Gold Wedding Rings: Where Tradition And Beauty Combine
As one of the most valuable metals, gold naturally ranks as a popular material for engagement and wedding rings and for the setting of precious stones.
Its rarity and resistance to corrosion make gold jewelry a favorite token to represent undying love and commitment to a partner.
The Glamor Of Gold
The beauty of gold is another reason it is so highly prized in wedding rings and other jewelry. Its relative softness means that it can be easily worked to create intricate and delicate designs.
To strengthen gold for practical purposes, it is often mixed with other metals such as silver or copper.
- 24 karat is 100% pure
- 18 karat is 75% pure
- 14 karat is 58.3% pure
Ironically, while 24K gold has the deepest and richest color, it is usually too soft to be used in rings: for example, there is a risk that the prongs in a gem setting will bend too easily.
Many buyers therefore choose 18K or 14K gold wedding bands for their greater durability, even though the color may be less yellow. Some couples move away from the gold color entirely and prefer white gold for their rings. White gold resembles silver but with a yellow tint and is less likely to tarnish than a silver wedding ring.
Many brides and grooms opt for a simple but elegant plain wedding ring. Others prefer a diamond wedding ring that combines the beauty of the gemstones and the metal setting. Eternity wedding bands, displaying diamonds in a setting that goes all around the ring, are also popular.
And if the groom is looking for men's wedding rings that are just that bit different from the typical plain band, the addition of a diamond or two can make it very distinctive.