April 23, 2010
Alternative Metals
When Grandpa got his wedding band, he only had the options of gold or platinum. These days rings are made of all kinds of materials. They look cool and give customers a lot of variety, but most alternative metals come with a “but.”
Probably the biggest consideration is that rings made of these alternative metals aren’t sizable. If you want a ring that you can wear forever and that can become a family heirloom, chances are alternative metals aren’t the right choice. Most people’s fingers change in size throughout their life, so they won’t be able to always wear the same ring.
Gold, white gold and platinum are still the best choices for sizable rings. The value of these rings is also considerably more than the alternative metals. As the gold and platinum markets rise, the value of your heirlooms will also go up.
If you like the modern metals and aren’t deterred by their downsides, there are some fun styles to choose from. Below is a quick review of some of the more common alternative metals. Hopefully it’ll help you narrow down your choices.
Tungsten
Color: Steel Gray
Weight: Heavy
Selling Point: Scratch resistant so finish will last
Disadvantage: Can’t be sized and can shatter
Price: Averages $300*
Titanium
Color: Slight Gray
Weight: Light
Selling Point: Light weight compared to other ring materials
Disadvantage: Can’t be sized
Price: Averages $150*
Damascus Steel 
Color: Steele gray with matte gray wood-grain design
Weight: Medium
Selling Point: Same material as ancient samurai swords
Disadvantage: Can’t be sized
Price: Averages $375
Cobalt Chrome
Color: White
Weight: Relatively light
Selling Point: Scratch resistant and hypoallergenic
Disadvantage: Can’t be sized
Price: Averages $250*
Ceramic
Color: Black and white are most common
Weight: Relatively light
Selling Point: Scratch resistant so finish will last
Disadvantage: Can’t be sized and can shatter
Price: Averages $120*
*Prices based on solid rings with no inlays of gold, silver, etc.
