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Mens
Wedding Rings GuideWhile
the past decade has given men a lot more choices when it comes to the
materials used to make a ring, with choice often comes confusion. Add
to that the ability to buy a cravat, bow tie, mens ties, and mens wedding rings online from anywhere in
the world (with each seller telling you why their particular material
of choice is the best in the world) and it's no wonder a lot of
couples are left scratching their heads with a perplexed look on
their faces.
While
we sell a range of different materials, from our perspective there is
no "one ring to rule them all", as each material has its
benefits and drawbacks, and each material is suited to different
lifestyles as well.
Our
top sellers are tungsten carbide rings and titanium rings, as they
are suit most men, although steel rings and ceramic wedding rings
also have their place. One of the most asked questions though has to
be is titanium better than tungsten?
Titanium
vs Tungsten Wedding BandsThe
reality is, one metal is not better than the other, but one might be
more suited to you than the other. To clarify this point, let's have
a look at the benefits and drawbacks of each
metal:
Titanium
wedding rings are as strong as steel, yet they're around 40% lighter.
This makes them extremely comfortable to wear (in our opinion they're
the most comfortable mens rings available), yet still able to withstand
the rigours of life without bending or denting like soft metals can.
Titanium is also the most hypoallerenic metal available, which means
it won't cause skin reactions over time like other metals
can.
Titanium
wedding bands aren't perfect though, as being strong doesn't mean
that they're scratchproof. They are more scratch resistant than gold
or silver for example, but they will still noticeably scratch
throughout a lifetime of wear. For polished titanium wedding rings
though, they can be repolished without having to be replated like
many of the soft metal bands will need.
Tungsten
wedding rings of course are famous for being virtually scratchproof.
Many people simply don't believe this can be true, but when you have
been wearing a tungsten wedding band for years and it still looks
brand new, you will become a true believer.
So
why doesn't this make tungsten the automatic choice for every groom?
Firstly, tungsten is heavy. You will definitely notice it when you
first put it on, and for those men who don't like wearing rings
normally, this can be a deal killer. Secondly, tungsten's number one
feature can also be its Achilles heel. Pure tungsten is the hardest
metal on earth - which is why it's virtually scratchproof. This also
makes it brittle. A pure tungsten ring will shatter when dropped on a
hard surface, which is why we add carbon to it to make it tungsten
carbide.
In
extreme circumstances, even tungsten carbide can chip or break. This
is an excellent feature in a car crash (as the ring will not crush
your finger), but if you drop your wedding ring in the shower and it
chips, there is little that can be done to fix it.
Truthfully,
it's very rare for this to happen. We have tested tungsten carbide
rings in a variety of tests - from driving over it in a truck, to
dropping it off the top of a six floor building, to placing over
200kgs of weight on a single ring - with no chipping or breaking. But
it does happen, and you must understand this before making the
purchase. We have a comprehensive structural warranty with our
tungsten rings for this very purpose.
One
of tungsten carbide's biggest issues though is that it is often
branded as being "indestructable", which it is not. This
leads to men trying to test the indestructability of the rings (to
their mates of course), which can sometimes lead to chipping, which
can be particularly distressing for the wife - even though the ring
itself would most probably have lasted a lifetime without even a
scratch had it been worn normally. All rings - even tungsten carbide
and titanium wedding rings - should be treated with care.
Lifestyle
MattersIt's
easy to choose quickly when it comes to the groom's wedding ring,
particularly when her rings are usually the centre of attention in
the lead up to the big day. Once all of the dust settles though, the
groom will be wearing this ring for the rest of his life, so it's
important to take a bit of time pre-purchase to find out what will be
the most suitable material.
Titanium
wedding rings are one of the safest bets if you're having trouble
choosing, although tungsten rings are the only ones that can last a
lifetime and still look brand new. It really depends on what hobbies
the groom has, and what kind of work he does. Electrical workers for
example should go for a non-conductive ceramic wedding ring, whereas
white collar workers can choose from most materials depending upon
their budgets and peronal preferences.
Buying
Wedding Bands OnlineWhile
the internet has given us all more choice, it also comes with obvious
challenges, particularly when it comes to sizing. If you walk into
three different jewellers , they'll likely all measure you up as a
different size to each other. This is because sizing standards aren't
great, and are often too specific (particularly with Aust/UK sizes).
The truth is, nothing beats wearing the ring for a day or two to get
a feel for whether the size is appropriate and comfortable for you.
Whether you're buying online or offline, make sure you can freely
return the ring and exchange it for a different size if you need
to.
Mens
Wedding Rings Are A Personal ChoiceEven
with all of the above pros and cons, some grooms "just want
titanium", or "just want tungsten" for no other reason
than they want what they want - and who is anyone else to argue? Even
if you want a gold wedding band with all of its drawbacks, then
that's entirely your choice. Just remember, at the end of the day
there's only one person who has to agree with your choice of mens
wedding ring - and let's face it, her decision is the most important! Whther or not you wear a bowler hat or fedora hat, right down to what wedding cake toppers or wedding veils are worn, the choice is really up to her!
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