Tungsten, Titanium And Stainless Steel: Which Material Is Right For Your Wedding Band?

Gold and platinum are two of the most popular materials from which men's wedding bands are made. However, many men are looking for alternatives to these materials. Not only are they expensive, but they easily scratch and can lose their shape over time. Luckily, there are three materials that are cheaper and more durable. These materials are tungsten, titanium and stainless steel. If you are considering these materials, you may want to know which is right for you. Learning about the benefits of each metal will help you determine which one is right for your wedding band.

Benefits of Stainless Steel Wedding Bands

Looks Like Platinum

One of the reasons why stainless steel is quickly becoming a popular jewelry metal is because when cleaned and shined, it looks very similar in appearance to platinum. Platinum is very expensive and a soft metal, making it less than ideal for those on a budget or those who work with their hands daily. If you love the look of platinum but don't want a ring that bends and scratches easily, or don't want to pay for a pricey ring, stainless steel may be perfect for you.

Stainless Steel Can Easily Be Cut-Off In An Emergency

The other advantage to stainless steel is that it can be cut off of your finger in case of an emergency. You are most likely not thinking about being in an accident, but you never know what will happen. Do to their thickness, titanium and tungsten are extremely difficult to get off in an emergency situation. This is just something to keep in mind as you shop for your wedding band.

Benefits of Titanium Wedding Bands

Hypoallergenic

The biggest benefit to titanium is that it is the only hypoallergenic metal out of tungsten, stainless steel and titanium. Tungsten generally contains cobalt and stainless steel typically contains nickel. Both of these can be allergens for those with metal allergies or skin sensitivities. If you have had reactions to metal in the past, you will want a hypoallergenic metal. You can find that in titanium.

Lightweight

The second advantage to titanium wedding bands is that they are extremely lightweight. Titanium is very durable, yet lightweight at the same time. If you hate the feeling of a bulky, heavy ring on your finger, titanium may be ideal for you.

Benefits of Tungsten Wedding Bands

Indefinite Shine

One of the benefits to tungsten is that once it is shined and polished, it will keep its shine for a lifetime as long as it is cleaned. This is important to note because stainless steel and titanium will not keep their shine. They will need to be re-polished every few years or the metal will begin to look cloudy and dull. If you want a ring that is low maintenance, a tungsten wedding band may be perfect for you.

Extremely Difficult To Scratch

The other major advantage that tungsten has over stainless steel and titanium is that it is extremely difficult to scratch. Tungsten is one of the hardest metals on the market today. It measures a 9 on the Mohs mineral hardness scale, compared to the 6 and 6.5 that titanium and stainless steel measure. If you do a job where your ring may scratch, such as auto repair, tree trimming or furnace installation, selecting a material that is hard to scratch, such as tungsten, can keep your ring looking great for years to come.

Tungsten, titanium and stainless steel are great wedding band options if you don't want an expensive wedding band. If you have a limited budget or are afraid of losing an expensive ring, one of these materials may be perfect for you. Learning about the benefits of each of these metals will help you make an educated decision as to which is the best material for your wedding band.


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