Sponsored By:
631 S. Hill Street, #55
|
 |
Wedding Bands
Once you purchase the engagement ring, the next thing on the list is to get the wedding bands! What better way to express your love for one another by wearing a wedding band that symbolizes a loving marriage and commitment. Wedding bands are not only perfect to exchange along with the wedding vows down the isle, but they are also a great gift option for wedding anniversaries! Women’s wedding bands are usually chosen to compliment the engagement ring or to commemorate a lifelong loving union between married couples. The band is usually worn on the inside, while the engagement ring is worn on the outside of the left hand because it symbolizes it being closer to your heart.
When choosing a band, a huge factor to consider is what metal you want. The metal on a band can significantly determine the price. Below are some facts about the various types of metals to reflect on:
Precious Metals Guide
 |
Gold Gold is a very durable and timeless metal that will not rust, corrode, or tarnish. Jewelers throughout the ages have preferred gold to all other metals for its beauty and ease of workmanship.Pure gold is too soft to withstand the stresses of every-day wear, so it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability.
It can be alloyed with a number of other metals to increase its strength and produce a variety of colors, of which yellow, white, and rose are the most common. Gold content and purity is measured in karats. This is not as the same as carat, used to measure diamond weight. The higher the karat, the greater its gold content and price. The K number specifies how many parts, by weight, of pure gold is contained in 24 parts of the alloy. 24 karat is 100 percent, 18 karat is 75 percent, and 14 karat is 58 percent gold. 24 karat gold is too soft for jewelry, and 10 karat is the legal karat limit for real gold in the United States (but is unacceptable for jewelry). The decision between 14k and 18k is a matter of personal taste and preference. 14k has the important advantage of added strength, but it lacks the higher gold content and beauty of the rich color found in 18k. |
| Platinum Platinum is considered the preeminent metal for fine jewelry. It is 35 times more rare than gold and has a naturally unique white luster. It is also the strongest precious metal used in jewelry, and is almost twice as heavy as 14k gold. Platinum is one of the most uncommon precious metals on earth. It requires 8 weeks and 10 tons of ore to produce a single ounce of platinum. Platinum jewelry is at least 90% pure, which makes it hypoallergenic and ideal for those with sensitive skin. Because it is so pure, it requires no additives or rhodium plating, and its brilliant white luster enhances the natural beauty of diamonds.
Platinum jewelry is a perfect choice for everyday wear. Because it is the strongest of jewelry metals, platinum holds precious stones firmly and securely. Although it can scratch, it does not wear away and decrease its volume – and value – unlike other metals. Over time, platinum develops a natural patina (brushed look) that many people prefer over the high polished appearance. This look is unique to platinum and can simply be re-polished for those who prefer the high polish. |
 |
Palladium
Palladium is one of the newest trends in jewelry metals. It is naturally white, very strong, and hypo-allergenic, making it an excellent material for jewelry.
For budget-conscious customers who love the look of platinum, palladium is an excellent choice. Its color is similar to platinum and, like platinum, will also develop a patina finish over time. Because palladium is naturally white, there is no need for rhodium treatments.
|
Tungsten Due to its hardness, tungsten can only be used to make bands – and typically men’s bands, as women generally purchase bands that match their engagement rings. It is impossible to resize, so it is important to make sure your ring the correct size when you purchase it. |
 |
 |
Titanium As rings are forged out of a solid block of metal, it is very difficult to resize titanium rings. Titanium is available in many grades, and is sometimes alloyed with other metals for even greater strength. This additional strength is irrelevant in jewelry, so we suggest you choose jewelry with the purest grade of titanium you can find. Because titanium is so lightweight – roughly 1/3 the weight of gold – titanium rings are very comfortable and easy to wear, a feature that many newly-married customers appreciate. Some customers have expressed concern that a titanium ring is impossible to remove in the case of a medical emergency. Because it is made of pure titanium, with no metals added for increased strength, your titanium ring can be cut off if necessary. The strength of titanium makes it an excellent candidate for those who are hard on jewelry. While titanium may show slight scratches, it can be easily polished to keep it looking new. |
Silver
Silver is a less expensive jewelry metal. It has a beautiful color and is easy to work with, making it a good choice for fashion jewelry.
While there are many reasons to buy silver jewelry, there are also many disadvantages to owning silver jewelry, particularly fine jewelry. It is a softer metal, so it is unsuitable for everyday wear or setting precious stones. It requires upkeep as all silver tarnishes over time. Additionally, silver tends to stain the skin green. For these reasons, we do not carry silver jewelry at INTA Gems.
Rhodium
Rhodium is the most expensive precious metal in the world, costing over ten times as much as pure gold.
Because it is so expensive, jewelry is not made from rhodium. Instead, it is used to plate gold jewelry into white gold because white gold actually contains a natural yellow tinge of color. Unfortunately this treatment is not permanent; it should be repeated once every year or two to keep your jewelry looking bright and lustrously white.
At INTA Gems & Diamonds, we carry plain wedding bands, diamond bands, and diamond eternity bands in yellow gold, white gold, or platinum for women. The bands come in various styles such as plain, pavé, channel, common prong, bezel, flush, and other settings. In addition, we offer an exquisite collection of diamond eternity bands (contains diamonds all around the band) to represent eternal love. For men, we have an extensive selection of brand name bands that are crafted from palladium, titanium, tungsten, yellow gold, white gold, and platinum. When choosing a band, we understand that for men the number one factor they consider when choosing a wedding band is comfort. At INTA Gems, most of our men’s bands are comfort-fit to give men the utmost feeling of comfort. In fact, in a couple of weeks, many forget they even have a ring on! If our store does not have the exact band you are looking for, we offer custom-made service that takes only 4-6 weeks.
Remind her how precious she is to you with a diamond band! She’ll love the romantic gesture!
Reviews of INTA Gems
|
