| Wedding bands are very specific type rings. They | | | | with higher abrasion resistance. 10k gold for |
| are in a league of their own, defined by purpose | | | | example is probably the hardest gold alloy but it is |
| and symbolism far exceeding their ornamental | | | | wearing off at very rapid rate. The educated |
| function. For men, the wedding band is the most | | | | choice of white metal is definitely pointing to |
| common piece of jewelry and for many - the | | | | platinum and palladium, depending of personal |
| only one. Wedding bands are worn by women and | | | | preferences and budget. The two metals have |
| man all over the world day and night which is also | | | | identical look and mechanical properties with vast |
| making them the most frequent piece of jewelry. | | | | difference in specific weight and price. Palladium is |
| Because they are hardly off one's finger, the | | | | 40% lighter than platinum and identical item cost |
| wedding bands are expected to be comfortable, | | | | +/- 4 times less making it the perfect wedding |
| durable and hypoallergenic. Obviously they are also | | | | bands white media. Both metals are hypoallergenic |
| expected to fulfill one's aesthetic standards, but | | | | and highly abrasion resistant. The gold is the best |
| while the first three requirements are compulsory, | | | | (and the only) metal for these who prefer yellow |
| this one is highly subjective and allow wide | | | | wedding band and my opinion is that traditional |
| diversity. The comfortable wear of men's wedding | | | | 4.5mm 18k yellow band with well defined dome is |
| band depends on many factors including the shape | | | | the one that suits best most men. Low carat gold |
| of one's finger. There are however some | | | | alloys have diluted color and low precious metal |
| common factors which I would like to point out: | | | | content and while they are possible option I will |
| In order to be comfortable the wedding band | | | | not recommend them. White gold wedding bands |
| must be "comfort fit". This means the internal wall | | | | have low score in every segment of assessment. |
| of the band must be rounded and not flat. This | | | | Their natural color is not appealing; they need |
| ensures that the edges are softened and there is | | | | expensive maintenance (rhodium) they are |
| only small part of the inner surface of the band in | | | | wearing off fast and are more expensive than |
| contact with the finger giving it space to | | | | identical palladium band. The popular alternative |
| "breathe". In order to have the inner wall rounded | | | | metals like titanium, tungsten, zirconium etc. are |
| for comfort fit, the wedding band should be | | | | not part of this study since they don't belong to |
| sufficiently thick and therefore heavier than the | | | | the precious metal group. |
| average flat wall one. This could be used as entry | | | | On the design side I will advise my fellow men to |
| level indication of quality. The thicker the wedding | | | | keep it simple, for quality and aesthetic balance |
| band the more generous the comfort fit and | | | | speak much better than complicated detail. Of |
| respectively the higher the price. Cheap wedding | | | | course this is my aesthetic point of view and I |
| bands focus on the use of minimum amount of | | | | am far from trying to prove it is the right one. |
| precious metal and have no room for comfort fit. | | | | Design is a personal choice reflecting ones |
| In order to make their wedding band lighter some | | | | personality and taste and every design is right for |
| manufacturers leave them with seriously sharp | | | | the one who chooses it. In my experience as |
| edges. Watch out for these when shopping on | | | | studio jeweler however I repeatedly came across |
| low budget. Other issues concerning the | | | | men regretting their choice in design since it |
| comfortable wear are related to specific wedding | | | | proved to be impractical. Most of them were men |
| bands designs. Sharp outer edges, small sticking | | | | with active lifestyle, and/or professions requiring |
| out detail and deep carved high ornaments are | | | | them to work with their hands. In many cases |
| some of them. The rule of thumb is that the | | | | the unsuitable design was chosen by the fiance as |
| simple uncomplicated designs are the most | | | | part of wedding set. It is not a bad idea to forget |
| comfortable ones. I am not implying that | | | | about how nice the two matching bands look |
| everybody must wear classic half round comfort | | | | together in the box at the ceremony and |
| fit band, but I also can't deny that they are the | | | | consider the long years of wearing the bands that |
| most comfortable ones. | | | | lies ahead. Impractical for most men are wedding |
| Looking at the durability factor one can't help but | | | | bands with small detail, including engraving |
| notice that almost the same rules apply. To have | | | | especially in gold since the ornaments will wear off |
| wedding band that will not change its round shape | | | | in about one year and turn into deep scratches. |
| even though most excessive banging we need | | | | Shadow lines and hollowed designs which will |
| thickness, a body of solid metal. The average | | | | eventually gather grease and cause skin irritation. |
| thickness of low end 4mm men's wedding band is | | | | Complicated mix finishes (matt and polished) which |
| 1.5mm. Comfort fit becomes possible at about | | | | will look good only for few days and very high |
| 2mm. thickness, while good quality high end | | | | (over 3mm) bands which will bruise the |
| wedding band should be 2.3 - 2.7mm. The type of | | | | neighboring fingers. Whatever you wedding band |
| metal is also very important durability factor. Here | | | | choice, remember that the few classic men's |
| is good to differentiate the hardness of the metal | | | | designs which survived the test of time have one |
| form its abrasion resistance. Some hard metals | | | | thing in common - they were practical like most |
| will wear off much faster than some softer ones | | | | of the men themselves. |