Wedding Bands: Mix And Match Metals

Wedding bands do not have to be the same metal. In fact, there are no rules that say wedding bands have to match. While wedding ring traditions have continued to evolve over time, the choice is completely up to the couple. If you prefer to stick to tradition, getting matching wedding bands is a sweet way to symbolize your union. But getting different bands won't take away their sentimental value.

Platinum and gold can be worn together

Platinum and gold also have different appearances that do not complement each other. Platinum tends to have a duller, greyer finish that becomes stronger over time and develops a patina finish. On the other hand, gold, especially white gold, is shinier and brighter. Wearing the two metals together would create a mismatched look.

Additionally, platinum and gold will wear differently over time. Platinum develops a patina finish when scratched, giving it an antique finish, while gold, especially white gold, will develop a yellowish tinge. This means that the two metals will look increasingly dissimilar over time.

If you are considering wearing platinum and gold together, it is recommended to wear the same karat materials for a more elegant look, such as 18K platinum with 18K gold. You could also opt for yellow or rose gold with platinum if you want to be more daring. However, it is generally advised to choose two metals with similar hardnesses to avoid scratching and maintain a cohesive appearance.

Wedding bands don't have to match

There are plenty of classic wedding band options made from traditional metals like gold, silver, platinum, titanium, tungsten, palladium and ceramic. But if these don't appeal to you, there are more alternative options like wood, dinosaur bone or even fossil! With so many choices available, there's no need to limit yourself to a design that doesn't resonate with you.

It's also worth considering the practicalities of your chosen metal. For example, pure gold is soft and easily scratched, so for gold rings, it's best to choose an alloy with a lower karat that's mixed with other metals like copper, silver or platinum. Similarly, silver is a soft metal that can get scratched easily, so it needs to be stored carefully and polished regularly. If you're opting for a ring that you plan to wear every day, it's worth considering metals like titanium or tungsten, which are incredibly strong and scratch-resistant.

While historically, wedding bands were made to match, with corresponding colours and metals symbolising a couple's union, nowadays, there are no rules. In fact, many couples choose to get rings that don't match their engagement rings either! It's becoming more common for couples to mix and match metals, with one partner opting for yellow gold and the other for white or rose gold, for example. So, if you want to mix metals for your engagement and wedding rings, go for it!

Ultimately, the choice is completely up to you and your partner. If you want to stick to tradition, you can choose matching bands to symbolise your union. But if you have different style preferences, there's no need to compromise. Mismatched bands are a great option, and your jewellery choices should reflect the styles that you love most.

Gold comes in a variety of shades

The different shades of gold are created by blending gold with other alloys, such as silver, copper, zinc, palladium, and nickel. The most common colours you'll find gold in are yellow, white, rose, and green, but there are at least eight shades in total.

Yellow gold is the natural colour of gold and is made by mixing pure gold with silver, copper, and zinc. It is the most hypoallergenic and requires the least maintenance of all the gold colours.

Rose gold is created by adding copper to the alloy, which gives it a pink tint. It is more affordable than other shades of gold due to its use of inexpensive copper.

White gold is made by mixing gold with platinum, palladium, nickel, cadmium, or zinc. It is more durable and scratch-resistant than yellow gold and is also more affordable.

Other less common shades of gold include:

• Purple gold, an alloy of gold and aluminium that is too brittle to be used on its own in jewellery.
• Green gold, a combination of pure gold, copper, silver, and zinc.
• Blue gold, an alloy of gold and either gallium or indium, or gold, iron, and nickel.
• Grey gold, a type of white gold created by combining gold with palladium, copper, manganese, silver, or iron.
• Black gold, which can be produced through various methods such as patination or controlled oxidation.

Platinum is strong and workable for resizing

Wedding bands do not have to be the same metal as engagement rings, but it is recommended that they are the same hardness to prevent one ring from scratching the other. Platinum is a popular choice for wedding and engagement rings due to its strength, rarity, and luxurious appearance. It is also a good option for settings as it can hold precious stones securely.

Platinum is a dense and durable metal, making resizing a specialised process. Platinum has a higher melting point than gold or silver, so resizing requires specific tools that can withstand high temperatures. The process is also more labour-intensive and time-consuming than resizing other metals. Platinum is prone to developing porosity—small holes caused by air in the metal during work—and heat travels through it quickly, increasing the risk of damaging any stones in the ring. Therefore, stones are usually removed before resizing.

Despite the challenges of resizing platinum, it is possible to do so, and it is worth the investment to ensure your ring fits perfectly. The cost of resizing a platinum ring will depend on the complexity of the design, the type of resizing, the thickness of the band, and the jeweller's experience and location. On average, resizing a platinum ring costs between $50 and $150 per size adjustment, but prices can increase depending on the factors mentioned above.

Titanium is strong, lightweight, and comfortable

Wedding bands do not have to be the same metal. The only rule when picking out a wedding ring is that its metal must match the engagement ring in hardness so that neither ring scratches the other. For example, a platinum wedding band added to a gold engagement ring will almost guarantee that the gold will become scratched over time.

Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It is a strong, lightweight, and comfortable metal that is perfect for anyone who is not used to wearing jewellery regularly. It is also extremely scratch-resistant and easy to maintain. Titanium is also used in aerospace, military, industrial processes, automotive, agriculture, sporting goods, jewellery, and consumer electronics.

Titanium is a strong metal with a low density that is quite ductile, lustrous, and metallic-white in colour. It is recognised for its high strength-to-weight ratio and is as strong as some steels but less dense. Titanium is 60% denser than aluminium but more than twice as strong as the most commonly used 6061-T6 aluminium alloy. Certain titanium alloys achieve tensile strengths of over 1,400 MPa.

Titanium is also considered one of the most biocompatible metals, leading to a range of medical applications including prostheses, orthopedic implants, dental implants, and surgical instruments. It is non-toxic and does not pose any health risks to the human body.

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