Choosing a ring can be hard enough, given the different shapes of the gems there may be, the different clarities, just how many gems you should have on the ring, and price.  One thing that is rarely considered or thought about is just what metal is being used for that wedding or engagement ring.

Gold is by far the most popular metal for a wedding ring, given how it is malleable (easily adjusted and sized) and it is valuable.  Gold offers fantastic clarity, beautiful color, and you can actually change the shade of gold rather easily.  You can find gold rings in yellow shades, white, red, pink, peach, and even green.

TIP:  If you have an eco-friendly bride, you can consider buying an eco-gold wedding ring.  These rings are created from gold that is retrieved from “low impact” sources, meaning it has minimal impact on the earth.  A lot of these rings are created from recycled or “scrap” gold jewelry that is then melted down and molded into a new shape.

Platinum rings are the next most popular, and seem to be growing in popularity.  These rings are more durable and are heavier, which is why a lot of men in particular choose to have a platinum ring.  As platinum rings are heavier than a gold ring, you should also expect to pay a higher price for one.

TIP:  Platinum rings can also be found in eco-friendly varieties, similar to gold.

Palladium is a metal that belongs to the same “family” as platinum, except it is less expensive than its platinum counterpart.  It is a lighter weight metal and is also whiter in color than both gold and platinum.  It’s harder than gold, scratch resistant, holds a beautiful polish and is hypoallergenic.  If you have a bride who is prone to skin allergies, a palladium ring is a great way to go.  For anyone on a tighter budget, palladium wedding and engagement rings are a great choice too.

Silver wedding rings are popular, though not as popular as gold and platinum.  This metal is the whitest of the jewelry metals that are usually used, and it holds the best luster when polished.  The only problem is that the luster is quickly lost and the ring will need to be re-polished.  Silver rings are not as hard as gold, yet they will not lose shape easily and they are far less expensive than the other metals that are used for rings.

Mokume gane wedding and engagement rings are perhaps the less heard of, simply because they are more rare.  These types of wrings are created through fused layers of gold that are then twisted and formed into interesting designs and patterns.  These rings most certainly have a unique and special finish.  The drawback to these rings is that they are quite expensive, being on parallel with platinum or 18K gold rings.  But for anyone who doesn’t want that old fashioned “run of the mill” wedding or engagement ring, it is definitely an option to look further into.