Once a couple decides on purchasing Celtic wedding bands, there are some important decisions to make. The material of the ring is the first thing to consider. There are many options for materials, here we will consider four popular choices. We will consider yellow gold. Next we will learn about white gold. Titanium as a material for wedding rings will be looked at. To finish, we will look at Tungsten Carbide. Since there is no right answer about which is best, buyers will want to acquaint themselves with many materials.
As far as a traditional material, there is no alloy like yellow gold. Due to the value of gold in all societies, the ring itself will have significance. As the purity of gold goes up, so does the softness and malleability of it, this makes it easy to reshape and re-size. In spite of its popularity, yellow gold has some weaknesses. The same malleability that gives it the ability to be re-worked also lends itself to easily becoming dinged and dulled. In time, many yellow gold rings lose some of their shape. Yellow gold is not always the ideal choice for couples with active lifestyles that want to wear their rings continually.
In recent years white gold has gained in usage and popularity. White gold manages to retain the intrinsic value of gold, without the brassy coloring of yellow gold. White gold is an alloy mix of gold together with materials such as zinc, palladium, or nickel. When a ring is finished it is rhodium plated to cover the dull yellow color that remains. Like yellow gold, many of the benefits are the same. Some of their weaknesses are the same. White gold will also scratch easily and be prone to losing some of its shape. Also, white gold rings need to be re-rhodium plated on a regular basis. This should happen every 6-18 months. While some couples are very happy with their white gold, others find dealing with nicks and re-rhodium plating is just too much maintenance.
Titanium rings have seen widespread use in recent years. Titanium is a very light, but durable alloy. It is a strong material and is sometimes used for drill bit tips and other high friction items. It is a dark gray color naturally, but can be enhanced with different finishes. Since it is hard to scratch, and maintains a nice luster even after wear, many couples are happy with the low maintenance titanium. Some old wives tales will say that titanium rings cannot be cut off of ones finger in the case of an accident. Although it is more difficult to cut a harder material, it is still possible. Because of the hardness of the material, it is impossible to re-size a titanium ring.
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.
Choosing a wedding band means making many choices. A couple can choose a traditional material or a new one. The most important thing is that a couple choose something they will be pleased with. There is a much better chance of a couple appreciating their rings if they have taken the time to educate themselves.
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
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