Will your favorite metal work for your partner? What metal will look, and feel, great for both of you? If you’re thinking about picking out matching wedding bands, then it’s important to choose a metal that works for both you and your partner. The following quick guide will give you a comprehensive overview of your metal choices, and help you to choose the perfect ring set for your wedding.
Silver
The most affordable of the precious metals, silver is outwardly similar in appearance to white gold. Currently priced at just $17/ troy ounce, this budget-savvy metal makes a great choice for simple, classic, wedding band sets. Perfect for cool skin tones, silver is a beautiful, eye-catching metal.
It does, however, come with its own set of disadvantages. Unlike its base-metal counterparts, silver will never rust or corrode. But unlike gold and platinum, it is prone to tarnishing. If uncared for, silver can darken over time, eventually turning to black. While tarnish is easy to remove with any over-the-counter silver polish, it does take that little bit of extra care and attention, so if your partner is likely to neglect his/her jewelry, you may want to turn to a no-maintenance precious metal such as platinum or gold. If you want to have diamonds or other gemstones set into your band, keep in mind that silver is an even softer metal than gold, so be sure to choose a secure channel or bezel setting.
Platinum
A popular wedding band metal, platinum is currently priced second to gold at $1136 / troy ounce. Like silver, platinum complements cool skin undertones, but, unlike silver, it does not tarnish. In fact, the appearance of platinum changes very little over time. While white gold can sometimes take on a yellowish tint if uncared for, platinum will always look just about the same. At worst, it may darken to a slightly duller shade of grey (which some platinum ring owners actually prefer because it can make diamonds stand out even more in contrast). If either you or your partner has a nickel allergy, then platinum is a great choice for you, as many white gold alloys are mixed with nickel.
Gold
At $1198 / troy ounce, gold is currently the priciest precious metal (although platinum has been know to overtake it periodically). Historically the metal choice of kings, gold comes with a certain traditional appeal. Durable and beautiful, it’s hard to go wrong with a gold wedding band. If gold is your metal of choice, then you’ll be able to choose from white, yellow, or rose gold. Best suited to warm skin tones, yellow and rose gold never discolor or diminish over time. In contrast, white gold works best with cool skin tones, but can take on a yellowish tone if uncared for (easily remedied by a professional cleaning).
If you select gold wedding bands, you’ll also be able to choose from a range of metal karats. Most common in jewelry are 10k, 14k, and 18k, although gold can be purchased in both higher and lower karats. The higher the gold karat you choose, the more expensive the metal. In 10k and 14k, gold is strongest, marking the least and holding stones the most securely. At 18k and above, gold is notably softer, but does have a stunning, rich color to it.
