5 Rock Alternative Metals for Men’s Wedding Bands

 

The Situation: You are thinking about putting your laptop up for sale and selling your framed autographed Tony Romo NFL football to get a cool wedding ring, because you already spent major bucks on an engagement ring and her wedding band.

The Problem: You aren’t Tony Romo, nor do you have his multi-million dollar contract. In fact, times are just a little tough, but you still want to get a stylish and unique wedding band you can afford. Plus, do you want to see your jersey hanging on your rich friend’s wall when you visit and you need your laptop!

The Solution: Cool alternative metals for wedding bands are the best way to get a wedding ring within your budget that is not boring.

Alternative metals are metals used in jewelry that are slightly less rare than platinum and gold.  Palladium, titanium, tungsten, and cobalt are being used by fine jewelers to give you the look you want and can afford. Ceramic, although not a metal, is also used to make a strong glass-like wedding band in her favorite color.

Palladium

Pay close attention, this is quite technical.  Remember when your teacher said you would need that periodic table that hung in your science class, well now is when you need. The periodic table of elements lists Palladium as 46 PD between rhodium and silver.  Palladium is a metal that is in the platinum family group. (Silver and gold are not in the group) Palladium is just less dense than platinum, but like platinum is more resistant to tarnish than other metals. Palladium is always mined with Platinum, so they are usually together until we separate them.

Wedding ring designer Chris Ploof explained that palladium is perfect for men who are “price conscious” and still want a “noble metal.”  It’s a fairly white, pure material where 95 parts in the ring are parent material. Chris often uses palladium in his mokume gane men’s wedding bands along with other white metals to make a nice color contrast, the darkest color being palladium.

Mokume Gane is an ancient 17th century Japanese tradition that mixes metals to achieve a wood grain look.  The handles of Japanese swords were made from mokume gane.  Each mokume gane design is one of a kind. Legendary engagement and wedding ring designer Mark Schneider also praises palladium.

“There are situations when a guy is allergic to gold and platinum,” he said.

Mark Schneider is able to use palladium to make you an exciting men’s wedding band perfect for a man’s rugged lifestyle.  Mark Schneider’s Gent’s Collection designer’s unique wedding bands are for men who want to make a statement. Many of Mark Schneider’s designs are available in palladium.

Alternative Metal Images- Chris-Ploof-Image 2- Palladium Ring-1_l Alternative Metal Images - Mark Schnieder - Wedding Band - Image 1 - DA19570
Chris Ploof Mark Schneider’s Gent’s Collection

Titanium

Ti or Titanium is as tough and stylish as the rapper due to the fact that it is named after the Greek Titans. Remember the Titans?  Titanium is also often called a space age metal because it resists corrosion from sea (you can still surf) or bleach (you can still Gym, Tan and Laundry).  It is also used in jet engines and spacecraft because it has the highest strength to weight ratio of any metal.  What’s even cooler about titanium is that scientist has also found the metal in the Sun, meteorites, on the moon, and the stars. Finally, titanium is used in sporting goods like tennis rackets and football helmet grills. So you can play your weekend football game without worrying about your wedding ring breaking during a tackle.

Alternative Metal Images - Edward Mirell - titanium rings bridal

Edward Mirell

Tungsten

Tungsten is used in tungsten carbide wedding bands. Tungsten has the highest melting point of all metals; making it very strong. It possesses a steel gray or white color that is perfect for jewelery.  It is also very scratch resistant and will maintain a mirror like shine for almost a lifetime.

Alternative Metals - Tungsten World- Black Tungsten Ring - Image 1-_TW-8FIP_B

Tungsten World

Cobalt

Cobalt was used in ancient jewelry for its beautiful, bright white tone and strength.

Designer Scott Kay uses cobalt in his new BioBlu collection. It is often used to color glass blue. “The superiority of BioBlu™ 27 is the only reason why I chose this contemporary metal for our cobalt wedding rings. It is, by far, the most sophisticated, safe, white, hypoallergenic, 100% solid, scratch-resistant, and luxurious medical grade cobalt alloy in the world. SK Cobalt jewelry evokes strength, masculinity, and personal style,” says wedding ring designer Scott Kay on his website.

Alternative Metal Image - Scott Kay - Image 2 - cobalt_jewelry_rings2

Scott Kay

Ceramic, Stainless Steel Damascus, & Meteorite

Stainless Steel Damascus derives from ancient Middle Eastern sword making. Chris Ploof explains that the design is etched all the way through. “You have a unique ring” with Damascus he explains. Chris also uses other interesting materials in men’s wedding bands like Gibeon Meteorite from Namibia. Why meteorite? Because “it’s cool,” he exclaims. It was made over 4 billion years go. Designer Etienne Perret also uses a unique material for his jewelry: ceramic. Ceramic allows the designer to infuse neat colors like black.

Alternative Metal Images - Chris Ploof - meteorite18Kredgolddiamonds

Alternative Metal Images - Chris-Ploof-07_l
Chris Ploof Meteorite Ring with 18K Red Gold Rolled Edge

and Diamond Ring

Chris Ploof Damascus Steel ring

Alternative Metal Images - Etienne Peret - Rainbow Colored Diamond Black Gem Ceramic Wedding _l- Image 1

Etienne Perret Ceramic Ring

-Stephanie Taylor

Related Posts

Comments (5)

 

  1. Kim says:

    I know there are many types of metals with varying levels of durability. I have heard that some metals, though almost indestructable, are also impossible to cut through if needed. My fiance is a mechanic. I have know many people who would have lost a finger if their wedding ring didn’t “give” or had to have a ring cut off due to swollen fingers from an injury. Is it titanium and tungsten carbide that should be avoided?
    Thank you, Kim

  2. admin says:

    Hi Kim, all metals have strengths and flaws. Platinum is the most expensive and strongest. This is a good page listing the other metals http://www.tritonjewelry.com/metals-and-materials.shtml

  3. Ganondox says:

    The title is hilarious, it sounds like it’s advertising Alternative Metal bands to play at weddings.

  4. James says:

    Pretty sure platinum is not the strongest out of the materials Kim is talking about but in saying that standard jewellery metals don’t have any give either, you’ll still lose the finger

  5. Mark says:

    I have found a site in the states that does iridium wedding rings one of the hardest metals we have but also very brittle, and for a 6 mm wide ring you’ll be looking at $25000USD before taxes. I’d say that would also be one of the most expensive. Has anyone got one or know anyone with one? I would like to inlay meteorite in it if possible

Leave a Comment