Insiders Guide to choosing your perfect Wedding Band

Provided as a free resource by Coran Woodmass, Owner of WeddingBandsEmporium.com

Read this guide and you will discover…

• Which is the best material to choose for your Wedding Band4 costly misconceptions about Wedding Bands

• How to pick the right Ring Size first time

• 4 mistakes to avoid when choosing an Online Jeweler

• The importance of Value and Price

• How to get a 100% No Risk Guarantee

• 7 steps to finding your perfect Wedding Band

Which is the best material to choose for your Wedding Band?

• Traditional:

• Gold

• White Gold

• Silver

• Titanium

With so many different types of materials now available to make jewelry with, this guide will give you the important information on these new materials that you may not know about. Knowing the strength, scratch resistance qualities, allergy information and more will help you to decide which material best works for you and your lifestyle.

• New:

• Tungsten Carbide

• Ceramic

• Cobalt Chrome

Which is the best material to choose for your Wedding Band?

• Do you work in a heavy metal material/mining industry?

• You may want to avoid a black tungsten or designs with inlay.

• Are you exposed to hard rock or crystal material?

• Know that some non-metallic materials can damage even tough rings like tungsten.

• Do you even come in contact with harsh chemicals like ammonia or chlorine?

• A Ceramic might be a better option for you.

• Are you concerned with the weight (heavy or light) of your Wedding Band?

• Tungsten is a metal and has some weight to it, but Ceramic is non metallic and is much lighter.

• Do you have any known strong allergies to metal?

• Even combining materials in a way which is hypoallergenic to most people, those with strong metal allergies may still find themselves impacted. So what should you do?

• Do you work with high heat or electricity?

• Did you know Ceramic is heat resistant and non conductive?

Please consider your day to to activities in regards to the follow questions: Your answers, combined with this guide will help you decide what material is best for you.

What is Tungsten Carbide?

• In short for those not big on details:

• Its the hardest known jewelry material

• Its affordable compared to gold

• Its maintenance free

• The above make it an awesome wedding band material

Tungsten: Additional Interesting DetailsWell, its this freakin awesome inorganic chemical compound that is used to make all kinds of awesome stuff, not just Wedding Bands. Tungsten on its own it not suitable for jewelry making so equal parts of tungsten and carbon atoms are combined to create Tungsten Carbide. Our manufacturer uses a tungsten carbide which is mixed with a nickel-chromium binder, making our rings cobalt free. Know that when you purchase a Tungsten Carbide ring you will be wearing a material which is also used to make super cool manly things like armor piercing ammunition, aerospace gadgets such as rocket engine nozzles and most likely Thor’s hammer but we can’t get anyone to verify that.  

We aren’t just saying its tough

Peeps have tested it and the more interesting results against other jewelry making materials are this: 10 times harder than 18k gold 4 times harder than titanium Equal hardness to natural sapphire Only harder material on the Mohs Scale is diamond

As you can see diamonds are harder and it is diamond jewelry making tools that have to be used to cut, style and craft the tungsten carbide rings. Normal jeweler's tools won’t cut it and would most likely break if they came in contact with tungsten carbide which is why there are specialist who work with this substance.

So what does all this mean for you?The extreme hardness of the tungsten carbide creates a high resistance to scratching. This means it is resistant to typical wear and tear but its not scratching proof. Harder non-metallic materials like diamonds, sapphire and hard crystals can scratch it. We don’t suggest that you fight the Green Goblin with the ring on as we aren’t sure of the chemical compounds he’s made up from. For all those gents out there that have high labor jobs like plumbers, mechanics and builders etc; tungsten carbide rings will remain ‘like new’ even for you.

Tungsten Carbide rings are engineered to be maintenance free. They don’t need expensive jewelry cleaning products or getting sent off for re-plating. Yeah, more of that less work/extra effort stuff removed for you. Our manufacturer uses a tungsten carbide which is mixed with a nickel-chromium binder, making them cobalt free. In short our rings are hypoallergenic.

Why Black Ceramic Wedding Bands?

There is no other jewelry making material for black rings which will remain as flawless and polished like the day you bought it than ceramic.

Black Ceramic Wedding bands are the new black and here’s why in short.

