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A Guide to Buying Celtic Wedding Bands: Material
By Liam Grant | October 17, 2009
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.
Yellow gold is traditional and is still preferred by many. The material itself adds to the rings value. It is easier to reshape than other alloys because of how soft it is. Yellow gold has been chosen by many couples, but it also has its drawbacks. Gold is more soft than other materials used in wedding bands. In time, the material can look dull, nicked-up and scratched. Some gold rings will lose their shape in time. People who are in contact with other hard materials or activity may find gold just isn’t right for them.
White gold is another choice that has been very popular in the last decade. White gold holds true to some of the tradition without the yellow gold look. White gold is made by combining a yellow gold alloy with iron, zinc, or palladium. White gold rings are then finished with a rhodium plating that gives the ring a whiter look. White gold and yellow gold share many of the sames benefits. Their drawbacks are also the same. White gold can get scratched easily and lose its shape. Wedding rings made of white gold also need to be re-rhodium plated regularly to maintain their look. Most manufacturers recommend every 6 to 18 months. Some couples find the benefits outweigh the maintenance, for others it becomes another item on the “to-do” list.
In recent years titanium has gained a wider audience in wedding ring material. Unlike other alloys, titanium is extremely light. Although it is not a heavy material, it is a very strong material. Unfinished titanium is dark gray in color, but can be altered by different finishes. Titanium can be a great wedding ring material for couples who don’t want the hassle of consistent upkeep. There are some misconceptions that titanium rings cannot be cut off in case of accidents. Since it is harder than gold, the cutting process is also more difficult but it can still be done. One drawback that titanium has is that re-sizing it is not possible.
Of all the materials we are looking at, tungsten carbide is the newest and most unknown. Tungsten particles are combined with carbon and a bonding element to create tungsten carbide. Tungsten rings are actually a type of ceramic, and once they are completed they have a very hard and shiny finish. Although it is much heavier than gold or silver, it’s finish will withstand many more scratches. Even when the surface is scratched, the scratches are much harder to see. Like titanium, tungsten cannot be re-sized. Like other ceramic material, tungsten can actually break if dropped onto ceramic tile or if crushed in some way.
When choosing a wedding band, couples have many options to choose from. They can choose the traditional yellow or white gold, they may choose titanium, they may elect to buy tungsten carbide, or they may choose from a number of other alloys on the market. The most important thing is that a couple consider what they really want out of their rings and then make an educated decision. The couples that do their homework are more likely to be happy with their choice of wedding bands.
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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