Is there a best metal for men’s wedding bands? We would have to say no, because there are so many personal choices involved for a ring that you may wear for decades.
But there is a best metal for YOU. Choosing the metal a man likes best is a big deal. Because after all, that might be the sole material involved in the design. So, let’s look for the perfect metal for your wedding ring.
6 Important Men's Wedding Band Considerations:
Look
This refers to things like the color of the metal and does it tarnish. As well as finishes, designs and patterns that can be achieved with the metal.
Monetary Value
Costs in comparison to each other, but not specific prices. ** The price of all metals constantly changes. Therefore, any prices listed on this page are only estimates.
Feel
Weight and therefore the feel of each metal when you wear it as a ring.
Durability
Different factors relating to each metal’s various forms of strength and durability.
Workability
Can a professional jeweler work on each metal for things like re-sizing, repairing, or engraving?
Hypoallergenic
How likely will the metal cause an allergic reaction.
The Precious Metals
Precious metals are commodities that are bought and sold and are valuable. For many people their wedding ring is symbolic. So, they want a metal that means something, a metal with significant history and intrinsic value.
- Silver -
Silver is a white metal that has been used for wedding bands for generations. It’s a good choice as an affordable precious metal option. Plus, it’s widely used, so it’s even available from independent small artisan jewelers and in many styles.
Look
Silver has a white (silver) sheen that can be enhanced with a high polish or can have multiple patterns, designs or finishes applied. Unfortunately, silver gets black with tarnish which can also turn your finger a darkish color. However, there are specially alloyed silver bands that can go much longer without needing a polish. The addition of these alloys keeps your ring shiny longer.
Monetary Value
The most affordable of the precious metals, in 2022 you can get a nice plain silver band for as little as $100. New tarnish-resistant silver bands are a bit more, but still much less than gold. So now, you don’t have to polish your silver ring nearly as often.
Feel
Your silver ring will have a decent weight. It’s heavier than titanium and cobalt but quite a bit lighter than gold and much lighter than platinum.
Durability
As far as durability, silver is the least durable of the metals we’ll be covering here.
Workability
Silver is the softest metal on our list. So, it’s not as dependable as gold or platinum to set stones in. Some jewelers like to work in silver but most prefer to work with gold. However, you can literally blast holes in silver if you’re not experienced on a laser welder.
Hypoallergenic
Sterling silver jewelry will normally be stamped 925 because it’s at least 92.5% pure silver. However, problems come about with cheaper silver jewelry when nickel may make up the remaining 7.5%. Nickel is what causes the majority of allergic reactions.
- Gold -
Gold! Since the beginning of time, it’s been considered the King of metals for the finest jewelry! From the days of Cleopatra and the Mayans to today’s runways in Milan, gold is where it’s at! The favored metal of artists and craftsmen to create exceptional works of wearable art.
Its versatility is unmatched with colors ranging from intense to soft yellows to white (silver), rose (pink), green and blackened. You can even get more than one color of gold crafted together.
Gold’s popularity, availability, and workability assure you of being able to get pretty much anything you want in finishes, designs, and styles.
Look
Gold has always been considered the standard of beauty for jewelry, with its lustrous glow. 24K is pure gold and is a relatively soft metal with an intensely bright yellow color. However, other metal alloys can be added to get new colors, like white, rose (pink), and green gold. 18K yellow, the most popular, is prized for its glowing yellow gold color.
A lot of white gold jewelry is rhodium-plated to get a super white gleam. Rhodium is an expensive metal from the platinum family. Some people may notice that after years of wear their band isn’t as white. It’s likely the rhodium plating has worn off and we can re-plate your jewelry if you want that crisp white sheen back.
Monetary Value
Gold costs significantly more than silver but less than platinum. It’s a valuable metal that comes in different percentages and therefore, a range of prices. 24K is pure gold. Anything under 24K, indicates alloys have been added. More alloy also makes it less expensive. The most common percentages used for jewelry are 14K and 18K gold.
Feel
The closer you are to pure 24K gold, the heavier your gold band will be. So, within the gold family, 18K is a bit heavier than 14K gold. Gold is heavier than silver and will feel significantly more substantial than any of the alternative industrial metals. However, platinum’s heft will outweigh gold. So, gold lands somewhere in the middle.
Durability
Alloys added to gold affect its durability as well as its color. Pure 24K gold is too soft for durable jewelry. Added alloys give it extra strength. So, for example, 14K is less gold than 18K and is more durable than 18K.
Although a gold band will show more wear over the decades than platinum or many industrial metals, there is something very sentimental about a well-worn gold wedding band.
Workability
Gold is most any jeweler’s favorite metal to work in for several reasons. It’s carve-able and malleable but not too soft. Plus, it’s got the Goldilocks melting point. It melts easier than platinum and industrial metals but doesn’t “over melt” as easily as silver. Re-sizing a plain gold band should be an easy matter for any professional jeweler. It’s easy to engrave and a skilled jeweler can make a great variety of designs, textured finishes, patterns, or a super high polish.
Hypoallergenic
Yellow gold is more hypoallergenic than white gold. Any skin reaction is typically because of the nickel alloy used to make the gold white. For some, rhodium-plating takes care of this problem. However, you will need to have the ring re-plated when it wears off.
- Platinum -
Considered a highly prized pure metal, when used for jewelry it’s typically about 90-95% pure platinum with a small amount of alloy to make it more malleable and workable. People have been making platinum into jewelry since the days of the pyramids. It’s about 30 times rarer than gold.