• Scratch resistant

• Black color is not coated

• Harder than all metals except Tungsten

• Won’t corrode or tarnish in salt water or acid

• Light weight

Ceramic is a very hard material coming in at 7 on the Mohs Scale and its also resistant to heat. Ceramic rings are super high in the awesomeness of scratch resistance being pretty much the same as tungsten but a Black Ceramic ring is NOT coated or dipped. If the ring does get a scratch, there will be no other color or different material showing through.  

This is excellent for those guys who love the black color but know they might be more harsh on the ring, making ceramic a better options that black tungsten which can need re-coating.

Remember this?

In addition to being scratch resistant, harder than most metal, and super sleek in black, Ceramic is also non corrosive by sea water and acids and therefore will not tarnish.

Low low low maintenance - some might even say Maintenance Free!!

The Black Ceramic rings come in a bold onyx finish or a matte brushed finish. Either will remain flawless and never fade. The ceramic rings are also a good match for carbon fibre inlays or a dual material ring when combining it with our other awesome tungsten products. The designs and styles are always evolving as the jewelers experiment with new looks which will give you a unique ring combined with a traditional wedding band.

Bold Onyx Finish

Ceramic is a lightweight material and because of this the rings are also a little lighter than tungsten metal rings. I guess its up to you if you think this is a pro or a con. Some prefer that their ring have a bit more weight to it, others don’t mind. But what we can tell you if that if its the black look you’re after and you know your harsh on your jewelry then a Black Ceramic Wedding Band is the way to go.

Lightweight

Black Tungsten vs Black Ceramic

Naturally tungsten is a grey-ish color which means to make the ring black the tungsten carbide ring has a black titanium coating applied. Titanium is not as scratch resistant as tungsten as you saw on the Mohs Scale, but its still harder than gold or silver.  

The black titanium coating can scratch off which means these rings have to be taken care of a little bit more than tungsten rings as there are more materials which can damage the rings coating. This is universal in all black tungsten rings and if this is a concern for you then please consider a Black Ceramic ring instead.

What does this mean for you?

Black Tungsten vs Black Ceramic

Diamond Wedding Bands

Long before we were born an awesome female copywriter Frances Gerety coined the phrase “A Diamond Is Forever” and today after 66 years we still have a fascination of these shiny little gemstones. By adding diamonds to your ring, you will create an even more spectacular Wedding Band. But what do you need to know before choosing to do this?

Knowing how the diamond is set into the wedding band and how it may work with the various jewelry materials is important. By working with harder materials like tungsten or ceramic rather than gold or silver means your ring won’t ever bend out of shaping, reducing the risk of the diamond getting damaged or ever worse lost if it falls out.  

The more parts your ring has the greater the chance there is a weak points in the ring, which can lead to the ring damaging easier. Know that if you purchase one of our Tungsten Wedding Bands with a diamond in the inlay (like the Torretto2 on the right), the Tungsten Carbide ring is one single piece. The channel for the inlay is carved around the tungsten square which the diamond will be set into. This means no gluing pieces together which is awesome news for you.

Inlay Details (The Resin)

Designs which have an inlay, also have resin. A deep groove within the Wedding Band is cut for the inlay material and then protected by a layer of resin. The resin is not as tough as the tungsten or ceramic so it may scratch a little easier. However it is the best material to use to seal the material/design, stopping it from getting scratched or wearing away, whilst not impacting on the fantastic true color’s of the inlay underneath.

4 costly misconceptions about Wedding Bands

• Tungsten and Ceramic can be resized

• Tungsten is Unbreakable

• Metal rings can cause allergies

• All rings need costly maintenance

Tungsten and Ceramic can be resized

Tungsten Carbide and Ceramic will never bend out of shape, but you might if you lose or gain weight. I guess it depends if married life agrees with you or not. Due to the hardness of the material the ring cannot be resized. However, under our Lifetime Warranty it can be replaced with another size. Just get in touch and we’ll help you out.

Not all retailer offer the same resizing terms and conditions, so you need to be sure that who you purchase from offer this service for free or at least at a minimal change.  I wish I had known about a service like this when purchasing my ring, as my wedding band no longer fits and now I have to wear it on a chain around my neck; I didn’t have resizing coverage.

