On GEMaffair.com, we have recently started offering wedding bands in a variety of different metals and styles. While not all wedding bands are up and ready for sale, we are working steadily to make this happen. With all the different type of metals, it might get a little confusing. What is seranite, and what how is it better or worse than a traditional yellow gold wedding band? Is it more valuable, less valuable? What about tungsten? Why should I choose that, or is titanium a better choice? What is the best choice for me? What are the pros and cons? I have added links to all the types of bands we have. Like I said before, we don’t have all of them available yet so make sure to check back!
Ceramic Wedding Bands – are much more attention grabbing than traditional wedding bands. When you think ceramic, you most likely think of the tile on your floor. You think about that one time you dropped a vase, and how the vase shattered, and the tile chipped. However, through lots of research and testing, high tech ceramic has been developed (also known as titanium carbide), and has become a new-age type of ring. Due to a high melting point, this metal is easily bent into a variety of styles and any kind of jewelry. Often, jewelers will design a ring with a ceramic finish. Ceramic is a budget friendly choice, and typically have a lot of unique, interesting designs etched in them.
Cobalt Wedding Bands – I bet you’re thinking, “Cobalt rings? What”. Persians often used cobalt in their jewelry. It has been used for centuries to impact a lovely blue color, used in Egypt, Persia, China and even Korea. Cobalt is derived from the German word kobalt, meaning “goblin”. It’s a superstitious phrase due to the first failed attempts at smelting only produced highly toxic and arsenic oxide. However, these days with progressed technology this is not an issue. Typically the ring will not be 100% cobalt; it will be alloyed with another metal, like platinum. This gives a base ring that is easy to decorate and even slightly magnetic.
Gold Wedding Bands – Yellow gold is a precious, valuable metal. However, in the case of durability and scratch resistance, it is not the best choice. If you have a job that involves a lot of hands on applications, you may want to choose a different type of metal. If you do decide to go the traditional route, you also have the option to take off your wedding band or wear it around your neck. Gold will always be the first choice marriage band, and with proper care a gold band is not a bad option. It just depends on how much effort you want to put into it, and how much gold is worth it to you. Keep in mind that white gold is more durable than yellow gold. Pure yellow gold metal is malleable and white gold is typically a composite of nickel, palladium, and manganese (much more durable than yellow gold).
Palladium Wedding Bands – This resembles platinum, a rare and lustrous silver-white metal discovered by William Hyde Wollaston in 1803. Named after the asteroid Pallas, Palladium is actually more rare than gold. It is the kind of metal that if bumped does not chip, instead the metal ‘moves’ aside. No metal is lost, and use of polish moves the metal back to its original position. It is in the same metal family as platinum, and is very light-weight so it’s become a pretty popular alternative to gold wedding bands. It is also the type of metal used in electronics, dentistry, medicine, cars, etc. Palladium is a component of white gold bands, as well.
Platinum Wedding Bands – the most durable type of metal is the platinum ring, comes from the word platina which means “little silver”. It is one of the rarest metals found in the earth’s crust, coming in a grey-white color. It is more ductile than copper, silver, gold, and less malleable than gold. Due to it’s resistance to tarnish and wear, this is a popular type of jewelry that many people prefer. It is resistant to corrosion and high temperatures. Platinum has been a solid third choice to white and yellow gold in terms of durability and beauty.
Seranite Wedding Bands – These are probably the newest kind of wedding bands in the market. They are hypoallergenic, for those who do not do well with white or yellow gold. Serandite comes in a variety of colors, from red to black, a member of the wollastonite group. It is commonly used in the fields of medical and aerospace industries, so it’s a sturdy mineral made from calcium, sodium, silicon, manganese, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Titanium Wedding Bands – Titanium and platinum are probably the top alternatives to yellow gold and white gold wedding bands. Titanium is light-weight and corrosion-resistant, coming in the color silver. It is aptly name after the Titans from Greek mythology. It is a good choice for people who spend much time in a water environment, or with allergies as it is hypoallergenic.
Tungsten Wedding Bands – Tungsten is a durable, tough metal that is a great alternative to gold for those who work with their hands. It is also known as wolfram. Tungsten literally means heavy stone; from the Swedish word tung sten. A hard, rare metal, tungsten is only found in chemical compounds on earth. With a similar density to gold, it is a very good alternative to gold or platinum. It also is hypoallergenic, making it a useful band for those with allergies. Lastly, it is scratch resistant if there is a brush finish. Tungsten is also used in electronics, cars, fishing lures, etc.
