Wedding Band Materials

Choosing the right metal for your wedding band is a personal decision that depends on your lifestyle, budget, and aesthetic preferences. Here's a breakdown of some popular options available in our Band Builder:

Precious Metals

All precious metal bands are designed to last a lifetime with proper maintenance. They can easily be sized and repaired. They hold value well and make for a great heirloom to pass down to future generations. These are metals that are tried and true great choices for your wedding band.

14k Gold:

14K is a timeless choice for jewelry. It is durable enough to last a lifetime but malleable enough to withstand repairs.

• Pros:
  • Classic and timeless appearance
  • Available in various colors (yellow, white, rose)
  • Relatively malleable, allowing for customization and resizing
• Cons:
  • Softer metal, can dent or bend if enough force is applied
  • Can be more expensive than other options, but does hold value.
  • White Gold requires maintenance in the form of Rhodium plating to retain its bright white color

Platinum:

For those looking for an upgrade to the classic gold wedding band or looking for something similar with less maintenance, Platinum is a great choice. 

• Pros:
  • Extremely durable and scratch-resistant
  • Naturally white color, eliminating the need for replating
  • Hypoallergenic
• Cons:
  • Denser metal, making the ring heavier
  • More expensive than gold
  • Requires special skill set and tools to resize

Alternative Metals

Alternative metals are a great choice for those with jobs that make wearing precious metals a liability or those looking for a great wedding band on a budget. Alternative metals are designed to handle extreme force, unlike gold which will bend. In the event that they are crushed, they are more likely to break than deform. Alternative metals cannot be sized, so they may have to be completely replaced if a size change is needed down the road. 

You may notice that two popular materials, tantalum and ceramic, are not on our list. While we do offer these bands, we tend to find them too brittle- they are much more prone to cracking than the other metals we offer. 

Zirconium: 

Zirconium is one of our most popular bands due to it's affordable price and sleek black color. It looks great by itself or as an inlay feature in a gold band!

• Pros:
  • Affordable and lightweight
  • Highly scratch-resistant and durable
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Available in various colors (black, gray, silver)
• Cons:
  • Can chip or break if enough force is applied
  • Cannot be resized
  • May not be considered as valuable as precious metals

Tantalum:

Another of our more popular metals, Tantalum is a heavy metal available in two shades of grey. It is similar to zirconium, but more dense and slightly more durable.

• Pros:
  • Unique metal
  • Highly scratch-resistant and durable
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Naturally grey or dark gray color with a distinctive luster
• Cons:
  • Less than gold, but more expensive than other alternative metals
  • Can chip or break if enough force is applied
  • Cannot be resized
  • May not be considered as valuable as precious metals

Cobalt Chrome:

For those who like the look of white gold or platinum but not the price, Cobalt Chrome is one of our most recommended metals. 

• Pros:
  • Affordable and durable
  • Scratch-resistant and tarnish-resistant
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Customizable
• Cons:
  • Can be heavier than some other metals
  • May not be as readily available as other options
  • Difficult to resize

Titanium: 

• Pros:
  • Lightweight and comfortable to wear
  • Strong and scratch-resistant
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Most affordable option
• Cons:
  • Can be prone to scratches if not high quality
  • Difficult to resize
  • Limited style options compared to other metals

Ultimately, the best metal for your wedding band depends on your individual preferences and priorities. Consider your lifestyle, budget, and desired style when making your decision.