Tungsten is Unbreakable

Be wary of anyone makes claims such as this, they are false. Because Tungsten Carbide it a powder mixed with nickel, it can have voids. This means it could break if it were to be dropped on a hard flooring surface. Our manufacture does their best to catch any of these voids before they leave the warehouse, but should this occur as long as no warranty conditions have been breached (meaning it was accidental damage not you and your mates testing out who can break it first), then it will be replaced under the Lifetime Warranty.

Metal rings can cause allergies

Some people can have an allergic reaction to their jewelry because they have a metal allergy, which they may or may not know about. This reaction can be from a variety of different materials such as gold, silver, nickel or cobalt. In short all of our rings are hypoallergenic for the majority of people even though our rings do contain some of the above materials.

How can that be you ask? Well, it’s all in the details of the binders, alloys and chemical composition of the different mixtures which make up the final product. However if you do have super sensitive skin then the following information may help you to make the right decision on the perfect Wedding Band for you.

Allergy Info: Tungsten Carbide

For the Tungsten rings our manufacturer uses tungsten carbide which is mixed with a nickel-chromium binder, making the Tungsten Wedding Band range cobalt-binder free.

People who experience an allergic reaction to white gold due to the nickel in the ring do not experience the same thing with the tungsten carbide as the nickel amounts are so small. When purchasing a tungsten ring always be sure to get one that doesn’t contain cobalt.

Allergy Info: Cobalt Chrome

If tungsten rings are hypoallergenic because they don’t have a cobalt-binder, then cobalt chrome rings must cause an allergic reaction, right? NO. This is because cobalt chrome and cobalt-binder are two different things and when different elements are combined you get a different chemical composition.

Cobalt should not be mixed with tungsten as it will cause an allergic reaction for some, but cobalt combined with chrome creates an extremely hypoallergenic metal. So good in fact that its what doctors use for medical implants.

Allergy Info: Ceramic

Should be be one of the very few people who do experience an allergic reaction from any of our rings know that our returns policy allows you to exchange your rings for another type or obtain 100% of your money back on the purchase within 30 days.

Ceramic rings do not contain any metal at all, so those people who have metal allergies can wear ceramic rings with confidence. There is no binder, alloys or coatings which will give you a metal reaction so this is your safest hypoallergenic ring for those with super sensitive skin.

All rings need costly maintenance

Something not all retailers will tell you is that gold and/or plated rings have additional yearly maintenance required at your cost to ensure the quality of ring remains high. And at times this yearly maintenance is a requirement of your warranty. Not keeping the maintenance up to date can void it, which is not great at all.

$ $ $Additionally, they will tell sell you expensive solutions and cleaning clothes for you to do the extra maintenance work between these yearly re-plating. All of these costs can add up and of course there is your time to factor in here.

$ $ $

Maintenance on our range

Thorsten have made their rings to be as maintenance free as possible meaning there is no need for extra cleaning products to be purchased or expensive re-coating. By using the hardest materials like tungsten and ceramic all you need to do is wipe the ring with a damp cloth if it gets dusty. If your tungsten ring does tarnish then all is takes is a little mild soap, a toothbrush to scrub it, and a cotton towel to dry it off.  

Important Note: The chemical cleaners (such as ammonia, bleach, and chlorine) retailer sell are actually harmful to the tungsten rings and should not be used. In mentioning this it is also important to add that wearing your tungsten ring in chlorinated spas or pools is best avoided.

How to pick the right Ring Size first time?

Thorsten lives by the Swedish philosophy of design which combines function with aesthetics. All of their rings are made in a comfort fit style as to remain true to this philosophy. So you can wear your sweet Wedding Band with its stylish design and comfort fit every day without needing to take it off.

Comfort Fit versus Standard Fit

Most rings that you would find in a jewelry store are a Standard Fit (flat on the inside), however all of our alternative metal rings are classed as a Comfort Fit type ring, because who wants to be standard. That seems too normal and boring and we want you to be comfortable!

Comfort Fit rings are rounded on the inside to enable the ring to clear your knuckles easier. Due to this difference we suggest that you select a ring size which is about half a size smaller than you would normally wear. Comfort Fit rings are a looser fit compared to the same size ring in a Standard Fit.

