An alternative to Titanium, Zirconium offers a look like no other metal on the market. It starts as a grey/white colour that turns black via an oxidation process, creating an extremely hard natural black coating that is scratch resistant. Zirconium is completely non-toxic, so much so that it is often used in dental fillings, making it perfect for allergies and sensitive skin.
Wedding Bands
THE ORIGINS OF A WEDDING BAND
WHEN CHOOSING A WEDDING BAND
Always check to see how the rings sits with your Engagement Ring. Consider how the two rings would sit side by side. If your engagement ring has a very big central stone, there might be a gap in between the two rings, which bothers some people. In this case, consider how a curved wedding ring may be deigned to curve around the engagement ring or consider how a fitted wedding ring may be designed to interlock with the engagement ring. You can purchase the wedding band and engagement ring separately, however you could choose to buy a matching set.
DIFFERENT ISN’T ALWAYS A BAD THING
It is nice to have a wedding ring and engagement ring that match. However, it is not always possible to buy a matching set. It is perfectly fine to have two different rings, as they are two separate rings for two separate reasons. Some people prefer having dissimilar rings and other times they can complement each other for instance a solitaire would look nice with a wedding band with diamond shoulders.
BE TRUE TO YOUR OWN STYLE
Don’t feel obliged to pick a plain wedding ring just because it’s tradition. Look at unique accents and interesting details in case they appeal to you even more. Remember: your wedding ring should match your personality, no one else’s. It is also going to be on your finger everyday, you want to choose something that you will like ten years from now or longer.
DIAMONDS ARE NOT ONLY FOR WOMEN
Once you’ve chosen the wedding ring, consider placing a few diamonds (or other precious gemstones) into the ring. Diamond-set wedding rings are a popular choice, largely because they provide a beautiful backdrop for engagement rings. Of course, diamonds aren’t just for the girls. Consider a single diamond or coloured stone in the groom’s ring, too. This is becoming increasingly popular.
What is Rhodium plating?
Rhodium, part of the platinum precious metal group, is used to plate white gold because it is dazzlingly white and mirror-like, whereas white gold can be slightly grey in tone. Rhodium is shiny and cool, almost like chrome, but even whiter. It also acts as a protective coating for your ring, enhancing its life span.
METAL CHOICES
A key factor when choosing a wedding ring is the metal it’s made out of. For the bride, it is normally determined by what metal her engagement ring is, but for men there is an ever-increasing variety to choose from.
Gold
Prized since prehistoric times, gold is a reliable choice as it doesn’t rust, tarnish or corrode. It also mixes well with other metals to produce two-tone or three-tone rings. Wedding rings come in 9ct, 10ct, 14ct, 18ct and 22ct gold, which can be yellow, white or rose, depending on your personal tastes. Pure gold, which is 24 carat, is often considered to be too soft for jewellery and requires much more care.
An ideal choice for wedding rings is 18ct, which is 75 percent pure gold and has a richer hue than 9ct (which is 37.5 percent pure gold). It also tends to retain its good looks better as it ages.
One thing to keep in mind is that to keep your white gold wedding ring looking beautiful, you’ll need to have it periodically plated with rhodium.
PLATINUM & PALLADIUM
Two popular choices for wedding rings are platinum and palladium, which don’t require rhodium plating. Their natural brilliance makes them the perfect choice for jewellery to ensure it will last forever. Recently, palladium has become a popular alternative to platinum because of its similar colour yet more budget-friendly price tag.
ZIRCONIUM
TITANIUM
TANTALUM
Tantalum is a hard, grey, ductile metal. Tantalum is nearly immune to chemical attacks at temperatures below 302 F (150 C). Tantalum occurs naturally in the mineral columbite-tantalite. It’s mainly found in in Australia, Brazil, Mozambique, Thailand, Portugal, Nigeria, Zaire and Canada. Tantalum is highly durable, has a weight similar to Platinum and can be combined with precious metals like Gold to create a very contemporary looking ring. Tantalum is the only contemporary metal which can actually be resized.