Selecting an Affordable Wedding Ring Metal

Couples will be thrilled to know that great advances have been made recently in working with other appropriate metals for wedding rings. Brides and grooms now have a much wider variety in wedding ring metals, and most will be pleased to hear that all of these metals are less expensive than platinum, and many of them are also cheaper than gold. Before you start thinking flimsy, or it will turn green, you may like to know that all of these contemporary wedding ring metals are also hypo-allergenic and hard wearing. The metals we are going to talk about today are titanium, palladium, and tungsten carbide. Which one of these metals is going to meet your wedding ring requirements?

Titanium is a very strong and light metal. Titanium wedding rings are available in colors ranging from blacks and grays to many other tints such as blues and greens. Titanium wedding rings can be set with diamonds or stones.

Palladium is from the same family of metals as platinum, has a very similar appearance, and is naturally shiny. Palladium wedding rings, like platinum, never need to be plated. Palladium weighs less than platinum, making for a lighter weight wedding ring. From a costing perspective, palladium is roughly 25% the cost of platinum, coming in at about the same as 9K white gold, but never needing the rhodium re-plating that white gold needs.

Tungsten carbide rings are made from one of the hardest metals in the world. These rings have a reputation for being virtually indestructible, being 10 times harder than a gold wedding ring, and 4 times the strength of platinum and titanium. Tungsten wedding rings as well as engagement rings will weigh about the same as a platinum wedding ring. Due to the strength of the metal, tungsten wedding rings cannot be resized or altered once they have been made. Generally tungsten wedding rings are not set with stones, as the hardness of the metal makes it difficult. However, tungsten can be lasered with designs, and made with other metals inlaid. Tungsten wedding rings come in a range of colors from white to metallic shiny grays through to dark grays and blacks.

Mixing your metals. All of these metals can be incorporated into multi-color or multi-metal rings. Palladium can be used to create the same visual effect of platinum in a wedding ring. Yellow and rose gold can be inlaid with tungsten, titanium, and palladium.

Price Differences: Palladium is the most expensive of the 3 metals, being roughly one quarter the cost of platinum, followed by titanium and tungsten in affordability.

Andy Moquin has spent 20 years in the jewelry industry with much of his experience in polished diamonds, engagement rings, wedding rings, rings and custom jewelry design. He is an accomplished business consultant and is available for advice on topics such as marketing, advertising, merchandising and business turnarounds.

The Latest Wedding Ring Trends

One of the most poignant moments of a wedding ceremony is when the bride and groom pledge themselves in marriage by exchanging wedding rings. "With this ring, I thee wed" is a very important customary part of the service. Such a special moment deserves to be represented by an equally special ring; these are some of the latest trends in wedding rings.

Gone are the days when most married couples wore matching gold bands. Newlyweds these days expect their rings to have personality and to showcase their individual taste. Wedding jewelry is a very personal choice, and no matter how much the bride and groom love each other, it does not have to mean choosing matchy-matchy sets of bands. While the notion of matching bands is very romantic, most couples will at the most choose wedding rings with a common element, such as the same color.

White metals like platinum and white gold remain very popular for wedding rings, especially for men. Even as people have been looking for ways to cut down on other wedding expenses, the average expenditure for wedding jewelry has remained steady. This is because brides and grooms realize that while the wedding may only be one day, the wedding jewelry they choose will last for a lifetime. It is a sound investment, and worth a bit of a splurge to get the perfect wedding bands.

In the rest of jewelry fashion, statement making pieces have become all the rage. Translated into wedding bands, this means pieces with distinctive details. The inspiration can come from tribal patterns, ancient Celtic motifs, nature, or abstract geometry. The plain gold bands that your parents wore are being replaced today by rings with intricate and eyecatching artistry. This makes for unique wedding bands that will be treasured for their beauty as much as for their symbolism.

For mens' wedding rings, high tech metals are another hot trend. Space-age materials such as titanium, tungsten, and palladium have broad appeal for tech-savvy guys. Men love the idea of having technologically advanced wedding rings. Frequently worked in two tone colors with brushed finishes, these modern bands are becoming more and more popular each year.

