The Color Of The Wedding Band Is Evolving

Long after the wedding dress is packed away and the thank you notes mailed, couples will carry one memento from their wedding every day…their rings! But today’s couple has many more choices than their parents did, including style, stones and even metals.

Gold is a traditional choice for many brides and grooms, but there are still many options here, and may come in 14k or 18k. Pure gold is 24k, so the higher the karat, the greater the gold content in the ring. Different metal alloys are mixed with the gold, which is a softer metal, and will affect the band’s strength and color. An 18k yellow gold wedding band, for example, will be a deeper gold color than 14k because of its higher gold content.

Some couples may prefer white gold, which is achieved by adding rhodium on the ring, for a soft cool glow. A more recent option for brides and grooms is rose gold, which is created when a copper alloy is added, and gives the gold a warm pink tone. Some designs even incorporate a mix of gold colors. Each color of gold also has an underlying meaning: white for friendship, gold for fidelity and rose gold for love.

Those couples who love the cool hue of white gold might want to consider platinum as an option. While gold bands are durable, platinum is a denser and much stronger metal, which develops a lovely patina with age. For those with sensitive skin, platinum is naturally hypoallergenic. It also does not need to be mixed with other metals to create a strong ring, so platinum bands are 95 percent pure and will truly last a lifetime.