Modern metals like tungsten carbide, ceramic, cobalt chrome, and titanium have led to a evolution in contemporary men's jewelry. Unlike more traditional metals, these modern metals have characteristics that make them incredibly desirable in the creation of men's wedding rings. However like everything else, in addition to their positive qualities, these metals also have some limiting properties. No single metal has all of the pros and non of the cons, so you need to figure out what benefits are the most important to you.
Here's are some comparison tables of the main modern metals, with a list of their pros & cons. Hopefully it'll help you narrow down & choose your ideal men's wedding band.
Modern Metal Comparison
Metal |
Scratch Resistance |
Hypo-Allergenic |
Coloring |
Emergency Removal |
Tungsten Carbide |
Very High |
Yes |
Gray, White, Black |
Vice Grip Method |
Ceramic |
High |
Yes |
Black, White, Pink |
Vice Grip Method |
Cobalt Chrome |
Moderate |
Yes |
White |
Modified Ring Remover |
Titanium |
Low |
Yes |
Gray |
Traditional Ring Remover |
When comparing each of the metals, it's useful to note & weigh up each individual metal's pros & cons, to determine the best metal to meet your lifestyle.
Tungsten Carbide
Pros
- Extremely scratch resistant
- Multiple color options: white, black, & classic gray
- Only metal to maintain its finish forever - permanently polished
- Won't bend or dent
- Hypoallergenic
- Affordable
- Heavy, substantial feel. Similar in weight to gold
|
Cons
- Cannot be resized
- Can break/shatter if put under extreme force
- White & black tungsten are not white and black all the way through. They have a hard industrial coating over the natural gray tungsten. They are more scratch-resistant than other metals, but not as scratch resistant as classic tungsten.
|
Ceramic
Pros
- High scratch resistance
- Multiple color options: black, white, & pink
- Color is consistent throughout the ring, not coated
- Maintains its finish forever
- Hypoallergenic
- Affordable
|
Cons
- Cannot be resized
- Breakable, rings can fracture or shatter if dropped
|
Cobalt Chrome
Pros
- Naturally white, whitest contemporary metal
- Shatterproof, resilient, hard
- More scratch resistant than precious metals like gold or silver
- Highest luster
- Formable, so more creative styles
- Hypoallergenic
- Similar in weight to gold
- Affordable
|
Cons
- Cannot be sized
- May scratch and show signs of wear, but can be polished to look new
|
Titanium
Pros
- Stronger than steel, lighter than aluminum
- More styles than any other contemporary metal
- Naturally gray
- Hypoallergenic
- Affordable
|
Cons
- Cannot be sized
- May scratch and show signs of wear, but can be polished to look new
|