One trend that is still going strong is diamond or gemstone bands for ladies. Sparkle is something that never goes out of style! In addition to the classic diamond channel band, there are modern rings with inset square gems, whimsical scatter bands, and elegant bar set rings. Brides everywhere agree that there is no need to wait for an anniversary to get a diamond band! After diamonds, classic blue sapphires are the next most popular gemstone selected.

Another trend in wedding bands is "green" rings. Made from reclaimed metals and fair trade gemstones, these are a great complement to an eco-friendly wedding. It is wonderful to be able to wear wedding jewelry that fits not only your esthetics, but also your ethics.

The most important trend in wedding rings is for each couple to choose the bands that they love the best. Fashion and styles will come and go, but your wedding bands will be worn for a lifetime together, so you should really love the design you select, whether they are a hot style or just a personal favorite.

Read Guy's other articles on weddings,society and fashions and let us know what you think. Call us at SilverlandJewelry.com for help with your wedding jewelry or gift needs. Keep up on the latest trends on wedding jewelry with our helpful articles.

Current Wedding Ring Trends

Never before has there been such a huge variety of wedding rings to select from. What are the most popular wedding ring trends currently?

Platinum wedding rings are extremely popular for several reasons. Firstly, the metal is very hard wearing and strong, important for a ring that will be on your finger for a long time. Platinum is also hypoallergenic, making it a sensible choice for anyone suffering from skin conditions.

Who wants a wedding ring they are allergic to? Lastly, that fabulous luster is going to remain on that wedding ring. Unlike most white gold, platinum wedding rings are not plated to achieve that sheen, ensuring no visits to the jeweler to keep the shine topped up.

Titanium wedding ring makes popular selections for those in contact with corrosive chemicals or harsh conditions. Titanium is also hypoallergenic. Titanium rings are now available in a variety of tints for very contemporary looks. Due to the fact that titanium is almost indestructible, resizing of a wedding ring made from titanium can be problematic.

Celtic wedding ring has been around for centuries. In recent times, these often highly ornate and symbolic rings have seen a huge resurgence in popularity. Due to the varied selections of Celtic knots and scrolls, there is plenty of room for individuality. Celtic can be even more eye catching as two tone, or decorated with diamonds.

Braided wedding rings can be quite similar in appearance to Celtic. These classics are a great choice for those who are not looking for overly ornate. Like the Celtic rings, braided rings can look magnificent in two and three tone metals.

Paisley wedding rings can be a great selection for those who love the Art Nouveau era. Flowers, leaves, and scrollwork are the patterns for engraving and etching. Perfect for his and hers, and stand alone wedding band.

Wedding rings with diamonds. Both brides and grooms are increasingly opting for a little bling on their wedding band. Selections range from all over pave settings, to channel settings, to wedding rings with a row of diamonds top and bottom leaving the middle of the band free to be plain or worked, such as with Celtic knots or paisley designs.

Hammered wedding rings make great selections for the groom who wants a little visual interest and texture without too much fussiness. Hammered rings are also a practical choice for anyone who is likely to be hard wearing on their wedding ring. A few dents and scratches will be much less obvious on a worked ring such as this. For extra appeal, this wedding ring are also available in two tone metals.

Two tone wedding rings are becoming increasingly popular. One of the main reasons is that the inclusion of more than one color metal ensures your wedding ring will go with all of your existing jewelry, for example, both your stainless steel watch and your gold dress watch. Two tone metals can also be a great way to incorporate both the bride and the groom's personal metal preferences into both the wedding bands.

With all these wedding ring styles to select from, how do you stop at one?

Andy Moquin has spent 20 years in the jewelry industry with much of his experience in polished diamonds, Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, Rings and custom jewelry design. He is an accomplished business consultant and is available for advice on topics such as marketing, advertising, merchandising and business turnarounds.

A Unique Wedding Ring With That Personal Touch

A variety of unique wedding ring designs are available in a jeweler's store or even on the internet. Nowadays couples are always on a lookout to personalize their wedding day and make it a special occasion. There are many ways by which you too can make your wedding day unique. You could start by finding a unique wedding ring idea.

Some Unique Wedding Ring Ideas

Your wedding rings could be tattooed on your fingers with engravings of a loving message. Though you would also wear a traditional ring over the tattoo, still this would be a great idea to personalize your rings.

