What Ring Metal to Pick

There are a lot of different metal options to choose from. Here I go over some of the pros and cons of each metal type.

White gold

It looks like silver but you should know that white gold actually doesn’t exist. In fact the gold gets its white appearance due to it being rhodium plated. Although, white gold looks very sleek you will have to replace the rhodium plating routinely, so keep this in mind when decide what type of metal you’d like. The time between re-platings will very depending on how think the plate is put on and how rough you are while wearing it. For example, you should take it off when washing your hands or doing the dishes because the chemicals found in soap, shampoo or lotion along with other items, can damage the plating. You will have to bring it into your jeweler to get it re-plated and generally costs between 20-30 dollars.

Platinum

This transition metal has a white-gray appearance. Some good characteristics of the transition metal is that it is wear and tarnish resistant. However because platinum is very rare, its price will change based upon its availability. It is actually more precious than gold and thus costs quite a bit more than gold.

Stainless Steel

As the name states this type of metal doesn’t stain. This metal, unlike silver will not turn black. Stainless steel is also lighter than silver. Although, there isn’t a lot of jewelery made by this type of metal it is another option, especially if you are looking for less expensive alternative.

Tungsten

Tungsten is a very heavy metal that is a gray in color. Due to the characteristics of tungsten you cannot get the ring re-sized if you loose or put on weight, like you would if you had a gold or white gold ring. If you ended up needing to get the ring re-sized you’ll have to get a brand new ring in the new size. Some jewelery stores have lifetime warranties that you can purchase. If you buy a tungsten ring buying the warranty maybe a smart idea if you are thinking your weight may change in the future. The warranty then would cover the price of the new ring you need to purchase. Tungsten generally is reasonably priced in comparison to gold and platinum.

Titanium

Titanium is another metal that is available to you. Titanium is has a white, silver, gray color. This metal is widely distributed and is very strong but also light.

Palladium

This is a transition metal that is it is commonly used as a replacement for platinum or white gold since it shares the same white-silver color. Palladium doesn’t tarnish if worn under normal conditions. It is also cheaper than platinum.