No matter how prepared you might be for your upcoming wedding, one particular item seems to be persistently left until the last minute for most brides: his wedding band. For some, buying him a wedding ring is particularly stressful as expenses can be tighter towards the end of the wedding planning period. Don’t worry - whether you intend on shelling out four figures for his ring or if you would like to keep it under three figures, there is the perfect men’s wedding band out there for him. Here are the classic band colors with options for high budgets, low budgets and budgets in-between.
Yellow Gold
Considered to be one of the most timeless and classic looks for men’s wedding bands and rings, yellow gold is the original luxury material. Pure gold is the only naturally occurring yellow metal, which has made it a treasured and sought out material in jewelry since the days of Ancient Egypt.
For those with a higher budget, 18K yellow gold is the best option for men’s wedding bands and rings. While undeniably beautiful, pure 24K gold is simply too soft for most jewelry, especially everyday wear items like wedding bands. Alloyed with a harder metal or metals (usually silver, zinc, cobalt and/or copper), 18K gold offers the perfect balance of beauty and durability.
If your budget does not allow for 18K yellow gold, try 10K yellow gold instead. The main difference between 10K and 18K yellow gold is the amount of alloying material used – 18K gold has 75% pure gold and 25% alloy, whereas 10K gold has 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy. While 10K contains significantly less gold, it also may tend to be a bit more durable and resistant to dings due to the increased presence of the harder alloy.
The Splurge: 18K Yellow Gold
The Save: 10K Yellow Gold
White Metals
For those looking for a more contemporary yet equally classic look, silvery white metals are an excellent choice. Platinum was once declared by Louis XV to be the only metal fit for a king, and kingly it is. Incredibly rare, this precious metal is also uniquely dense, giving it a distinctively beautiful appearance. For those with a relatively open-ended budget, this high-priced and valuable metal is an easy choice.
If you love the look of platinum but need to keep your expenditure less than three digits, consider white tungsten. Many have heard of tungsten carbide men’s wedding bands and rings in tungsten’s signature gunmetal grey hue, but not everyone realizes that they are also available with a classic white metal appearance. White tungsten has all the benefits of regular tungsten –durability, intense strength and affordability - with a look more in line with white gold or platinum.
If platinum is not within your grasp but your budget allows for more than white tungsten, palladium and Argentium silver are both apt high quality contenders. Palladium is a rare precious white metal with a naturally high luster that is also hypoallergenic. Argentium silver is a designer version of sterling that is alloyed with the element germanium for increased tarnish-resistance and durability. As an added bonus, neither of these metals requires periodic rhodium re-plating the way that white gold does.
The Splurge: Platinum
The Save: White Tungsten
The Happy Medium: Palladium or Argentium Silver
As you can see, there are high quality options out there for every price range. With any type of ring, price can vary with ring width, any precious additions (like diamonds), designer or the retailer that you purchase from. While it’s understandable that you would want to get him the best ring out there that money can buy, it’s comforting to know that you can still get him a handsome and durable band that is well within your budget. Just remember: you can always upgrade his ring to a precious material down the line when finances are less tight, and it would make for a great and meaningful anniversary gift.