Comfort Fit Sizing

The mm width of the ring can affect sizing and therefore should be taken into consideration when choosing a ring size.  Rings which are 10 mm or wider may feel tight on your finger due to the amount of skin they cover, therefore you may find that keeping your normal ring size is appropriate here. Please note that there will be slight variances of +/- 0.1 mm on our rings.

We know that your first instinct as a man is to say LARGE when asked for your size, but to be a little serious for a moment we’d like to help you get your ring size right on the 1st order, reducing any unnecessary effort on your behalf to get it swapped. Us men hate extra work!!

If you know your ring size we’d suggest you check our US Ring Size Chart to ensure it matches our manufactures measurements.

Know your size?

Ring Size

Don’t know your size?

If you don’t know your ring size, the most accurate way to determine it is to visit a couple of local jewelers and get fitted. We recommend going to at least 2 stores as each jeweler has their own way of measuring a person's ring size. If you get the same result from both, great you now know your ring size. If you get a slightly different size (no more than half a size in variation) go with the size that felt more comfortable.

Do not use any online printable cutout ring size guide. Every printer has their own pixels in which the convert the file or image into before printing it. This creates a discrepancy in the measurements and therefore the ring size will not be accurate.

Just be sure to come back to us to buy your ring or we can’t be held responsible if you purchase a boring Wedding Band.

Note for Wide Rings

If you are thinking about ordering a wide ring (greater than 10 mm) you might like to test how it feels on your finger at the same time, allowing you to know if the wider width feels more restrictive than a slimmer width. If so, be sure to NOT reduce the ring size for the Comfort Fit rings.

US Ring Size Dimensions Chart

Please see the full chart here.

4 mistakes to avoid when choosing an Online Jeweler

• Poor Security Encryption on the website

• No About Us Page

• No hidden fees

• No Contact details

Poor Security Encryption on the website

In short security encryption ensures your private information like credit card details, home address and phone number is secure and safe from prying eyes when you go through the check out. In order to know if the website you are using has good security encryption look for the green lock in the address bar as well as the green https like the below example:

About Us Page

The about us page of a website should include information about the owner/s of the site and at least one picture of them. This way you know you’re dealing with people instead of a large corporation who will treat you like a number. Smaller family run stores will keep in contact with you and care about you getting what you have ordered. Here is an example of an About Us Page that looks good (we might be a bit biased) Why Buy From Us.

Clear Info - No hidden fees

I don’t know about you but when I go online to shop I want to know what the total cost of the items is upfront. In some cases this isn’t possible to see this information upfront and clearly display; for example with international shipping or if you want your product shipped faster. This also could apply to extended warranty or added extras.

TIPA quick way to check the total cost is proceed to the checkout once you’ve found an item you like and see if there are any extra charges added before you enter your personal and payment info.

Contact details

Make sure before you make a purchase online that you can easily find the contact information of the online retailer. If for some reason you order is lost, wrong or needs exchanging you need to be able to contact the company easily. An example of the contact details to look for are: •A USA or freecall number•A Mailing Address•A Contact Form

Below are our contact details: Wedding Bands Emporium C/o Coran Woodmass

Suite K46893 13820 NE Airport Way Portland, OR 97230 Phone: +1 (503) 575 9924

For exchange and refunds please use our contact form here - Contact Form

The importance of Value and Price

Tungsten Carbide and Ceramic are much cheaper materials to purchase than gold in which the reduced costs also gets pass on to you the customer.

Does the higher price for a gold ring mean its a better quality? No. Gold is a commodity which is bought and sold on the stock market and its price varies for many reasons. Over the years its popularity has increased by marketing experts telling us its the jewelry material we should have. As we have shown you above on the Mohs Scale gold is much lower in hardness than Tungsten or Ceramic and it also require a lot effort to maintain its finish. This makes it a much now quality product for its price.

Tungsten or Ceramic vs Gold

China made vs USA made

Many wedding bands are produced and shipping out of China and due to the high volumes they produce the cost of the rings are substantially lower than many other retailers. Whilst we can’t comment on the quality of everything that comes out of China, what we do know is that their manufacturing standards are NOT the same as the USA.

