring can be difficult due to the wide variety of options available.
- Relax; we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive guide to the most common types of ring metals.
- The differences between platinum and palladium, and everything in between, are explained in detail here.
- In addition, you will find advice on how to determine which metal is ideal for your wedding and engagement rings.
- How to Decide Which Metal Is Best for Engagement Rings Before we talk about the most common types of ring metals, you should know that your choice will depend on a number of things.
- The price of a metal is often affected by how pure it is.
- Bear in mind, however, that a wedding band or engagement ring isn’t always a one-time expense.
- If you choose a cheaper metal like white gold and perhaps rose gold, the colour will likely wear off or change over time, so you’ll have to re-plate it.
- Even though it’s fine to choose a cheaper option, it might cost more to keep up over the course of your marriage.
- Remember the Centre Stone A ring’s best metal can also be affected by the stone in the middle.
- Work with your jeweller to find a material that goes well with the shape or colour of the diamond you already have in mind.
- Or, if you know, for example, that your significant other really wants a gold band, an expert can help you choose a centre stone that should look lovely with that colour.
- The bright colour of the metal around the diamond cools down its warmth and goes well with it.
- You wouldn’t believe it, but sometimes you can see the colour of the ring metal through the diamond centre stone.
- If you put a colourless diamond in yellow or rose gold, a few of the colours of the metal will show through the diamond at some angles.
- Work with your ring builder to choose a centre stone & metal that go well together.
- Consider Your Lifestyle The best type of ring metal for you may also depend on how you live.
- You also might want to stay away from certain metals if you have delicate skin or an allergy to alloys.
- On the contrary, platinum metal may not bother the skin as much.
- Read on to discover more about the various types of ring metals for your wedding band or engagement ring, keeping these tips in mind.
- Because of this, it is the best setting for diamonds.
- A metal for wedding rings that don’t have any flaws?
- Palladium is a metal in the same family as platinum.
- Gold is a great metal for making jewellery.
- The colour of this metal used for engagement rings is very soft and may get stronger over time.
Conclusion
Choosing the best material for your wedding band or engagement ring can be difficult due to the wide variety of options available. Not all types of ring metal are made the same, so some cost more than others. The price of a metal is often affected by how pure it is and how hard to find it is.
If you choose a cheaper metal like white gold and perhaps rose gold, the colour will likely wear off or change over time, so you’ll have to re-plate it. Yellow gold is mixed with other metals to make white gold, which is later plated with rhodium.
Rose gold has copper in it, it can oxidise and get darker over time. If you put a colourless diamond in yellow or rose gold, a few of the colours of the metal will show through the diamond at some angles. This can make the stone look less brilliant & sparkly than it really is. The best type of ring metal for you may also depend on how you live. Platinum is very strong because it is dense and heavy, so it doesn’t wear down over time.
Gold is a great metal for making jewellery because it keeps its shape and lasts a long time. 14K rose gold has the same amount of pure gold as the 14K white gold.
FAQs About Wedding Ring Metals
Can Wedding Rings Be Different Metals?
Combining metal colours is a great way to compromise if you and your fiancé have different tastes in metal but still wish to coordinate your wedding bands to a certain extent. Perhaps one loves the way yellow gold complements their darker skin, whilst the other prefers the cool, contemporary sheen of white metals.
What Is the Most Hard-Wearing Metal Wedding Ring?
Tungsten
It is four times harder than titanium and the most scratch-resistant metal you’ll find for a wedding band. If you’re looking for high scratch resistance with a comfortable price tag, tungsten is your best bet.
Do Tungsten Wedding Rings Rust?
A tungsten alloy ring can rust, however, when it contains certain more rust-prone metals. You’ll want to make sure that your ring is made with jewellery-quality metal alloys, such as nickel, to ensure your ring keeps its shine and will be rust-free. An industrial-grade tungsten ring will likely use cobalt as its alloy.
Is Tungsten Better Than Gold?
Tungsten is one of the hardest metals and is incredibly resistant to scratches, whereas gold is more prone to show various signs of wear and tear. This can be particularly important when it comes to jewellery, as items like rings can receive quite a few bumps over the years since they are worn on our hands.
Which Metal Will Never Rust?
Platinum, gold & silver
Known as precious metals, platinum, gold and silver are all pure metals, therefore they contain no iron and cannot rust. Platinum and gold are highly non-reactive, and although silver can tarnish, it is fairly corrosion-resistant and relatively affordable by comparison.