Men's Wedding Band

Serpent

Hi All,

I could use a bit of advice on my wedding band for my soon to be wedding. I have no idea even what to think about for this!

My Fiancée directed me to this website: http://gilletts.com.au

White gold?
Platinum?
Tungsten?
Titanium?
Plain? Polished? Textured? Faceted? Design?

Advantages and disadvantages?

For background reference:
I have an iron ring on my right pinky. I like it.

I used to wear a very basic thumb ring. sterling silver, shiny, fairly thin. Slightly rounded. I liked how simple it was.

What should I even begin to think about???

Szechuanosaurus

You should think 'what looks good on me?' and 'how much am I prepared to spend?'.

Evil_Reaver

This is basically my wedding band. Apparently they don't have the exact one that I have anymore; we spent less than $200 on mine.

I chose white gold because I wanted the hospital to be able to cut my ring off rather than my finger if my hand ever gets caught in something. However, I know a lot of dudes who get titanium rings because they're lighter. I wouldn't spend more than $200 on a groom's wedding band, but again, it's your preference.

Basically, you just need to pick a ring that you like.

A Bear

I just went out with my wife and we tried stuff on until I found something that felt and looked good. Here is what I have. I failed to even think about what might happen in a hand injury until afterwards, but now am even more pleased I went with gold. The "comfort fit" basically means the insides are a little rounded and while I'm no ring expert, I like how it feels on my hands.

Peter Principle

When I was in the military my squad leader claimed that his thick gold ring saved his fingers from a good squishing, when the hatch on an APC dropped closed on his hand. So, crush resistance is good.

Mine had the comfort fit beveling, I liked it. It was also platinum. Nice conversation piece, if nothing else. "Oooo, feel the difference in densities!"

Serpent

Injury and cutting is a good point and makes me lean to gold.

Evil_Reaver, it seems most white gold rings are ~$500 or more. How did you get it for $200?

Bionic Monkey

Wedding rings are very personal things, and there's no real right answer. My suggestion is start looking, and keep looking until one jumps out at you. For me personally, I have a wide white gold band, with a smaller band of yellow gold laid on top of it, for a slightly textured look to it. It also matches my wife's ring.

Edit: Price wise, I think my band was somewhere between $350 and $400.

MichaelLC

I have a titanium ring and like it.

Titanium and tungsten carbide are basically indestructible in daily use. Both offer a more 'brushed' or 'gun-metal' type look and weigh less compared to gold or platinum. A lot of titanium and tungsten rings (like mine) will have a shiny band or two of platinum for contrast.

Evil_Reaver wrote: »

I chose white gold because I wanted the hospital to be able to cut my ring off rather than my finger if my hand ever gets caught in something.

Not quite true. Any hospital or well-equipped EMT will have the tools to cut titanium. Tungsten, since it's a ceramic, can be shattered. What is true about those materials is that they can't be re-sized (same with platinum), so lose/gain a lot of weight and you need a new ring.

So really just depends on what you want. As long as it's not one of those rings with a diamond suspended in the middle.

Evil_Reaver

Serpent wrote: »

Injury and cutting is a good point and makes me lean to gold.

Evil_Reaver, it seems most white gold rings are ~$500 or more. How did you get it for $200?

Now that I think about it, I think we got it on sale. Still, I wouldn't spend more than $200 on it no matter what it's made out of. You're going to lose it at some point (took me two weeks after the wedding) and you certainly don't want to feel terrible about losing that much money in the form of jewelry.

MichaelLC wrote:

Evil_Reaver wrote:

I chose white gold because I wanted the hospital to be able to cut my ring off rather than my finger if my hand ever gets caught in something.

Not quite true. Any hospital or well-equipped EMT will have the tools to cut titanium. Tungsten, since it's a ceramic, can be shattered. What is true about those materials is that they can't be re-sized (same with platinum), so lose/gain a lot of weight and you need a new ring.

You're probably right. I just repeat the story because my wife was so adamant about me not getting a titanium ring because I play various sports and she didn't want my ring getting stuck on my finger if I was injured or something.

Fats

Yeah, the removal of rings is a non-issue anymore. Tungsten is oddly one of the easiest to remove, a minute with a pair of vice grips and it's in pieces. Degloving injuries are still the biggest problem, rings like to catch on things and take most of your finger with them.

If I was shopping for a ring, tungsten carbide is what I'd look at.

MichaelLC

Evil_Reaver wrote: »

Serpent wrote: »

Injury and cutting is a good point and makes me lean to gold.

Evil_Reaver, it seems most white gold rings are ~$500 or more. How did you get it for $200?

Now that I think about it, I think we got it on sale. Still, I wouldn't spend more than $200 on it no matter what it's made out of. You're going to lose it at some point (took me two weeks after the wedding) and you certainly don't want to feel terrible about losing that much money in the form of jewelry.

