Titanium: The Strongest Metal For Wedding Bands

There are a variety of metals used to make wedding bands, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The strongest metal for a wedding band is arguably tungsten, which is four times harder than titanium and the most scratch-resistant metal available. However, it is also very brittle and cannot be resized. Other strong metals used for wedding bands include cobalt, stainless steel, tantalum, palladium, platinum, and titanium. Factors to consider when choosing a wedding band metal include durability, hardness, customisability, lustre, price, weight, colour, hypoallergenic properties, tarnish resistance, and whether the ring can be resized.

The pros and cons of tungsten carbide

Tungsten carbide is an alloy formed by combining carbon with tungsten, a dense metal with a high melting point. It is one of the hardest metals on earth, second only to diamonds on the Mohs scale of hardness. This makes it an incredibly scratch-resistant metal that is perfect for those with an active lifestyle.

Pros of Tungsten Carbide Wedding Bands

• Durability and strength: Tungsten carbide is an extremely hard metal that is scratch-resistant, strong, and won't bend easily. Its shine won't fade over the years, and it will maintain its lustre long after the wedding.
• Affordability: Tungsten carbide wedding bands are significantly cheaper than gold or platinum bands.
• Hypoallergenic properties: Tungsten carbide is hypoallergenic and won't trigger an allergic reaction. It is a good choice for people with sensitive skin or metal allergies.
• Stylish and versatile: Tungsten carbide rings come in a variety of styles and colours, including white, grey, black, and rose gold.
• Low-maintenance: Tungsten carbide is highly resistant to scratches and tarnishing, making it a low-maintenance choice that will retain its beauty and lustre for decades.
• Nice weight: Similar to traditional gold and platinum, tungsten carbide has a nice heft to it, giving it a substantial and luxurious feel.
• Nice lustre: Tungsten carbide has a beautiful gunmetal grey colour that polishes extremely well and can hold its colour over time.

Cons of Tungsten Carbide Wedding Bands

• Brittleness and breakability: Despite its hardness, tungsten carbide is brittle and can break or shatter if dropped or smashed against a hard surface.
• Cannot be resized: Due to its hardness, tungsten carbide wedding bands cannot be resized. If your ring size changes, you will need to exchange it for a new size.
• Heavy weight: Some people may find that the dense metal of tungsten carbide weighs down their finger.
• Limited customization: The hardness of tungsten carbide makes it difficult to engrave or customize with personal inscriptions.
• Potential for nickel allergens: While most tungsten carbide rings are nickel-free, some jewelers use nickel as a binder, which can cause allergic reactions in people with metal allergies.

Titanium's durability and affordability

Titanium is a highly durable metal. It is one of the strongest and most durable metals on the planet and has the highest strength-to-density ratio of any metallic element on the periodic table. It is also lightweight, making it a popular choice for weight-sensitive applications.

Titanium is also highly scratch-resistant and easy to maintain. It is naturally resistant to rust and corrosion, so it will hold up for years without succumbing to the effects of rust and corrosion, whether used indoors or outdoors. It can be cared for with soap and water and usually doesn't need to be maintained by a jeweller.

Titanium is also hypoallergenic, so it won't irritate the skin like other metals can. It is also non-magnetic, making it a good choice for those working near magnetised machinery.

However, titanium is difficult to cast due to its strength. It is also generally more expensive than other types of metals due to its rarity and the complex and energy-intensive extraction process.

Titanium is an affordable choice for wedding bands. It is durable, lightweight, and comfortable. It does not tarnish and, although it may show signs of wear over time, it can be polished to look as good as new.

Platinum's strength and cost

Platinum is a highly durable metal that is ideal for wedding bands due to its strength and resistance to wear and corrosion. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, and highly unreactive precious metal with a silverish-white colour. Its density and resistance to tarnishing make it well-suited for fine jewellery, and its high melting point and temperature stability make it ideal for industrial applications. Platinum is also hypoallergenic, making it a good choice for individuals with metal allergies.

In terms of cost, platinum is a precious metal and one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust, with an average abundance of approximately 5 μg/kg. It is produced in small quantities annually due to its scarcity, making it highly valuable. The price of platinum is influenced by various factors, including industrial supply and demand, central bank monetary policies, inflation, and the performance of stock markets and bonds.

Platinum is typically more expensive than other metals used for wedding bands, such as gold and palladium. The cost of a platinum wedding ring can be almost twice as much as an equivalent ring made of 14K white gold. For example, a 5mm men's wedding ring in platinum can cost around $1180, while the same ring in 14K white gold is approximately $780. However, the price of platinum has fluctuated over the years and has been less expensive than pure gold since 2015. In early 2021, the value of platinum ranged from $1,055 to $1,320 per troy ounce.

Palladium as a platinum alternative

Palladium is a precious metal that is part of the Platinum Group Metals (PGM) on the periodic table. It is a popular alternative to platinum for wedding bands due to its affordability, durability, and hypoallergenic properties. Here are some key points about palladium as a platinum alternative:

Appearance

Palladium and platinum have a similar appearance, with a natural white sheen that sets them apart from other metals commonly used in wedding bands. However, palladium has a slightly darker hue compared to platinum, which is almost unperceivable to the untrained eye. This makes palladium a good option for those who prefer a warmer tone or want to avoid the regular maintenance required by white gold rings to maintain their colour.

Durability

Palladium is harder than platinum, making it slightly more resistant to scratches. Both metals are strong and durable, but palladium's extra hardness gives it a slight advantage in terms of scratch resistance. Additionally, when scratched, the metal in palladium rings is displaced rather than lost, resulting in the development of a pleasant patina over time.

Weight

Palladium is less dense than platinum, making it significantly lighter in weight. This makes palladium a good choice for those who prefer a lightweight and comfortable wedding band that doesn't feel heavy on the finger. However, some people may prefer the heft and presence of a heavier platinum ring.

Allergies

Both palladium and platinum are hypoallergenic metals, making them ideal for individuals with sensitive skin or metal allergies. Neither metal typically contains nickel, which is a common allergen found in other types of jewellery.

Cost

In recent years, the cost of palladium has surged due to its industrial uses, and it is now comparable in price to platinum. However, palladium's lower density means that less metal is required to produce a ring, resulting in lower prices for palladium wedding bands in the past.

Workability

Palladium is considered harder to work with than platinum, making it less workable for jewellers. Its hardness can make it difficult for jewellers to polish or craft jewellery. Additionally, palladium's rarity may limit the design options available for those seeking a palladium wedding band.

Cobalt's strength and colour

Cobalt is a lustrous, silver-grey metal that is considered a transition metal. It is often alloyed with chromium, tungsten, or iron to create jewellery. In its pure form, cobalt is naturally magnetic, a rare characteristic for a metal. However, when alloyed with other metals to create wedding bands, it loses this property.

Cobalt has a bright reflective look, resembling white gold, but with a touch lighter tint. It is also similar in colour to platinum, but again, is a shade lighter. In terms of weight, cobalt is lighter than traditional wedding ring metals like gold, platinum, and palladium.

Cobalt is a strong, durable metal that is scratch-resistant. It has a higher resistance to scratching than titanium rings. However, it is not entirely scratch-proof, and once scratched, it cannot be refinished to remove the scratches. Cobalt is also a hypoallergenic metal, as long as it is not alloyed with nickel.

Cobalt is a popular choice for wedding bands due to its affordability, durability, and resemblance to precious white metals. It is easy to care for, being non-tarnishing and non-corrosive. It is also lightweight and hypoallergenic, making it suitable for individuals with metal allergies.

Frequently asked questions