Another great idea would be to have your wedding rings engraved. Have the name of your spouse, or the wedding date, or even a romantic message engraved on the rings. This would be a nice way to make your day special and also would make your rings stand apart from the others.

Try and customize the ring to suit your style and taste. You might like the design but not the stone. In order to like all the features, speak to your designers and give them an idea as to how you would like your ring to be. By customizing the ring you it would be very unlikely that anyone else would come up with something similar. These rings would be designed to your own personal style and would suit your personality as well.

Wedding ring sets are available in many colors and styles. You could look for more designs on the internet and even order online if you fancy something. However, it would also be wise be choose an online jeweler or designer after checking the credentials of the past work.

You could even try something new with gold wedding rings and get a totally different shaped stone embedded in it. Sit down with a good designer and decide on the look you would like to give to the ring.

You could locate a good jewelry designer in your locality who might own his own store. They would surely help you come up with some unique wedding ring for you and your spouse.

Nowadays, couples are constantly looking for newer and innovative ways to make their wedding bands unique. You could also consider having the ceremonies set apart from the usual. Try and incorporate more colors and new age gowns and dresses for the bride to go with your unique rings. Your personalized wedding arrangements and unique wedding rings would display the love both of you have for each other.

A variety of unique wedding ring designs are available in a jeweler's store or even on the internet. For more information on wedding rings, please log on to wedding- marriages.

Titanium Wedding Ring - Making A Choice

Wedding rings symbolize the sacred bond of love and togetherness. They are worn by wedded couple as a show of their loyalty to one another. However, while engagement rings are generally flashy with diamonds and all, wedding rings are mostly simple and plain.

How About A Titanium Wedding Ring?

Now when you are in a fix so as to what to choose for a wedding ring, how about a titanium wedding ring? These are unique, yet have the luster of traditional rings. This is because they combine the classic beauty of the traditional wedding ring and the advantages of a titanium ring.

What's more, titanium rings come in many different colors and shapes. They can also be customized to fit your needs. These wedding rings have a flexible price range from $400 to over $3000 that suits your pocket as well.

Now that you are getting interested in a titanium wedding ring, you should get to know more about it. Like, do you want to design your own wedding ring or choose from a myriad of available designs where you can decide to get engraving done on your ring?

Decorating A Titanium Ring With Stones

Nowadays, many couples are going in for titanium rings for their wedding. Titanium was discovered in Cornwall, England over 200 years ago. Initially it was used in surgical instruments, implants and even bicycle frames. However, its qualities such as its silver color, luster, lightness, strength and resistance to corrosion soon caught the eye of many, and titanium entered the world of jewelry.

As, by themselves titanium wedding bands are considered pretty plain, they are usually inlaid with gold to produce two-tone rings. Many a times, couples choose to get their titanium wedding rings also decorated with gem stones.

In fact, it has become quite common to see people select their birth stones to adorn their titanium wedding ring. They also like to use their partner's birthstone on their own wedding ring. On the whole, these precious stones are associated with the months of the year in this manner: January- Garnet, February- Amethyst, March- Aquamarine, April- Diamond, May- Emerald, June- Pearl, July- Ruby, August - Peridot, September - Sapphire, October - Opal, November - Topaz and December - Turquoise.

However, you will have to check out whether your birthstone is suitable for use in a titanium wedding ring. In general, pearls and opals are too soft while amethysts and garnets are prone to cracking.

So, as an alternative, you can also go for astrological stones. In general, the astrological stones for the sun signs are: Aquarius- Onyx or Malachite, Pisces- Jasper or Jade, Aries- Carnelian, Taurus- Topaz or Citrine, Gemini- Emerald or green Feldspar, Cancer- Ruby or Garnet, Leo- Sapphire or Lapis Lazuli, Virgo- Diamond or Beryl, Libra- Cubic Zircon, Turquoise or Amber, Scorpio- Agate, Sagittarius- Amethyst, Capricorn- Peridot, Serpentine or Chalcedony.

You have a lot of choice when you decide to go for a titanium wedding ring. Get one that suits you, your style and budget. For more information on wedding rings, you may logon to wedding-marriages.