Wedding Band Metal Guide & Anniversary Band Metals | Jared
Compare Metals and Materials For Your Ring
| Type | GOLD | STERLING SILVER | PLATINUM |
|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | Value differs based on karat. 24k and 18k are the most valuable, followed by 14k and 10k gold. | One of the most affordable precious metals, it will be stamped with a ".925" hallmark verifying it is 92.5% pure silver. | High value, as one of the most prized precious metals. It will have the hallmark "PLAT" indicating a minimum of 90% platinum. |
| CARE | Clean with warm water and dish soap, carefully dry with a soft cloth. | Sterling silver can tarnish. Store in a cool, dry place or in tarnish-preventative bags. | Clean with warm water and dish soap, carefully dry with a soft cloth. |
| LIFESPAN | 18k, 14k, and 10k gold rings can last a lifetime. | With proper care, sterling silver lasts for several decades of wear. | Can last a lifetime and be passed down through the generations. |
| HYPOALLERGENIC | Gold can contain copper, nickel and zinc. Yellow gold is the most hypoallergenic compared to white gold and rose gold. | Sterling silver can contain zinc or nickel. It is not 100% hypoallergenic. | Platinum jewelry is hypoallergenic. |
| STRENGTH | Higher purity gold (24k and 18k) is softer and can be scratched while 14k and 10k gold is more durable. | Sterling silver is a durable metal that can hold up to everyday wear. | Platinum is incredibly strong and is the most durable precious metal. |
| RESTORATION | Gold rings can handle resizing and professional polishing for restoration. | Tarnished sterling silver can be restored in the hands of a professional and this metal can handle resizing. | Overtime platinum patina (a frosted appearance from years of wear) can develop. This can be polished away to restore its original shine. Platinum can also handle resizing. |
| RARITY | While the metal itself is not rare, the work it takes to refine high quality gold for jewelry gives it its value. | Pure silver, used to make sterling silver, is rare because of its limited supply. Since sterling silver is alloyed with other metals, it less expensive. | Platinum is thirty times rarer than gold, which makes it more valuable and expensive. |
| HEFT | The purer the gold, the heavier the ring will feel to wear. | Sterling silver has a more lightweight feel to wear. | Platinum is one of the densest precious metals and will have more of a heft than gold. |
Alternative Metals
| Type | TUNGSTEN | TANTALUM | TITANIUM | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | Alternative metals, like tungsten, have less value than precious metals. | Alternative metals, like tantalum, have less value than precious metals. |
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| CARE |
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| LIFESPAN |
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Tantalum is tarnish resistant and has decades of durability. |
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| HYPOALLERGENIC | Tungsten jewelry is hypoallergenic. |
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| STRENGTH |
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Tantalum is durable for everyday wear and is scratch resistant. |
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| RESTORATION | Tungsten rings cannot be resized, it can be polished to restore its shine. | Tantalum rings can handle resizing and professional polishing for restoration. | Titanium rings cannot be resized, it can be polished to restore its shine. | |||
| RARITY |
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Tantalum is a newer metal used for jewelry, so it is more uncommon, but not as rare as traditional precious metals. | Titanium is not as rare as traditional precious metals. | |||
| HEFT |
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Tantalum has a more lightweight feel to wear. |
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