Wedding Ring or Wedding Band

Mens Wedding Bands, Pick one that Suits His Style.

Mens wedding bands are a relatively new trend. Jewelers tried to popularize them in the 1920s, but they never caught on with grooms. They took on a life of their own during World War II, when men wore them to remember their sweethearts. Hollywood film star Humphrey Bogart’s decision to wear a wedding band following his 1945 marriage to actress Lauren Bacall likely sent a stamp of approval to his millions of fans. Fast-forward to the present and you’ll spot mens wedding bands on A-list celebrities, athletes and entertainers like Ryan Reynolds, David Beckham and Michael Bublé. When Prince Harry, now the Duke of Sussex, wed Meghan Markle, he chose to wear a platinum wedding band, a break in tradition from the Welsh gold typically used for British royal weddings.

So, when it comes to tradition, who gets to select and pay for the groom’s wedding band? Fortunately, there’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to mens wedding bands. Often the decision is a joint one, with the bride paying for the band. Modern couples typically shop together: The bride weighs in on style and design, and the groom decides which wedding band is right for him.

Like choosing an engagement ring, selecting a forever wedding band can feel overwhelming given all the choices available. You can narrow down the options by considering personal style and focusing on those rings that best reflect it. Before you start shopping together, ask yourselves:

• What type of activities does he like? Hiking? Reading? Mountain biking? Nightclubbing? Here’s an easy recommendation to follow: The more active he is, the simpler the wedding band should be. A wedding band that is ornate and has a number of gems can be damaged playing soccer or scrambling up a mountain trail. A simple stainless steel wedding band or one made from a lightweight metal like titanium might be a better choice. If his hobbies are more subdued, a more elaborate band could be a great option.
• What kind of jewelry does he wear? If your fiancé has a thing for bling, he’ll probably love a wedding band studded with gems and embellished with intricate metalwork. If your fiancé doesn’t wear jewelry, he’ll probably like a simpler wedding band.

Metal options for mens wedding bands

Yellow gold, white gold, rose gold and platinum are popular choices for mens wedding bands. But there are a host of other metals and materials that are also suitable. How do you choose? Again, it’s a combination of personal style, cost and a few other considerations.

Precious Metals

• Yellow gold has been used in jewelry for more than 6,000 years. If your fiancé loves museums, historical novels/movies and classic cars, a yellow gold band might suit him well.
• Rose gold is a warmer option that is currently trending. Don’t discount it because it sounds feminine; darker shades can be quite striking.
• White metals like white gold and platinum have been in fashion for the past few decades. Go for one to get a cool, modern look.

Mens wedding bands can also feature more than one metal. For example, combining yellow gold with white gold or platinum creates contrast and can make a strong statement.

Here are two helpful facts about precious metals:

• Cost: Platinum rings are usually more expensive than gold rings. Because platinum has a higher specific gravity (mass ÷ volume) than gold, the same ring will weigh more in platinum than it will in gold. Also, platinum alloys are usually 90–95% pure, while gold alloys are often 58.5% pure (14K) or 75% pure (18K). Alloy metals – such as copper, nickel and zinc – are less expensive than precious metals. More precious metal generally means a higher cost
• Allergies: Many people are sensitive to nickel or copper, which are metals commonly used in gold alloys. If he is allergic to these or other alloy metals, avoid yellow, white or rose gold. Platinum is hypoallergenic, so it is a safer choice if he has metal allergies.

Several other metals and materials are also popular choices for mens wedding bands:

• Tungsten carbide is scratch resistant and never needs polishing.
• Cobalt alloys are very hard and scratch resistant. Cobalt is also hypoallergenic.
• Stainless steel is scratch resistant, tarnish resistant and hard. It’s also affordable.
• Palladium has the same “white” look as platinum, is hypoallergenic and does not tarnish. It is also harder and more scratch resistant than platinum – and more affordable.
• Titanium is lightweight, scratch and corrosion resistant, hypoallergenic and extremely durable. It’s also affordable.
• Ceramic wedding rings are typically affordable and come in many colors. Ceramic is a tough and lightweight material, but – since it is not a metal – it can chip and break.

If you opt for one of these alternatives to precious metals, be sure to consult your jeweler before deciding. Some materials are more difficult to resize than others. Some can’t be easily cut from the finger in an emergency. And some may not be suitable to your lifestyle. For example, tungsten conducts electricity, making is unsuitable for certain professions.

Steve Pronko Jewelers has a full repair shop with trained, certified gemologists on site at our store. Here are a few of the most common repairs and services we provide:

• Repairs to damaged settings
• Cleaning and checking of prongs, stones and clasps
• Matching and replacing lost stones
• Ring sizing and jewelry refurbishing
• Polishing and resurfacing scratched or worn surfaces

Years ago, almost every jeweler did “bench work.” Today finding a full service jewelry store with knowledgeable jewelers and designers who work in-house is rare. We are proud to carry on this tradition and frankly, customers should be very careful about buying from a store that does not offer in-house repair services with certified gemologists on staff.

Your most valuable pieces are probably the ones that hold the most sentimental value. Pieces like your engagement ring, great grandmother’s necklace or your graduation pearls. These are irreplaceable pieces of fine jewelry worn regularly for years. No one expects their car to stay beautiful for 20 years without maintenance and repair. Yet we expect this from our engagement ring or wedding band. Repair is important for keeping your jewelry looking its best, and remaining structurally sound, as prongs and clasps can fail with age.

If you are relying on a store that doesn’t have an on-site repair shop then another level of risk is introduced into every single repair situation. Why settle for this? At best, an off-site shop will be slower in providing repairs; at worst, your irreplaceable items can be lost or stolen.

Source, https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/