Look
Platinum is also a white metal and has a bright white sheen that almost never tarnishes. You’ll find platinum bands in lots of different designs, patterns, and finishes. It’s considered a pure metal that keeps its natural silver-white color forever. It will develop a sort of satiny look to it over time. Some people actually admire this patina more than a flashy shiny sheen.
Monetary Value
This is the King of metals when it comes to its worth. Much more rare than gold with a lot of other uses besides jewelry. From science.howstuffworks.com, all the mined platinum in the world, melted down, would barely fill an Olympic-sized pool to ankle-deep. But gold would fill that pool 3 times. Platinum is the most valuable of metals used for jewelry.
Feel
It’s also the heavyweight of the metals. In comparison, platinum is about 40% heavier than 18K gold, and a titanium band will feel weightless next to platinum. Most of us won’t notice the difference in the weight of a ring after a short time. However for others, whether it’s heavy or light, the weight is absolutely an important factor. And, many appreciate the heft of fine platinum.
Durability
You’ll find that platinum is the most durable of the precious metals. When gemstones are involved, platinum prongs will be stronger and longer lasting than gold or silver. Over the years, it won’t show as much wear as gold jewelry. And, although it’s not as “strong” as titanium, it’s also not as brittle. Indeed, platinum is strong enough to have many industrial uses. As a matter of fact, it’s on the list of 50 Critical Minerals, essential to the economic and national security of the United States.
Workability
Because platinum is such a dense metal with such a high melting point, it’s more difficult and time-consuming to work with than gold. Plus, it takes extra work to polish and finish out platinum. These factors also add to the price of a piece of finished platinum jewelry. However, it’s much easier than working with alternative industrial metals like titanium and cobalt. Additionally, platinum works well under a laser welder and the dense metal carves like a dream. So, you should be able to easily find a professional jeweler for sizing, engraving, and repairing your platinum wedding band.
Hypoallergenic
Yes, platinum is hypoallergenic. It is almost always nickel-free and is considered a natural pure metal.
Industrial Metals
Industrial metals are becoming a low-maintenance, inexpensive alternative option to precious metals for men’s wedding bands.
Here are some pros & cons to help you decide if you’d like to go with an alternative metal choice from the world of industrial metals. Hopefully, these points will help you choose your own personal wedding band. The one that you want with the benefits most important to you, whether it’s from a precious metal or an alternative.
- they normally never tarnish
- typically they are extremely durable
- most are very scratch resistant and need no polishing or plating to stay shiny
- most are hypoallergenic
- jewelry made solely from industrial metal holds no monetary or resale value
- they have no history, lore, tradition or symbolism (in other words, romance)
- because of the intense heat necessary, it's nearly impossible to get them sized, engraved or re-worked in jewelry shops
- some alternative metal rings are very difficult to cut off in an emergency
- Titanium -
Titanium rings have recently become more popular as an alternative for mens wedding bands. It’s one of the better choices for an alternative metal.
Look
Titanium is a shiny white metal that doesn’t tarnish. It’s not very workable for jewelry so you will be more limited in designs. Although, designs are progressing. For instance, you can now have gems tension mounted into titanium.
Monetary Value
Titanium bands hold little to no monetary value or historical value. This also means that your titanium jewelry has no intrinsic or resale value. This may or may not be a deal-breaker for you. Although that kind of ruins it for some people who want a highly prized metal for their symbolic ring, others could care less.
Feel
Titanium wedding bands are the lightest of the lightweight metals. Many people find titanium wedding bands to be super light and are delighted with them. They love the feeling that they’re wearing nothing and find them to be very comfortable. Others want to know they’re wearing something more substantial. So remember, it’s your band and your personal choice.
Durability
Titanium is one of the strongest metals around that can be made into jewelry. It’s scratch resistant. And, even though it’s not as scratch resistant as a Ceramic or Tungsten wedding band, it won’t break from impact like ceramic and tungsten. Plus, a titanium ring can be cut off in an emergency, ceramic and tungsten will have to be shattered.
Workability
Titanium can be engraved but it won’t cut deeply so the engraving will be faint. It would be rare to find a jeweler able or willing to work on titanium for sizings, engraving, or repairs. Titanium rings are easier to cut than aircraft-grade titanium, but they’re still harder to cut than gold. Which is stressful in an emergency. However, if you’re close to an emergency room or fire station they probably have the right equipment to cut titanium jewelry in less than 15 minutes.
Hypoallergenic
Yes, titanium is nickel-free and definitely hypoallergenic.
- Stainless Steel -
Stainless steel is a white metal most all of us are familiar with, but not really with jewelry. It might be an option you haven’t thought of before. It does have some nice properties for simple jewelry.
Look
Another white metal but it doesn’t have as much white gleam to it. It does not tarnish.
Monetary Value
Stainless steel is very affordable and easy on the pocketbook.
Feel
Gold and platinum are both heavier than stainless. But stainless is heavier than titanium.
Durability
It resists scratches, oxidation, and corrosion. It’s stronger than the precious metals but not as strong as titanium.
Workability
Because it’s such a rigid and hard metal, jewelers don’t normally do sizings or repairs on stainless steel. But it can be polished.
Hypoallergenic
Stainless steel is considered hypoallergenic and is often used for earring posts.
- Cobalt -
Of the new alternative metals for wedding bands, Cobalt looks the most like shiny white gold. And, unlike white gold, it’s achieved without any rhodium-plating.