A Guide to Buying Celtic Wedding Bands: Material

Couples who have chosen to purchase Celtic wedding bands are just at the beginning of the decision making process. The first step is to consider which alloy they want their ring to be made of. With many options to choose from, we will look at four popular choices. First, we will look at traditional yellow gold. Second, we will learn about white gold and how it differs from yellow gold. Third, we will consider the strength of titanium. Finally we will look at Tungsten carbide as a ring choice. Ring shoppers will want to acquaint themselves with many materials to ensure they choose the one that fits their needs best.

Traditional yellow gold is probably the most popular choice for wedding rings historically. Its intrinsic value adds to the symbols meaning. Because gold is so soft, it can be re-sized and reshaped. Despite its popularity, yellow gold still has some drawbacks. Because of its malleability, it is easy for the ring to become nicked and scratched and dull as a result. Also, over time some rings lose their shape. Those who plan on keeping their ring on while they perform routine daily tasks like yard work or cleaning may find gold isn’t the right material for their ring.

Another popular choice in wedding rings today is white gold. Couples who like the tradition of yellow gold, but don’t like its color are often very happy with white gold. White gold is a combination of yellow gold with a zinc, copper, or palladium that gives it a whiter look. A finished white gold ring is coated with rhodium which increases the whiteness of the material. The benefits of white gold are the same as yellow gold. Drawbacks are also similar. White gold can be scratched and bent easily. White gold bands also need to be re-plated with rhodium regularly. Usually every 6-18 months. For some, the benefits outweigh the upkeep, for others it’s just another thing to do.

Titanium is a metal that has become more popular in the last few years. Titanium is very light, much lighter than gold and tungsten. Despite the light weight, it remains durable and strong. Finishes can alter the color of titanium slightly, but it is generally gray in color. For active couples that don’t want the pressure of maintenance, titanium can be a great material. Some people think that titanium rings cannot be cut off of a persons finger in the case of an accident. Although cutting it is harder than cutting off a gold ring, it can be done. One downside to titanium rings is they cannot be re-sized.

Tungsten carbide is the newest material to market that we will look at. Tungsten carbide is created by combining a bonding agent with tungsten and carbon particles. Once a tungsten ring has been cast it is extremely hard and scratch resistant. Tungsten is actually a lot heavier than gold or silver, but it much more durable also. As wedding bands go, tungsten rings maintain the cleanest finish as scratches to it are not easily visible. Tungsten lacks the malleability of gold and cannot be re-sized. Tungsten rings can also be broken if dropped onto ceramic tile or other accidents.

For couples selecting a wedding band there are many choices. They can choose one of the materials we have covered or they may elect for materials that we have neglected for the time being. What is critical is that a couple select a ring material that they will be happy with for years to come. Couples who do their research will find they are much happier than a couple that just picked the first things that appealed to them.

Liam Grant has always been interested in Celtic Wedding Bands. He currently helps run a site that sells all varieties of Celtic Wedding Bands and Celtic Wedding Rings