Which Color of Men’s Tungsten Rings is Right for You?

While tungsten carbide’s natural gunmetal hue usually comes first to mind when one thinks of men’s tungsten rings, these popular bands are actually commonly available in three equally striking colors, all of which offer the considerable advantages of this contemporary material. Read on to learn more about the colors of men’s tungsten rings.

Mens Tungsten Wedding Bands

Natural tungsten. When speaking of men’s tungsten rings, one is actually referring to bands made from tungsten carbide, a compound of the metal tungsten and a like number of carbon atoms. Tungsten carbide is considered to be a cermetal, or a substance that has both metallic and ceramic properties. In their natural, unaltered form, men’s tungsten rings have an eye-catching gunmetal grey color that is distinctly different from traditional metallic shades yet equally wearable. Many shoppers think that men’s tungsten rings have a modern and masculine look, and like their “tough” appearance.

Like all men’s tungsten rings, tungsten carbide in its natural form is incredibly hard and scratch-resistant, allowing it to easily maintain its “just purchased” appearance. It should be noted that men’s tungsten rings are not wholly immune to cracking due to the inherent brittleness of tungsten; however, this can vary greatly based on formulation, the quality produced by the manufacturer as well as the wearer’s lifestyle and habits.

Men's Tungsten Rings

Black tungsten. Many shoppers ask us, what is black tungsten? Are men’s tungsten rings in black still tungsten? The answer is unquestionably yes. Black tungsten is most often created by iron plating men’stungsten rings or treating them with a PVD (physical vapor deposition) coating to achieve their rich ebony hue. Men’s tungsten rings can also have a ceramic overlay that renders them black. Shoppers gravitate towards men’s tungsten rings in black because they are so different from the standard metallics out on the market, yet are still reasonably neutral that they can be worn every day. For those who want a more edgy or alternative ring, black tungsten is an excellent choice.

Men's White Tungsten Band

White tungsten. Men’s tungsten rings in white tungsten are perfect for those who like the qualities of tungsten carbide, but prefer a more traditional look for their band. White tungsten was actually developed specifically in response to consumer demand – customers loved the price and benefits of men’s tungsten rings but wanted something that more closely resembled the classic silvery white appearance of platinum or white gold.

White tungsten men’s rings are usually created by bonding a white metallic substance to the surface of men’s tungsten rings, usually a member of the platinum group metals (PGMs). The combination of tungsten’s toughness and a luxury look seems to be a winning one, and more and more shoppers are picking up men’s tungsten rings in white.

Which type of men’s tungsten rings do you prefer?

4 Reasons to Buy Promise Rings for Men

Promise rings for men are more popular than most shoppers realize, although it shouldn’t be all that surprising given the variety of functions that they can serve. Some men wear promise rings as pre-engagement rings, while others wear them as a testament to their faith or to a particular friendship. Here are four good reasons to buy promise rings for men.

They can be incredibly romantic. Promise rings for men are in some ways the closest thing to an engagement ring for guys. Men and women often exchange promise rings to signify their commitment and dedication to one another, whether or not marriage is ultimately considered to be part of that commitment.

Many promise rings for men are unquestionably romantic in design. One particularly popular detail of promise rings for men is having a word or phrase engraved on the band, sometimes in an infinity style. Some phrases that are frequently seen include “only love you,” “endless love” and “forever.” Another sought after style of promise rings for men is the Claddagh band, which features two hands holding a crowned heart.

Some women will give their guys promise rings for men to show how serious they are, without going the extra step of proposing. In fact, women historically gave promise rings to beaux who were financially unable to get married to signify that they would wait patiently until the man had established himself in business and life more firmly and could be considered a good prospect. However…

Titanium Two-toned Forever Love Ring

…promise rings for men don’t have to be romantically driven. While promise rings for men can be great as engagement ring stand-ins, they don’t necessarily have to hold a romantic connotation. Some men give or receive promise rings as a token of friendship; they’re especially a great gift between siblings. Other guys like to use promise rings for men as a statement regarding their dedication to their faith, which is why you’ll see a number of promise rings with religious-based designs, like crosses.

mens Christian rings

They can hold a special meaning known only to the wearer. Promise rings for men don’t always have to be given by a friend or partner – they can serve as a reminder of a promise that a man makes to himself. Some men will wear promise rings to serve as a reminder of a certain goal or milestone, or as a keepsake that helps them strong in the face of adversity. Promise rings for men can no doubt serve as strong internal motivators that still have an outwardly fashionable appearance.

Stainless Steel Claddagh Ring for Men

They’re affordable. Even when they serve as serious pre-engagement rings, most promise rings for men are very budget-friendly. Many promise rings for men are made from contemporary materials like tungsten carbide and stainless steel, which give them lower price tags yet high quality and durability. The affordability of promise rings for men makes them ideal for giving as a platonic gift, or as an attractive stand-in ring before a more expensive precious metal wedding band is purchased.

Would you wear promise rings for men?

Are Men's Engagement Rings Right for You?

There's been a lot of talk recently about men's engagement rings. Some guys love the idea of having their own engagement band to show off prior to the actual wedding. Are you ready to take the engagement ring plunge? Here are a few factors to take into account when considering men's engagement rings.

