With so many different materials available for our wedding bands, how do we know the difference and benefits between them all to make the right choice for our wedding day?

Question

Accepted Answer

Since the bride's wedding ring metal should be the same as her engagement ring metal, choosing a wedding ring can sometimes be easier than expected for the bride! However, the groom has a little bit more to choose from, the most popular wedding ring metals are: 9ct or 18ct white gold White gold is a modern twist on traditional yellow gold. It's made up of lighter alloys and is plated in rhodium, which it what gives it its bright 'white' and chrome-like shine. It is chosen as a cheaper alternative to platinum or palladium, but it does need plating every couple of years or so (depending on the wearer). 9ct or 18ct gold A shiny, bright yellow metal that symbolises the light of the sun. Also known as yellow gold, this metal is very traditional. 18ct gold costs more than 9ct because it contains double the amount of pure gold. 9ct rose gold Rose gold was popular for lavish jewellery pieces in the 1920s, and this blush metal is coming back in fashion. Rose gold looks beautiful on those who have olive skin because of the pink, rosy tones and it matches other rose gold and yellow gold jewellery pieces very well. Platinum Arguably one of the most luxury wedding ring metals, platinum is a very sought-after, strong and precious metal. It has anti-tarnish properties so it keeps its beautiful bright shine without needing to be replated (unlike white gold). Palladium Palladium is a strong, light and durable metal and is often chosen for its hypo-allergenic properties. Part of the platinum family but a cheaper alternative, it is a more precious than gold or titanium. Titanium Discovered in Cornwall in the 18th century, titanium has a slight natural grey colour to it. It's a wedding ring option if you want something that's light, strong and hard wearing. Titanium is a lot cheaper than other metals like palladium and platinum, so works well if you're on a budget. If you do a lot of hands-on tasks or work in a manual labour environment, then it could be the ideal wedding ring for you! Tip: When choosing the ring metal keep your lifestyle in mind. If you work with your hands, then a stronger metal like titanium, palladium or platinum might be best for you.

FAQs and expert advice about wedding & engagement rings