Cobalt Chrome

Color

Cobalt chrome does not fade or tarnish because it is not plated and does not corrode easily. Cobalt chrome has a much whiter color compared to titanium and tungsten and is comparable to white gold and platinum.

Durability

The tensile strength of cobalt chrome is similar to that of titanium and it is more malleable than tungsten carbide. Wedding rings made from these materials retain the round shape under normal use and do not get bent out-of-shape. Cobalt is much more scratch resistant than titanium, but not as scratch resistant as tungsten carbide.

Sizing

Cobalt rings can be resized by heating it to an extreme temperature. Therefore, if your finger size changes in the future, a cobalt ring will be able to adapt.

Origins

Mostly yielded from Democratic Republic of the Congo, cobalt ore is mainly a by-product of copper and nickel mining. It can also be found in meteoric iron and vitamin B-12.

Cost

Cobalt rings are priced similar to tungsten and titanium rings.

 

Palladium

Color

Palladium does not fade or tarnish because it is not plated and does not corrode easily. Palladium has a much whiter color compared to titanium and tungsten and is comparable to white gold and platinum.

Durability

Palladium can retain more shine than platinum, but less than gold. It can be refinished by a jeweler to bring up the original shine, though it will take more time than polishing white gold jewelry. Palladium offers more security of stones compared to white gold when the stones are set, and it wear better than most white gold.

Sizing    

Palladium rings can be resized.

Origins

Mostly found in Russia and South Africa, though some has been mined in Canada and the United States.

Cost

More affordable than platinum but more expensive than gold.

 

Platinum

Color

Platinum does not fade or tarnish because it is not plated and does not corrode easily. Platinum has a much whiter color compared to titanium and tungsten and is comparable to white gold and palladium.

Durability

With frequent wearing, platinum will have a rubbing or scuffing effect, unlike the scratching you see on gold jewelry. This means that in a fairly short amount of time, a platinum ring will be dull and not shiny. It can be refinished by a jeweler to bring up the original shine, though it will take more time than polishing white gold jewelry. Platinum offers more security of stones compared to white gold when the stones are set, and it wear better than most white gold.

Sizing

Platinum rings can be resized.

Origins

Platinum is a by-product of nickel and copper mining and processing.

Cost

Most expensive.

 

Tungsten

Color

The color of titanium tends to be a darker gray, similar to gunmetal. The colors do not fade or tarnish because they are not plated and they do not corrode easily.

Tungsten rings are much more scratch resistant, but have the potential to crack at a high impact.

Sizing

Tungsten rings are not resizable.

Origins

Tungsten is found in China, Austria, Bolivia, Portugal, Russia, and Columbia, the United States, Canada, and North Korea.

Cost

Similar to cobalt chrome and titanium, less than gold, palladium, and platinum.

 

Titanium

Color

The color of titanium tends to be a darker gray, similar to gunmetal. The colors do not fade or tarnish because they are not plated and they do not corrode easily.

Durability

Titanium is dent and corrosion resistant.

Sizing

Titanium rings are not resizable.

Origins

Titanium is found all over the world, especially in Australia, South Africa, Canada, Norway, and the Ukraine.

Cost

Similar to cobalt chrome and tungsten, less than gold, palladium, and platinum.

 

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