Men's Titanium Wedding Band

Men's engagement rings have been around for years. Though they are still not all that prevalent in the United States, men's engagement rings are by no means a new invention. In some areas of the world, men have traditionally worn a modest engagement ring that is switched out with a more expensive band at the time of marriage. In other countries, men might wear an engagement ring on their right hand, which becomes a wedding ring when the vows are taken and it switches to the left hand. Which brings us to...

Men's engagement rings can also be wedding rings. Some men have a hard time wrapping their minds around having two bands on their left ring finger. While stackable wedding and engagement rings are certainly an option, they are by no means mandatory. As other cultures have shown, you can easily transition your engagement ring into becoming your wedding band by either upgrading the band and material, or by simply switching which finger you wear it on, saving the left ring finger for your wedding. If you want to start with a less expensive band, consider budget-friendly yet high quality contemporary materials like titanium, ceramic, tungsten carbide or stainless steel – it will look good in the meantime, and you can always wear it as a fashion band later down the road.

Men's Stainless Steel Wedding Band

Men's engagement rings often have diamonds – but don’t necessarily have to have them. Let’s face it: for many guys, men’s engagement rings are just an excuse to wear diamonds. The popularity of men’s diamond rings in general proves just how universally appealing these sparkling gemstones are. Men’s engagement rings that have diamonds don’t have to be solitaire styles like women’s engagement rings; in fact, most men’s diamond engagement rings utilize multiple smaller stones that lend an extra little dose of luxury to contemporary and traditional designs alike. However, there is no hard and fast requirement that men’s engagement rings have diamonds. Unlike women’s engagement rings, there is no strong preconceived notion of what an engagement ring for men should look like. This means that an engagement ring for men can take virtually any form.

Titanium Ring With Carbon Fiber

Men’s engagement rings can be surprisingly affordable. For most, the phrase “engagement ring” conjures up visions of scrimping and saving and spending the bulk of one’s paycheck. However, once again men’s engagement rings should not be confused with women’s engagement rings. Men’s engagement rings by no means have to break the bank, even if they do incorporate diamonds into their designs. Thanks to the popularity of inexpensive contemporary materials as well as the use of smaller diamonds, men’s engagement rings are well within the grasp of most budgets.

Would you wear men’s engagement rings?

Men’s Stainless Steel Wedding Rings: How Do They Stack Up?

There’s a lot to be said about the positive benefits of men’s stainless steel wedding rings, including their durability, tarnish-resistance and affordability. But how is stainless steel different from other contemporary materials as well as traditional precious metals? Here is how men’s stainless steel wedding rings compare to four other popular wedding band materials.

Mens Stainless Steel Rings

Stainless Steel versus Tungsten
Along with titanium, tungsten carbide men’s rings are one of the most popular contemporary options on the men’s jewelry market. While men’s stainless steel wedding rings and tungsten carbide bands share some similarities, there are marked differences as well. For starters, stainless steel is a metallic alloy of steel and chromium, whereas tungsten carbide is a cermetal (a compound of a metal and nonmetal) that is made of the metal tungsten and an equal number of carbon atoms.
Both tungsten bands and men’s stainless steel wedding rings are impressively durable, though stainless steel is significantly more crack-resistant and tungsten carbide is somewhat more scratch-resistant. Tungsten carbide rings are heavier than men’s stainless steel wedding rings, and neither material is able to be re-sized (a new ring must be purchased instead).

Men's Stainless Steel Wedding Band

Stainless Steel versus Gold
The only naturally yellow metal in existence, gold is as flashy as stainless steel is understated. Though gold offers a number of pricing tiers, especially with different karat purities, men’s stainless steel wedding rings are a fraction of the price of their gold counterparts.
Gold can be alloyed with any number of different metals, resulting in a variety of colors and karat grades. Stainless steel does offer a few different color options in addition to its naturally light gunmetal grey hue, but not to the same extent that gold does. However, stainless steel is significantly stronger and more durable than gold.

Black Stainless Steel Band

Stainless Steel versus Titanium
While men’s stainless steel wedding rings are noticeably lighter than tungsten carbide bands, titanium wedding rings are even lighter still. Titanium’s lightness of weight belies its strength, and titanium is actually three times stronger than stainless steel. However, stainless steel is more scratch-resistant and will definitely show less signs of the micro-scratching that tends to accumulate with daily wear than titanium.
While both materials are more affordable than metals like gold or platinum, stainless steel tends to be more budget-friendly than titanium. This is likely due to the greater abundance of stainless steel as a material, as well as its great workability for jewelry designs over titanium.

Stainless Steel versus Sterling Silver
Both sterling silver and men’s stainless steel wedding rings offer a white metal alternative to platinum or white gold (though stainless steel is usually a little darker than sterling silver). Sterling silver can tend to tarnish and oxidize, especially as it is exposed to air and water, whereas stainless steel is highly stain and oxidization resistant.

Sterling silver can come in a higher quality alloy called Argentium silver, which has improved durability and tarnish-resistance. However, Argentium silver is quite higher in price than stainless steel, and may not be attainable for all budgets the way that stainless steel is.

Is stainless steel your favorite wedding band material, or do you prefer another?