Wedding Ring Metals That Don’t Tarnish | Wedding KnowHow | CHURINGA WEDDING RINGS

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Contents

• What is tarnishing?
• Jewelry Metals
  That Don’t Tarnish
  • Platinum
  • Palladium
  • Titanium
  • Tungsten
    Carbide
  • Tantalum
  • Cobalt
  • Stainless
    Steel
  • Notable
    Mentions
• How to Remove
  Tarnish from My Jewelry?

When choosing a metal for your engagement or wedding
band, it’s important to consider whether the metal is tarnish resistant. This
will ensure that maintenance is kept to a minimum and your ring will look shiny
and lustrous for as long as possible.

Here’s a look at the top metals for wedding rings that
don’t tarnish and what to do if you already have a tarnished ring.

What is tarnishing?

Tarnish refers to a chemical
reaction that takes place on the surface of a metal when certain conditions are
met. This results in a coating of corrosion on the outer layer of the metal
which reduces the metal’s luster.

Tarnish is different from
rust in that rust eats away at the metal, whereas tarnish only forms on a few
top layers of the metal. This effectively protects the rest of the metal from
reacting.

There are many ways to
prevent tarnish occurring on metals.

Jewelry Metals
That Don’t Tarnish

When buying engagement, wedding rings or other jewelry
that you plan to wear frequently, tarnish resistance is an important
consideration. This minimises the time you have to spend cleaning the jewelry
while maximizing its luster and beauty.

Luckily, some metals simply don’t react to external
conditions. These are called noble metals, as they resist chemical action. Here
are the top metals used in jewelry which resist tarnishing.

Platinum

Domed platinum ring. Check price HERE.

Platinum is among the most valuable and precious metals used in jewelry. It’s the most popular for wedding bands due to its durability, prestige and beautiful luster. It’s one of the rarest metals on earth and has been used in jewelry for several centuries.

Platinum is non-reactive and exposure to oxygen,
moisture or air doesn’t affect it negatively. It maintains its luster and
color, which is part of its eternal appeal.

Platinum does develop a patina over time, which gives platinum jewelry an aged, antique look. Some people love this while others have it removed. This patina is formed by scratches and dents in the metal which displaces the platinum. It can be removed by polishing the jewelry.

Palladium

Palladium ring with grooved pattern. Check price HERE.

Palladium is part of the platinum group of metals and
is highly valuable. It has an excellent white-silver hue and a stunning luster.
Because of the recent hike in price of palladium, this metal is among the most
prestigious and valuable metals today.

Palladium is slightly more durable than platinum, and
more scratch resistant. It’s extremely resistant to tarnish, which makes it
perfect for everyday wear.

However, palladium is very rare and not as popular as
platinum, meaning that jewelry designs featuring this metal can be limited.

Titanium

Brushed titanium wedding band by Vincent Faith. Check price HERE.

Titanium is an extremely tough, durable and tarnish resistant metal. It can be used as a substitute for platinum but is very affordable making it a good option for budget conscious shoppers.

Titanium doesn’t scratch which is why it’s a top
choice for those who lead active lifestyles. In addition, because it doesn’t tarnish,
it can be worn everyday with minimal maintenance required.

Despite its strength, titanium is very light, and many
wearers say they barely feel their titanium rings on their finger. If you like
the feeling of a solid, heavy ring, then titanium probably won’t feel very
comfortable. Also, note that resizing a titanium ring can be next to
impossible.

Tungsten
Carbide

Hammered tungsten carbide ring. Check price HERE.

Much harder than titanium, tungsten carbide is the hardest metal used in jewelry. It’s also one of the hardest substances overall, ranking very close to diamonds on the Mohs scale at 9 to 9.5. It’s a heavy metal and feels substantial when you wear it.

Tungsten carbide is often called the ‘forever polished
ring’ because it doesn’t tarnish, scratch or fade in any way. It can be worn
every day with minimal impact on its surface. For the most affordable, durable
option, tungsten carbide is probably your best bet.

However, like titanium, tungsten carbide too can’t be resized. In an emergency, it can be removed by shattering the metal with a pair of vice grip pliers.

