Alternative Metals
Men's rings not only come in a variety styles but in a variety metal choices other than the traditional gold, platinum, silver or palladium. What was once an industrial metal, tungsten, ceramic, cobalt, and titanium have entered the wedding band world. These alternatives have made some impressive designs and have unique characteristics that the traditional metals do not. Although they have pros and cons of their own, they do share a similar issue.
None of the alternative metals are re-sizable or repairable. This is usually the best explanation why they are no women's engagement rings in these metals. When diamonds are set in alternative metal wedding bands, the diamonds are usually set in a small silver bezel because tungsten, ceramic, cobalt and titanium cannot be manipulated.
The following shows the pros and cons of the alternative metals used in men's wedding bands:
Tungsten
Pros:
- Highly Scratch Resistant
- (10x) harder than gold or silver
- (8x) harder than platinum
- (2x) as hard as steel.
- Multiple color options: gray, black and white
- All are comfort fit
- Hypoallergenic
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Cannot be resized
- Breakable if dropped on hard surface
- Black and white tungsten is not as scratch resistant as gray because of the coating to make it white or black.
- If scratched. cannot be polished
Ceramic
Pros:
- Highly Scratch Resistant
- Multiple color options: black , white, and Pink
- Light weight like titanium
- Color is consistent throughout
- All are comfort fit
- Hypoallergenic
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Cannot be resized
- Breakable if dropped on hard surface
Cobalt
Pros:
- Shatterproof
- More scratch resistant than precious metals
- Scratches can be polished
- Looks like white gold or platinum
- All are comfort fit
- Hypoallergenic
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Cannot be resized
Titanium
Pros:
- Stronger than steel
- Lightest of alternative metals
- Scratches can be polished
- All are comfort fit
- Hypoallergenic
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Cannot be resized
