Once a couple decides on purchasing Celtic wedding bands, there are some important decisions to make. The material of the ring is the first thing to consider. There are many options for materials, here we will consider four popular choices. We will consider yellow gold. Next we will learn about white gold. Titanium as a material for wedding rings will be looked at. To finish, we will look at Tungsten Carbide. Since there is no right answer about which is best, buyers will want to acquaint themselves with many materials.
Yellow gold is traditional and is still preferred by many. The material itself adds to the rings value. It is easier to reshape than other alloys because of how soft it is. Yellow gold has been chosen by many couples, but it also has its drawbacks. Gold is more soft than other materials used in wedding bands. In time, the material can look dull, nicked-up and scratched. Some gold rings will lose their shape in time. People who are in contact with other hard materials or activity may find gold just isn’t right for them.
In recent years white gold has gained in usage and popularity. White gold manages to retain the intrinsic value of gold, without the brassy coloring of yellow gold. White gold is an alloy mix of gold together with materials such as zinc, palladium, or nickel. When a ring is finished it is rhodium plated to cover the dull yellow color that remains. Like yellow gold, many of the benefits are the same. Some of their weaknesses are the same. White gold will also scratch easily and be prone to losing some of its shape. Also, white gold rings need to be re-rhodium plated on a regular basis. This should happen every 6-18 months. While some couples are very happy with their white gold, others find dealing with nicks and re-rhodium plating is just too much maintenance.
Titanium rings have seen widespread use in recent years. Titanium is a very light, but durable alloy. It is a strong material and is sometimes used for drill bit tips and other high friction items. It is a dark gray color naturally, but can be enhanced with different finishes. Since it is hard to scratch, and maintains a nice luster even after wear, many couples are happy with the low maintenance titanium. Some old wives tales will say that titanium rings cannot be cut off of ones finger in the case of an accident. Although it is more difficult to cut a harder material, it is still possible. Because of the hardness of the material, it is impossible to re-size a titanium ring.
Tungsten carbide is a relatively new ring to the marketplace. To create tungsten carbide, tungsten and carbon materials are combined with a bonding agent. The ceramic mixture that is produced is then cast and the finish it retains is very durable. The finish is very hard to scratch, and the material itself is heavier than gold or silver. The surface will still be able to scratch, but they don’t show up as well as they do in gold or even titanium. As with titanium, these rings cannot be re-sized. Also, tungsten rings can actually break if dropped from a height or if involved in rough situations.
When choosing a wedding band, couples have many options to choose from. They can choose the traditional yellow or white gold, they may choose titanium, they may elect to buy tungsten carbide, or they may choose from a number of other alloys on the market. The most important thing is that a couple consider what they really want out of their rings and then make an educated decision. The couples that do their homework are more likely to be happy with their choice of wedding bands.
Liam Grant has always been interested in Celtic Wedding Bands. He currently helps run a site that sells all varieties of Celtic Wedding Bands and Celtic Wedding Rings
