All that glitters is not gold

I recently read another bride's blog which provided an excellent set of arguments for purchasing a titanium ring for her future hubby instead of gold or platinum. (I can't seem to find the blog post now but I swear it exists!!) The point is it caught my attention because I hadn't put that much thought in Mr. Pancakes' ring and had kind of (quite wrongly) assumed there weren't that many options. The reason I am particularly intrigued by titanium is that its a durable, budget-friendly option and due to Mr. Pancakes' lifestyle he really needs something that will both last and that could perhaps be easily replaced. By that I mean, Mr. Pancakes loves outdoor activities such as surfing, snowboarding, and rock climbing, and has a history of jewelry related accidents. To be honest, neither one of us thinks that a $1000 platinum ring would be a wise investment, especially on our tight budget.

So what are the Pros and Cons of titanium?

Pros:
*Titanium is very light and extremely durable, making it an ideal candidate for wearable jewelry.
*Another pro is the durability; it is virtually indestructible through normal wear. Unlike gold alloys that wear down over years of normal use, titanium will hold strong showing very little wear over the years.
* Unlike white gold, there is no upkeep (ie. re-dipping) necessary.

Cons:
*Since titanium is so durable, it is very difficult if not impossible to re-size. This is bad for someone whose weight fluctuates. I don't think this is the case with Mr. Pancakes but forever is a long time. On the other hand, we could just replace the ring if his finger got to big.
*Titanium can be cut off in an emergency, but it may take a little longer than a gold or platinum ring. If your future husband is as accident-prone as mine, this is actually something to consider.

Here are some great more traditional and uber budget friendly titanium rings I found on etsy:
{Titanium's Knights - $40}
{Minter and Richter Designs - $90}

{Renaissance Jewelry - $29.99}

Mr. Pancakes thought these traditional rings were a little boring. Also he already has a stainless steel ring that he wears which is very similar to the first ring. He (quite adorably) feels strongly about having a ring that is "special". Here are some less traditional titanium rings that we thought were kind of cool:


{Jewelry by Johan's - $167}
{Jewelry by Johan's - $167}
{Minter and Richter Designs - $175}

Mr. Pancakes' favorite is the second one but I am not entirely sure how well wood holds up over time. The seller at Jewelry by Johan's claims that he has "just about the perfect wood treatment against everyday wear and tear. However, wood should always be kept away from water."

What does this mean?? How does the ring hold up in the elements (rain, sand, etc)? How will getting caught in the rain or spending a lot of time outdoors effect the color of the wood? I have put Mr. Pancakes in charge of finding out the answer to these questions. I'll let you know when he gets a reply but does anyone have any experience with these wood rings?

What are your thoughts no titanium rings? Are there other budget-friendly ring options I should consider?