Wedding rings were traditionally made from gold, however gold in its purest form is very soft. In fact, rings made from pure gold, or 24 carat gold to be more precise, only last 3-4 years before becoming extremely thin and fragile. For this reason, gold is combined with other metals to form an alloy. Gold alloys come in a range of purities. As I have mentioned, 24 carat gold (99.99% gold) is very soft. Alternatives include 22 carat, 18 carat,14 carat and 9 carat. Over the years 18 carat gold has been the alloy of choice for women and 9 or 14 carat for men. Men traditionally work in areas (such as construction) that are not friendly to jewelry so a harder alloy was the preference.
Before you go out even to look, you might want to decide about how much you want to spend. You do not want to go out, find the perfect ring and then be unable to get it because you simply do not have the money. Some people do consider these items to splurge on because you might be wearing them every day and they are one of the most special pieces of jewelry that you will ever own. Also some stores offer financing.
On the other hand, palladium and platinum do not need rhodium coating. Both are white without any plating, and thus cannot lose their distinctive brightness. However, palladium is lighter and stronger than platinum. Price is another consideration. With the price of gold going up in 2009 and early 2010, palladium was actually a bit cheaper than gold, although their prices are quite similar. On the other hand, platinum rings are easily two to three times as much as a white gold or palladium ring.
For other couples, either one partner may be an artisan or jeweler, or perhaps they are friends with one. In such cases, inexpensive rings can be handmade and unique to the couple getting married. As long as they are not allergic to the metals being used, many alloys can be used and then possibly plated in silver or a lower karat weight of gold to save on the costs. When the couple knows the artist who agrees to provide rings as the wedding gift, some also have special stones, such as turquoise, or other items commonly found in art stores, inlaid into the metal for a personal touch.
Lastly, do something relaxing that you enjoy. Go for a long bike ride through the countryside, go to the park with your dog and spend a few hours playing. Do something relaxing that you enjoy. Now that the stress of planning the wedding is over and the honeymoon is planned, take a few hours to reconnect with yourself. The bride may be the beauty at the wedding, but the groom is her Knight in Shining Amour.
Before you go out even to look, you might want to decide about how much you want to spend. You do not want to go out, find the perfect ring and then be unable to get it because you simply do not have the money. Some people do consider these items to splurge on because you might be wearing them every day and they are one of the most special pieces of jewelry that you will ever own. Also some stores offer financing.
On the other hand, palladium and platinum do not need rhodium coating. Both are white without any plating, and thus cannot lose their distinctive brightness. However, palladium is lighter and stronger than platinum. Price is another consideration. With the price of gold going up in 2009 and early 2010, palladium was actually a bit cheaper than gold, although their prices are quite similar. On the other hand, platinum rings are easily two to three times as much as a white gold or palladium ring.
For other couples, either one partner may be an artisan or jeweler, or perhaps they are friends with one. In such cases, inexpensive rings can be handmade and unique to the couple getting married. As long as they are not allergic to the metals being used, many alloys can be used and then possibly plated in silver or a lower karat weight of gold to save on the costs. When the couple knows the artist who agrees to provide rings as the wedding gift, some also have special stones, such as turquoise, or other items commonly found in art stores, inlaid into the metal for a personal touch.
Lastly, do something relaxing that you enjoy. Go for a long bike ride through the countryside, go to the park with your dog and spend a few hours playing. Do something relaxing that you enjoy. Now that the stress of planning the wedding is over and the honeymoon is planned, take a few hours to reconnect with yourself. The bride may be the beauty at the wedding, but the groom is her Knight in Shining Amour.
About the Author:
Learn more about platinum wedding ring and get all your mens gold wedding bands questions answered at MensWeddingRingsAndBands.com!. Also published at Making the Perfect Men Wedding Rings Decisions.
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