Tantalum

Tantalum wedding ring by The Wooden Circle Co. Check price HERE.

Tantalum is similar to platinum albeit a little darker. It still falls into the white metal category with its shiny whitish hue and luster. Tantalum is highly durable and extremely scratch resistant. It can take heavy exposure and maintain its appearance.

This metal doesn’t tarnish or conduct heat. It’s
highly workable and comes at a reasonable price. However, because it’s
extremely rare, finding tantalum rings or jewelry can be difficult as not many
jewelers tend to work with it.

Primary sources of tantalum are expected to run out in
the near future, meaning that it could be an excellent way to get your hands on
a unique metal.

Cobalt

Comfort fit matte cobalt wedding band. Check price HERE.

Very similar to white gold, cobalt is durable, tough
and tarnish free. It resists scratching and denting and doesn’t corrode or
rust. It’s also very affordable, compared to white gold and doesn’t require
re-plating as white gold does. This makes it a very attractive alternative.

Because of its hardness, cobalt rings can be difficult
to resize, and the design options aren’t as varied as white gold. It’s a safe
material to wear and is hypoallergenic.

Stainless
Steel

Polished stainless steel wedding band. Check price HERE.

Stainless steel comes in a variety of alloy types, but
the one commonly used in jewelry is 316L stainless steel. The very word
‘stainless’ steel refers to the metal’s ability to resist staining and
discoloring. It doesn’t tarnish and instead maintains its shine and luster.

Stainless steel is also highly affordable but it’s not
valuable, so if you’re looking for a prestigious ring, this won’t be it.

Notable
Mentions

The above list of metals are
the most popular types of tarnish resistant metals used to create rings and
other jewelry.

However, there are a few
notable mentions that technically aren’t metals but are used to make rings:

Ceramic Carbide:

Black ceramic ring. Check price HERE.

This highly durable, scratch
resistant, tarnish free, hypoallergenic material is perfect for jewelry that looks
beautiful and lustrous but comes at a low price point. It’s also lightweight
and heat resistant. Ceramic rings cannot be resized and if dropped or hit with
impact, they can shatter.

Carbon Fiber:

Carbon fiber inlay ring. Check price HERE.

One of the toughest
materials used to make jewelry, carbon fiber is created by tightly weaving
together fibers that create a material that looks like a metal but is extremely
light and porous. It’s much lighter than even titanium. Carbon fiber can resist
tremendous pressure, and is a space age material perfect for someone who loves
science or the modern world.

How to Remove
Tarnish from My Jewelry?

There are several ways of
cleaning tarnish off metals depending on the level of tarnish and the type of
metal you have. Here are some basic ways to get rid of tarnish:

1. Soap and Water – Use
   a mild soap and warm water to clean your lightly tarnished jewelry items. Place
   the jewelry in the foamy water and using a brush or cloth, rub at the tarnish.
   Rinse and repeat if necessary.
2. White Vinegar –
   Mix together equal parts of water and white vinegar, then dipping a cloth or a
   toothbrush in the solution and use this to rub or scrub the jewelry. Scrub
   gently so as not to damage the jewelry. Rinse it thoroughly at the end of the
   process.
3. Baking Soda and Lemon –
   Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle a good amount of baking soda onto one half of
   the lemon. Use the lemon to rub the tarnished jewelry, with the baking soda
   acting as an abrasive to provide a little scrubbing action for the process. Alternatively,
   you can mix the lemon and baking soda to form a paste and then use a toothbrush
   or cloth to rub the jewelry. Rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly.
4. Baking Soda, Vinegar and Aluminum
   Foil – This method is perfect for cleaning heavy tarnish.
   Line a pot or pan with aluminum foil, then add boiling water, salt and baking
   soda into the pan. Add vinegar and watch this react with the powders in the pan.
   Leave the jewelry in the pan for several minutes until the tarnish starts to
   come off. Rub any stubborn tarnish spots with a cloth if necessary. Finally,
   wash, rinse and dry thoroughly. This video below shows this method in action.

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