Men's Wedding Ring Styles

Choosing a men's wedding ring can be overwhelming because there are so many styles available. Wedding bands come in various metals, with or without gemstones, and in many patterns. When shopping for a ring it's important to know the advantages and disadvantages of each type of metal so you can pick the one that best suits your lifestyle.

Precious Metals
Gold is probably the most traditional metal, and comes in 18K, 14K and 10K varieties. 18K gold is the most expensive type and 10K the least costly. Gold can be polished to shine and easily engraved, and it comes in various colors, such as yellow, white, and pink, or rose. However, gold is not as durable as some metals, so it scratches and dents easily, and some people are allergic to it. Platinum is the most valuable metal. Its bright, pure coloring makes it very attractive, as does its purity, which makes it hypoallergenic. However, platinum is also the most expensive type of metal, and it scratches easily.

Industrial Metals
Titanium is durable, lightweight and hypoallergenic. It has a light gray hue that will not change color or fade, but titanium does not shine as much as gold and is not considered a precious metal. Tungsten is another hypoallergenic, durable metal that resists discoloration and tarnish. However, tungsten is heavier and is much darker in color than other metals. Also, because of tungsten's hardness it can shatter if it meets high impact.

Comfort Fit
The comfort fit has a contoured surface on the interior of the ring, so there are fewer places where it comes in contact with the finger. Because it is more comfortable it is good for those not used to wearing a ring. Comfort fit rings generally run half a size larger than other types, so you may need to choose a different size that you ordinarily wear.

Cut
There are also a few common cuts of men's wedding bands. The half-round style is curved on the outside in a convex shape and is one of the more traditional varieties. A pipe band is another style, so called because it looks like a cross-section of a pipe---straight on the inside and outside with flat edges. This look is ideal for wider wedding bands.

Treatment
Wedding bands receive a final treatment to give them a certain look on the outside. A shiny polished exterior is the most traditional type of metal finish. Matte is a brushed finish that gives the surface of the ring a slight sparkle, though scratches tend to stand out on this variety. A brushed finish, sometimes called a satin finish, is similar to the matte but has more noticeable fine lines on the surface. The millegrain is a string of what looks like tiny beads of metal that line the edges of the ring. This is a popular style that adds a slight embellishment to the jewelry.