This means the composition of the metals, the binders and alloys may not match to the USA safety standards, which means some of the great benefits of tungsten rings like its hardness and hypoallergenic qualities are lost. Additionally, important factors like warranties may not be able to be fulfilled as many businesses pop up and then disappear just as quick.

Cheap doesn’t mean better, but neither does expensive.

Use the facts in the guide to make an informed decision.

100% No Risk Guarantee

Buy your Wedding Band with confidence by using a retailer that has a great warranty, value for money shipping, and an easy to understand exchange or returns policy.

Whilst you may never need to use them, knowing what coverage you have and what the process will involve for you before hitting the buy button is very important.

Our Lifetime Warranty!

Just like resizing conditions, not all warranties are the same among retailers. Thorsten Rings offer the most comprehensive Lifetime Warranty to be seen in the industry. All pieces of jewelry are produced by the manufacturer to the highest standards, guaranteeing them to be defect free.  All jewelry is quality checked during its production and any that fail to meet the standards of excellence are discarded or replaced under the warranty terms. If by accident your ring sustains damage such as a crack or break, it will also be replaced. More detailed warranty terms and conditions for our products can be read on here.

Shipping

With an online retailer that don’t have as many fixed costs as a traditional brick and mortar store. Therefore they are often able to offer products at a discounted price. Even though our Wedding Bands are discounted from the retail store, we are still able to offer FREE Shipping to the lower 48 (mainland) in the United States. Your order will generally be processed within 24hrs and we'll rush your order via 2 day shipping at no additional cost!

For outside the Lower 48 and international orders please find details below:Hawaii $30 FEDEX International Please allow 3-4 days for deliveryCanada (Southern Provinces) $20 FEDEX International Please allow 3-4 days for deliveryCanada (Northern Provinces)   $50 FEDEX International Please allow 3-4 days for deliveryUK & Western Europe $30 FEDEX International Please allow 3-4 days for deliveryEastern Europe $45 FEDEX International Please allow 3-4 days for deliveryAsia & Oceania (inc Aus) $30 FEDEX International Please allow 3-4 days for deliveryLatin America & Caribbean $35 FEDEX International Please allow 3-4 days for deliveryMiddle East & Africa $45 FEDEX International Please allow 3-4 days for delivery

What’s better than cheap Shipping? FREE Shipping!!

45 Day Returns/Exchanges

Because you can’t try before you buy with an online retailer this can mean the product is not what you were expecting or the size is incorrect once you do finally get to try it on. To buy online with confidence online we suggest that you check the retailers exchange and returns policy to ensure if you need to this can be easily done.

Our Returns and Exchanges details are below.

45 Day Returns

All of our customers have 45 days to return any rings purchased for a full refund, less any applicable shipping and engraving fees.  This means we will return the funds back to you. This is not a credit to be used for future purchases, like others might do.  Rings that have been engraved by us, or a 3rd party, can be returned for a refund.  Rings that have alterations, other than engraving, or are customized cannot be returned for a refund.

45 Day Exchanges

Our products come with a 45 day exchange period.  During this time frame you may return the ring for a different style and/or size.  If there is any price difference, for a credit it will be either refunded or for a debt you, the customer, just pays the difference.  After 45 days the rings are automatically covered under the lifetime warranty.  This means size exchanges will be allowed for as long as the the end user owns the ring.  Rings cannot be exchanged for a different style after the 45 day period.

77 steps to finding your perfect Wedding Band

This concludes our ‘Insiders Guide to Choosing the Perfect Wedding Band’. A high level overview of the steps you now need to take are:

1. Determine how harsh you will be on the ring2. Pick the right material for the design and wear & tear3. Get your fiancee’s approval on the ring4. Get sized up (ring size gents, gees come on)5. Choose reputable retailer6. Buy with confidence using our Online Retailer advice7. Live happily ever after...maybe

Provided as a free resource by Coran Woodmass, Owner of WeddingBandsEmporium.com

Like what you’ve seen? Why not come and check out a range today at www.WeddingBandsEmporium.com

Provided as a free resource by Coran Woodmass, Owner of WeddingBandsEmporium.com