by Krystle Hernandez

Created on: April 28, 2009

Wedding bands have long been heralded as symbols of everlasting love, echoed by their circular shape that has no end. Because wedding bands are also public declarations of commitment to a partner, it is not surprising that most couples want their bands to last a lifetime. Although the earliest rings were made of simple metals, like iron, today's couples have a variety of options when it comes to materials for their wedding bands. But, with so many options, which materials are more durable than others? For some assistance, here is a brief list to help couples comparing the durability of wedding ring materials when selecting their bands.

Silver.

There's no doubt about the fact that weddings can be expensive. Spending so much on other aspects of the wedding may leave couples contemplating over what kind of metal to choose for their wedding bands. Go for pricier but more durable platinum? Or, opt for something a little less extravagant, but possibly less durable? In these cases, it is often a wise choice for couples on a tight budget to select a less expensive metal for their wedding bands, like silver. It has the same sleek look of a white metal, but for a fraction of the cost.

However, couples should only opt for silver bands if the selection is temporary. In other words, if you go for a silver band, be sure that you will be financially ready to upgrade within the year. Silver is a relatively soft metal and is extremely malleable, causing rings to easily bend, particularly when worn by an individual who is constantly working with his or her hands. Silver also tends to scratch very easily. So, with these two characteristics, it is likely that your bands will need an upgrade pretty soon. Furthermore, silver tends to react to sweat and moisture, can tarnish in water (if worn in the shower, for example), and cause the wearer to develop an ugly (and telling) green ring around the skin under the band. Overall, silver is not the most durable wedding band material; so keep this in mind when you are doing your ring shopping.

Yellow Gold.

Since medieval times, gold has been thought of as the traditional marriage metal. Needless to say, many traditionalist couples will choose to go with gold bands, even if they can afford platinum. The average price for a simple gold band is around $150, which is considerably less expensive than more durable metals like platinum. Pure gold is usually 24K and yellow in color. Unfortunately, pure gold is also very soft, bending easily. However,

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