What metal should engagement rings be made of?

What metal should engagement rings be made of?

Not everyone likes to wear rings: it is not comfortable for everyone. However, wedding bands are an exception: they are worn by almost all married people. Some wear it all the time and some only go out, but most of us spend a good part of our lives with engagement rings.

So, let’s see what metal is better to choose wedding rings so that they meet all the essential needs.

Basic selection criteria

When choosing a material for engagement rings, it is wise to consider the following parameters:

aesthetics and compliance with current fashion requirements; durability and practicality;
conformity with religious canons;
affordability;
the desires of the newlyweds.

Despite the emergence of many alternative materials used in the jewelry industry, metal rings are the undisputed leaders.

Most couples traditionally choose options from noble metals – gold, silver, less often platinum, palladium, and Moissanite engagement rings. However, some newlyweds prefer alternative materials, not only from the point of view of the economy but according to their own beliefs and ideas about style.

What metal should the wedding ring be made of?

In light of the above, let’s consider the main contenders in this category – gold and silver. They are chosen by the vast majority of newlyweds because it is the best option in terms of aesthetics, practicality, and compliance with religious beliefs.

If you are going to use wedding rings for church marriages as well, choose only gold and/or silver. Traditionally, the bride’s ring is supposed to be silver and the groom is supposed to be gold. During the ceremony, there is a threefold exchange of rings, the bride gets a gold ring and the groom gets a silver ring. However, this is no longer dogma: it is allowed for wedding rings to be of the same metal.

Gold Engagement Rings

Many couples believe that an engagement ring should be exclusively gold. This sunny metal is perfect in almost every way, and it is also fully in keeping with wedding traditions.

Jewelry is never made of pure gold because aurum is a very soft metal. Rings made of pure gold would be slightly stronger than plasticine and would crumble at the slightest load.

The most popular gold engagement rings remain the following colors:

Yellow. This is a classic color of the noble aurum, but, as we remember, in its pure form it is not used for jewelry purposes. Therefore, for the alloy to retain its traditional sunny hue, copper and silver are used as ligatures. High-grade yellow gold is the softest of all standard jewelry alloys.

Red (pink). Red gold is made in the same way as yellow gold. Red gold contains only copper ligatures, while pink gold contains copper and silver, but in a different percentage than yellow gold. The addition of zinc can give the alloy an interesting red-yellow hue. Red and rose gold are easier to use and care for than yellow gold.

White. White gold is often mistaken for platinum, which is not far from the truth: platinum group additives, usually palladium or platinum itself, are used to make the jewelry alloy. Some copper may be added for plasticity. White gold is very expensive, but it looks incredibly stylish and goes with any outfit, as well as jewelry made of silver.

Silver Engagement Rings

Silver engagement rings, all other things being equal, are an order of magnitude cheaper than gold, which determines the choice of many couples. However, you have to consider that in the case of silver, you can afford more massive and outwardly luxurious rings within a not too extensive budget.

In the case of silver, it is the workmanship that is most valued, so it is impossible to speak unequivocally about the cheapness of silver rings.

What other material is chosen for the rings?

Do you think we’ve looked at all the ring materials that can be found on the shopping network? Well, no way! The imagination of jewelers is so intricate and the technology so varied that even a couple with the most unusual requests can get what they want.

For example, many couples choose jewelry steel rings. By the way, this is also correct from the point of view of medieval religious canons, according to which “the husband is entitled to a ring of iron, as a sign of strength…”.

But what are we all talking about metals? There are more jewelry resins, ceramics, and semi-precious and ornamental minerals which are used for engagement rings and many other materials. It is for you to decide.