Question on Metals- Wedding Band

[cjaama]

I am searching for a wedding band for myself (groom). I’ve been to a couple stores and tried on some rings and I like the look of the traditional (domed) band the most.
I like the look of platinum and the patina that it gets over time, but I really can’t justify the price (funny, I had no problem justifying it for my fiancé’s engagement ring). Are there any alternative metals that develop the same kind of patina as PT? Palladium, titanium, tungsten etc.
Also, does anyone have any idea what the difference is between low dome and European low dome rings?

I appologize if I posted this in the wrong forum, but I could not find a more appropriate place and love the advice I got while shopping for engagement rings.

 

[Bosie]

try eweddingbands.com, great prices, great quality, I bought a 4mm plat domed, cf, best prices.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

If I chose a plain domed platinum band, I'd probably also have a tungsten one to wear when the platinum one might get damaged. Platinum is soft whereas tungsten is extremely hard and scratch resistant (see Tungstenworld.com).

Just FYI there are more durable platinum alloys than the usual 95 plat/5 iridium. Either 90plat/10iridium or 95plat/5ruthenium are harder.

 

[cjaama]

try eweddingbands.com, great prices, great quality, I bought a 4mm plat domed, cf, best prices.

i was actually looking there, that's what lead me to my question above regarding "european" low dome vs. just low dome

http://www.e-weddingbands.com/store/euro-palladium.html

http://www.e-weddingbands.com/store/euro-pd-reg.html

their prices do seem to be pretty good, but i might end up going w/ whiteflash, as that is where the fiance's engagement ring and likely wedding band will come from. probably try to catch a break.

 

[Lotus99]

try eweddingbands.com, great prices, great quality, I bought a 4mm plat domed, cf, best prices.

i was actually looking there, that's what lead me to my question above regarding "european" low dome vs. just low dome

http://www.e-weddingbands.com/store/euro-palladium.html

http://www.e-weddingbands.com/store/euro-pd-reg.html

their prices do seem to be pretty good, but i might end up going w/ whiteflash, as that is where the fiance's engagement ring and likely wedding band will come from. probably try to catch a break.

It's really hard to tell from the pictures what the difference is. When I looked at the 5.5 mm versions of both, it seems the European version is slightly thicker and more rounded on the outside edge and is also a thicker ring in general (2.1 mm vs. 1.8 mm).

 

[distracts]

Palladium is the most similar. I made my fiance try on some palladium bands recently as it's either palladium or platinum for his wedding ring - we're deciding based on whether the likes the lightness of palladium or the heaviness of platinum. I think it will take longer to develop a true patina, but if you just like the look, you can have the jeweler give it a brushed finish. Titanium and tungsten definitely will not patina like that, but I am pretty sure they too can be given a brushed finish, but it will look much less like platinum than palladium will.

I also agree that eweddingbands.com has amazing prices. I've seen several threads on here where people have bought from them and been very satisfied.

 

[cjaama]

Ok, I was leaning toward Palladium. I like the heaviness of Platinum, but I think I'd grow tired of having the weight on my hand.

 

[CatrinaKitty]

I wouldn't worry too much about the weight of rings. You'll get used to them in no time. My husband has a tungsten wedding band and mentioned that it was heavy. After 3 days of wearing it without taking it off, he could hardly notice it was even there.