MichaelLC wrote:

Evil_Reaver wrote:

I chose white gold because I wanted the hospital to be able to cut my ring off rather than my finger if my hand ever gets caught in something.

Not quite true. Any hospital or well-equipped EMT will have the tools to cut titanium. Tungsten, since it's a ceramic, can be shattered. What is true about those materials is that they can't be re-sized (same with platinum), so lose/gain a lot of weight and you need a new ring.

You're probably right. I just repeat the story because my wife was so adamant about me not getting a titanium ring because I play various sports and she didn't want my ring getting stuck on my finger if I was injured or something.

:winky:

DHS Odium

I got a tungsten carbide and love it. It looks nice as hell, was really cheap, it's indestructible, and all around classy.

DeadlySherpa

i've always liked tension set rings, myself

there are a variety of designs and some look very strong.

If you're just after a solid band go minimalist/simple. Complicated designs wear and become dirty.

Serpent

MichaelLC wrote: »

I have a titanium ring and like it.

Titanium and tungsten carbide are basically indestructible in daily use. Both offer a more 'brushed' or 'gun-metal' type look and weigh less compared to gold or platinum. A lot of titanium and tungsten rings (like mine) will have a shiny band or two of platinum for contrast.

Evil_Reaver wrote: »

I chose white gold because I wanted the hospital to be able to cut my ring off rather than my finger if my hand ever gets caught in something.

Not quite true. Any hospital or well-equipped EMT will have the tools to cut titanium. Tungsten, since it's a ceramic, can be shattered. What is true about those materials is that they can't be re-sized (same with platinum), so lose/gain a lot of weight and you need a new ring.

So really just depends on what you want. As long as it's not one of those rings with a diamond suspended in the middle.

I do a decent amount of outdoor wilderness type things where hospital facilities are unavailable. We usually do have ring cutters but not exactly high quality stuff....

Maybe I'll ask the jeweler about it.

I'm not too worried about losing it -- I've never lost a ring yet.

Shadowfire

MichaelLC wrote: »

I have a titanium ring and like it.

Titanium and tungsten carbide are basically indestructible in daily use. Both offer a more 'brushed' or 'gun-metal' type look and weigh less compared to gold or platinum. A lot of titanium and tungsten rings (like mine) will have a shiny band or two of platinum for contrast.

This is not always true. In fact, my band is a tungsten carbide with a band of silver in the middle... the silver is a bit more "gun-metal" looking, while the tungsten is still bright and shiny as hell. It does create a nice contrast, but tungsten is not necessarily a matte color.

Even this picture is a bit dull compared to my actual ring, but it gives an idea.

Janson

My husband and I have matching titanium rings and love them; titanium's extremely light and they're very comfortable to wear. They were $110 each with engraving.

It's also handy if you have sensitive skin. I actually developed an allergic reaction over time to my engagement ring (also titanium, but a different, lower-grade alloy) and can no longer wear it. I've struggled with other jewellery in the past too, but so far have had no problems with this ring.

Whatever you choose I recommend having the inside of the ring be rounded - a comfort fit. Hugely important for something you'll be wearing permanently.

Szechuanosaurus

Peter Principle wrote: »

When I was in the military my squad leader claimed that his thick gold ring saved his fingers from a good squishing, when the hatch on an APC dropped closed on his hand. So, crush resistance is good.

I'm no metalurgist but one of gold's properties is that it is very soft and maleable. I find it hard to believe that a small band of it would protect the wearer from something heavy enough to crush a hand.

Unless it was a +2 versus crushing.

Taranis

The hatches don't weigh that much, but they can crush your hands when they close really fast.

I don't think he's talking about the ramp.

uean

I loved the look of the black tungsten carbide rings. Really slick. My wife thought they were cool too but ultimately we decided against it due to the issue of not being able to cut it off. While EMTs might be prepared, the general knowledge out there is that they can't be cut. Anyway, I'm glad i didn't go for one... a few months later a motorcycle accident had my finger swelling up bad and the guys on the scene (volunteer officials for the event) just had what they had. Gold came off quick.

edit - yes i was stupid for wearing it while riding

Cervetus

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

Peter Principle wrote: »

When I was in the military my squad leader claimed that his thick gold ring saved his fingers from a good squishing, when the hatch on an APC dropped closed on his hand. So, crush resistance is good.

I'm no metalurgist but one of gold's properties is that it is very soft and maleable. I find it hard to believe that a small band of it would protect the wearer from something heavy enough to crush a hand.

Unless it was a +2 versus crushing.

Pure gold is soft and malleable, sure, but for all we know his ring could be 10k. Not to mention that it's soft and malleable compared to other metals, but squishy flesh is still going to be much squishier and fleshier.

