Tungsten Carbide On Wedding Rings

Tungsten carbide is perhaps the most masculine choice for a man's wedding band. They are very hard and incredibly scratch resistant. If you want to have a little fun with your buddies, (especially after a couple beers), take a metal file to your tungsten carbide wedding ring and file away on it. After a giving it a good effort simply wipe the ring and show your friends. To their amazement the ring will still be in perfect condition! You can wear your tungsten carbide ring during any activity and it will always look like it did the day you bought it.

At the same time as being very hard, tungsten is also very brittle. Just dropping the ring could crack it. This does, however, make it a very safe ring to wear. For instance, if you were to slam your hand in a car door the ring would simply fracture into pieces rather than pinching down on your finger, cutting off its circulation. Nevertheless, make sure that the jeweler that you choose to purchase your ring from has a lifetime warranty to cover such scenarios.

One thing to look out for when purchasing a tungsten carbide ring is that it is indeed a tungsten carbide ring. Some of the cheaper bands are actually made out of tungsten alone, which will scratch with normal wear. Some manufacturers will also use cobalt in their rings because it is cheaper. I advise you to stay clear of such rings, as cobalt will react to your body's chemistry and can cause a world of problems.

Tungsten carbide rings will fit into most budgets as it is also very affordable. Plan on spending around $200 to $350 or more if you want diamonds or a precious metal inlay to your ring.

Because tungsten is so hard, like titanium, it cannot be sized.

Platinum for Wedding Band

Platinum is a rare, precious; naturally white metal. It lacks any alloys with yellowish hues that will turn it an off-white. Because of this, it will keep it's shiny white luster indefinitely, which makes it an excellent choice for anybody who wants a white wedding band. Because it is so rare, it is also very expensive. At the time this article was written (9-10-2007), platinum was selling for over $1280 per ounce. As a result, a plain wedding band made of this material can cost well over a thousand US dollars, and the price goes up as the design becomes more intricate.

Although this metal is very dense, and heavy, it is also very malleable. This makes it great for the intricacies that you will find in a woman's wedding band. However, this means that the ring will become easily scratched and dented in a very short period of time, which can be detrimental for a man's wedding band. Because of this, it will need to be removed at times of manual labor, or during such activities as working out with weights. Even though the material does scratch easily, it does not wear away or thin with age, making it an excellent choice to hold a diamond.

Platinum is also hypoallergenic, and, since most bands are around 90% to 95% pure, this makes it a very good alternative for those individuals whom are allergic to white gold. However, since it does not oxidize, it can leave dark smudges on your skin.