Men's Gold Wedding Rings
Gold wedding rings are the most traditional rings available.
When men's wedding rings first became popular during the Second
World War, gold was the metal of choice. Over the years, other
metals have been introduced into the market. Nevertheless, gold
has continued to have a strong presence as the preferred metal
for wedding bands.
Pure gold is too weak to be used for jewelry purposes, so it is
always alloyed with at least one additional metal to ensure
strength and durability. Pure gold would be 24 karats, but most
man gold wedding rings will either be 14 karats or 18 karats.
When a ring is marked as being 14 karats, that means that it is
approximately 58.3 percent gold, whereas an 18 karat ring is 75
percent pure gold. Obviously, an 18 karat gold ring would be
more susceptible to wear and tear, as it is more gold, and thus
weaker than 14 karat gold.
Some man gold wedding ring purchasers may prefer a more silver
tone to their ring. For them, white gold is the answer. White
gold is simply yellow gold that has been treated to look white
(or silver).
In order to make the yellow gold appear white, elements such as
nickel, palladium, or silver are added. While nickel itself can
give a good white gold appearance, it is often allergenic and
can cause skin problems to anyone who is sensitive to nickel.
Gold that is alloyed with palladium and silver will not usually
cause allergies, and most 18 karat gold is alloyed only with
these two metals.
One problem with white gold is that, since it has the same
properties as yellow gold, it will begin to look more yellow
over time. In fact, many white gold rings have to be re-plated
after several years in order to restore it to its original color.
Despite the fact that yellow and white gold does not have the
durability has other metals, it is still a popular choice for
man wedding ring buyers.