Fats

uean wrote: »

I loved the look of the black tungsten carbide rings. Really slick. My wife thought they were cool too but ultimately we decided against it due to the issue of not being able to cut it off. While EMTs might be prepared, the general knowledge out there is that they can't be cut. Anyway, I'm glad i didn't go for one... a few months later a motorcycle accident had my finger swelling up bad and the guys on the scene (volunteer officials for the event) just had what they had. Gold came off quick.

edit - yes i was stupid for wearing it while riding

No, they can't be easily cut, but they can be broken. I don't see an issue with wearing a ring under gloves (you were wearing gloves, right? :P)

jhunter46

I can also vouch for titanium. I never wore a single piece of jewelery until I started wearing my wedding band. It is so light I hardly ever notice it is there.

Mine is similar to this one.

iglidante

Tungsten carbide is amazing. I've got two bands, one on each hand, and the only thing that can damage one of them is the other. I do a lot of hiking, and rocks and iron rungs can't even touch them. And, they were cheap (and this wasn't even the best deal, since they came from a jeweler and not an online store): $250 apiece. Good rings. I wore white gold for two weeks and it was scratched to hell. These? Two and a half years and they look brand new.

John Matrix

DHS Odium wrote: »

I got a tungsten carbide and love it. It looks nice as hell, was really cheap, it's indestructible, and all around classy.

I broke mine clean in half I was cleaning it and dropped it onto a marble floor, it bisected itself right there.

While I do like the weight, color, and un-stratchableness of my ring, I kinda wish I had a silver one. While I was waiting for mine to be replaced I had a fairly thick/wide silver band and I loved the way it would get small scratches on it. I think it shows passage of time, and all that goes with that during the marriage.

Captain Vash

Fats wrote: »

Yeah, the removal of rings is a non-issue anymore. Tungsten is oddly one of the easiest to remove, a minute with a pair of vice grips and it's in pieces. Degloving injuries are still the biggest problem, rings like to catch on things and take most of your finger with them.

If I was shopping for a ring, tungsten carbide is what I'd look at.

The term "degloving" has just insured I never get married.

MrOletta

I'll also throw in a vote for tungsten carbide. The material itself will (for the most part) always look new.

Titanium Kay has a pretty good selection and very good prices ($60-$100 USD). I purchased mine from there and was extremely pleased at the quality.

Shizumaru

I can't comment on non-precious metals, however, given the choice of gold and or platinum, I'll say that if you ever plan on getting a ring refinished or polished several times over the years, platinum is the better metal. As gold gets re-polished, bits of gold are removed as well as the scratches,etc. Platinum on the other hand not so. For other non-traditional precious metals that look cool, I'd also look at palladium and tantalum.

Evil_Reaver

John Matrix wrote: »

DHS Odium wrote: »

I got a tungsten carbide and love it. It looks nice as hell, was really cheap, it's indestructible, and all around classy.

I broke mine clean in half I was cleaning it and dropped it onto a marble floor, it bisected itself right there.

While I do like the weight, color, and un-stratchableness of my ring, I kinda wish I had a silver one. While I was waiting for mine to be replaced I had a fairly thick/wide silver band and I loved the way it would get small scratches on it. I think it shows passage of time, and all that goes with that during the marriage.

I love that my ring is beat to hell. I think the scratches are cool.

Thundyrkatz

For some people white gold will yellow and need to be re-rhodium plated to get it back to that silvery shine. this can be a pain and maybe an added cost. here is the Wiki

My wife's rings have had to be replated, but mine never have. so, its not universal.

Dyrwen66

My wife and I got two simple Titanium rings as our wedding rings. They're great, never seem to give me any trouble and I work in a warehouse beating the shit out of it all day. It's light like aluminum but damned durable.

Deadfall

Adding my vote for Tungsten.

It just sounds cool. Mine is a darker metal with a lighter brushed band in the center. It looks awesome and you can feel the weight, which I like.

John Matrix

Plus you get to say "Tungsetn carbide." Sometimes I'll just say it's carbonite, 'cause, you know.

Erandus

Captain Vash wrote: »

Fats wrote: »

Yeah, the removal of rings is a non-issue anymore. Tungsten is oddly one of the easiest to remove, a minute with a pair of vice grips and it's in pieces. Degloving injuries are still the biggest problem, rings like to catch on things and take most of your finger with them.

If I was shopping for a ring, tungsten carbide is what I'd look at.

The term "degloving" has just insured I never get married.

I'm sorry, but this just has to be mentioned at this point.

Warning: This shit is not for the squeamish. This guy got his ring caught in a fence he was vaulting over and it resulted in a pretty nasty injury. If this is "a bad thing to post", I'll remove it.

On topic:

My ring is basically this. It's titanium, and has the comfort fit thing on the inside, which is indeed a soft-brushed metal texture and a gentle convex curve and is comfortable as hell. The girl at the jewelry store assured me that being titanium, I could take a metal file to my ring and not damage it. I don't know if I buy that completely (I understand there are physics on the side of the titanium), but the ring has certainly held up amazingly. It's extremely light and I like it a whole lot. I would very much recommend titanium.