Plain Wedding Rings

The most important consideration when choosing your wedding ring is what style you want. If you've decided that you prefer the elegant simplicity of a plain wedding ring then your next choice is the colour. Yellow or rose gold are simple but if you prefer a white metal then the options become more complicated.

On the surface Platinum, Palladium and White Gold wedding rings all look similar, apart from the price, but which is really the material you want? To help you understand the differences you can't see, here's a quick comparison:

Platinum, obviously, is the most expensive of the metals at two to three times the price of white gold. But do you get anything for that other than a rarer metal? Stronger and heavier than white gold, it doesn't wear easily, however, the high shine finish can be lost easily and your ring will need regular polishing to maintain its shine if you do not prefer a matte finish.

White Gold rings cost between half and a third as much as platinum (for 18ct gold), making them far more avoidable. Although they are commonly plated with rhodium to give extra whiteness to the metal, which can rub off over time, having the plating redone is simple and quick so should not cause too much hassle. The only major drawback of choosing a white gold ring is if you have an allergy to nickel, which is one of the metals commonly used for the alloy. It is also a far lighter metal than platinum.

Palladium is a relative newcomer to the world of wedding rings, only having become popular in the last few years. As such you might not have thought of it before. Varying between a quarter and a third of the price of a platinum ring, a palladium wedding ring is often the most affordable option. As well as having the same hypoallergenic qualities as platinum it is also lighter weight, much like white gold. Its finish does last longer than platinum, but not as long as white gold and the refinishing again takes longer than gold.

With a plain ring, these decisions are even more important. Hopefully this run down will help you choose the right ring for you. Take your time and find something you love. Besides the choice of metal, there are many other aspects to take into account when choosing a plain wedding ring