Traditional wedding bands are typically made of gold.
When it comes to traditional wedding bands, most men opt for a simple band fashioned in gold or possibly platinum. Alternative metals that were once only used for industrial applications are edging their way into the jeweler's domain. Metals such as tungsten and titanium are prized for their durability and silver hues. Mokume gane is an ancient technique used to marry multiple metals into one piece that's used to make stunning jewelry. Does this Spark an idea?
Damascus Steel or Mokume Gane
Both Damascus steel and mokume gane are 17th- and 18th-century Japanese metalworking techniques that involve laminating together layers upon layers of metals. These layers are then rolled and forged with tools, resulting in a metal that looks like wood grain. Damascus steel was originally used to make samurai swords and mokume gane was invented to decorate the sword handles and sheaths as a status symbol. The word "mokume" translates to three words: wood, eye and metal. Mokume gane is still made by metalsmiths today. It's labor-intensive to make, and since the laminated metals are often platinum, gold and silver, it can be quite expensive.
Tungsten
Super-strong tungsten is an old metal that's now used in jewelry.
The tungsten element was discovered in the late 18th century, and its name is Swedish for "heavy stone." It was originally used as the filament of light bulbs, and now, when it's alloyed with carbon -- tungsten carbide -- it's used to make drill bits. Silvery tungsten looks a lot like hematite, and is renowned for its high luster, hardness and resistance to corrosion, which also makes it ideal for jewelry, such as wedding rings that may be subjected to wear and tear. The drawback: tungsten is so hard --10 times harder than gold and four time harder than titanium -- that it can't be cut with conventional tools like other metals can. Special tools that can cut through tungsten rings are available at hospitals.
Titanium
Titanium is commonly used for hip replacements.
Titanium is a pure metal, much like gold, silver and platinum. It's both lightweight and tough, and resistant to corrosion. Its grayish hue is desirable for jewelry, plus it's much cheaper in cost compared to gold and platinum. It won't tarnish, and in her book entitled "The Art & Craft of Jewelry Making," Joanna Gollberg notes that titanium cannot be soldered. That makes it more difficult to work with. Similar to tungsten, titanium can only be cut with the use of special tools.
Cobalt Chrome
Cobalt chrome doesn't look blue like cobalt; instead, it looks quite silver-white, like chrome. And similar to tungsten and titanium, this metal alloy is super-strong and retains a high luster. Plus it's hypo-allergenic, which is why its also used for hip replacements. Cobalt chrome has a similar weight to gold, but it's more affordable. The downside to cobalt chrome it that rings made from this metal cannot be sized like gold or platinum, for example. So if the wearer gains or loses weight, the ring won't fit any longer.
