Your wedding band is something you will always have with you so it?s important to buy one that you?re happy with. This means that you not only need to find one that has a great style, but you will also need to choose the metal that will suit your lifestyle and be within your budget. After all, this ring will be worn nearly every day. Here?s a guide to some of the metals that are commonly used for men?s wedding bands:

Gold

Gold is certainly a traditional choice for wedding bands. One of the appealing things about this metal is that it comes in several different colors, such as yellow, white, and rose. Since gold is a soft metal it needs to be mixed with other metals to strengthen it, such as copper, silver, or nickel. The higher the karat, the more pure gold there is in the mix.

Platinum

Platinum is rarer, denser, and more pure than the other metal choices. Most platinum rings are 95% pure platinum with a minimum of 90%. It is also the most expensive, but prices now are lower than they?ve been in years. Platinum is very strong but also soft, which means that it does scratch easily. Platinum does stay white as it scratches, unlike white gold which has a slight yellowish tinge. The higher density of platinum makes it feel really good on the finger.

Palladium

Palladium is just as pure as platinum, but it is not as dense and is less expensive per ounce. Actually, it’s about as dense as gold. At today?s prices palladium is about half to 1/3 the cost of a platinum ring. Palladium looks very similar to platinum but is subtly grayer. It also does not yellow like white gold and is hypo-allergenic. Palladium was first used in jewelry during World War II as platinum was not available. Platinum is used in engines of cars and other machinery and was only allowed to be used for the military. As prices for platinum sky-rocketed in the late 2000?s, palladium was reintroduced as a good alternative. It is not as known as the other ring choices, but is here to stay.

Titanium

Titanium is unique because it is both lightweight and durable. It is half the weight of steel but twice as strong. It has a gunmetal gray color and is fairly scratch resistant ? though it will scratch. The two main selling points are that it is very inexpensive ? it is not a precious metal ? and the fact that it is so light. It can?t be sized like gold or platinum, but it can be cut off the finger.

Tungsten Carbide

Tungsten Carbide is another ?alternative? metal that can be used for a wedding band. Like titanium it is not a precious metal so it is inexpensive. It is a mixture of pressed tungsten and carbon atoms that creates a very hard metal that is very difficult to scratch. Its most common color is a charcoal gray, but you can also get in black, platinum, yellow gold, or rose gold. Because it is so hard it cannot be cut off your finger in case of emergency. Not to worry though, it can break easily with a wrench or pliers. It can also break if dropped on a tile floor, but the ones we sell are guaranteed if anything like that happens. It is denser that titanium and is perfect for those who want their ring to look the same even as they get older. Men?s wedding band styles can differ greatly and can be as simple or ornate as you desire. They can even include stones, such as diamonds, as part of the design. Many people choose to have them personalized or etched with various designs. The goal is to find a combination of metals and designs that you like, match your lifestyle, and are within your budget. Keep in mind that all metal prices have recently dropped, which makes it far more likely that you can end up with the ring you really want.