Art Joolree: Which Metal is Best for Men's Wedding Rings

Platinum is one of the most popular choices for wedding rings due to its hardness, rarity and beautiful appearance. Great if you have the budget for a prestigious ring that will last you a lifetime.

Palladium has recently become a fashionable choice for wedding rings, especially since it was granted its own hallmark in early 2010. Palladium is more hard-wearing than white gold and less tough than platinum. It's white appearance and the fact it doesn't need any kind of plating means it's ideal for those who want a low-maintenance ring without the budget for platinum.

Yellow gold is possibly the most traditional choice for wedding rings. The varying carats (usually 9ct, 14ct and 18ct) have slightly different looks and properties, due to the other metals in the alloy. A 9ct gold ring will be 37.5% gold, 14ct contains 58.5%, and 18ct is 75%.

White gold stands firm as a traditional choice for wedding rings. Commonly available in 9ct, 14ct and 18ct alloys, white gold can fit any budget. Some carats of white gold appear more yellowish than others, so it is often plated with rhodium – a tough, white metal.

Rose gold is the romantic choice for wedding rings. The red/pink hue is achieved by adding copper to the alloy, with the gold content remaining in the same percentages as for yellow or white gold.

Silver is, historically, a traditional choice for wedding rings, although not so popular today as it is softer and therefore less hard-wearing than other metals. Silver is durable and less rare than platinum or gold, and therefore still popular for those on a budget.

Titanium is incredibly resistance to scratches, and is growing in popularity for wedding rings. It's a very light metal, and more grey in hue than the white precious metals.

Tungsten carbide is the hardest metal used for wedding rings. It has a lustrous dark colour that polishes to an attractive mirror finish that will be more resilient to scratching than any other metal.

Zirconium is another modern, resilient metal, often thought of in the same category as titanium and tungsten carbide. In its basic form, it has a similar appearance to titanium.

Black zirconium is made by putting zirconium through an oxidisation process, and the finish can then be given an attractive ebony polish or a matt finish.

Wood is now often used in wedding rings, inlaid into the precious metal.

Stainless Steel a contemporary metal which is strong and durable

Ceramic is a recent trend to hit the wedding ring market and is extremely strong and durable.