Traditionally, a man won’t spend a lot of money on his own wedding ring. Just take a look around; you’ll see that most men’s wedding bands are stripped-down gold circles, barely noticeable unless you look for them. Now, some people will claim that this is because guys would rather spend money on beer than a romantic ring, but it’s not that at all (at least, not usually). Although elaborate men’s wedding rings do exist, most men tend to avoid them because a) they’re not traditional; b) they’re too showy; and c) they’re eager to spend lavishly on their fiancee’s ring, not their own.

In this day and age, though, you have lots of choices — so tradition can go out the window if you want it to, without tossing away more money than you need to. If you put a little thought into it, you can find a perfect, eye-catching ring that won’t cost you any more than a traditional gold band. In fact, it might cost a good bit less.

Instead of reaching automatically for those plain gold rings, take a close look at titanium wedding rings first. Titanium is a light, lustrous metal that’s surprisingly inexpensive; you can easily get a beautiful titanium ring for less than $200. Second, titanium is incredibly tough, which is ideal for any man who works or plays hard. In fact, its physical characteristics are such that it’s used extensively when strength and lightness are especially valued, such as in the aerospace industry.

If cost isn’t so much of a worry, then consider platinum wedding rings. Unlike its cousin silver, which it’s often found with in its raw state, platinum never tarnishes — and it’s much, much tougher. Even office paperwork, which is so abrasive that it can ruin gold and silver jewelry over time, won’t bother platinum much.

If you can’t bring yourself to pick something really fancy, you can always stick with a gold or silver ring, but it hardly has to be plain. A few diamonds won’t make a man’s wedding ring any less masculine. So why not go for something out of the ordinary? There’s a huge selection of men’s wedding rings to choose from out there, and they don’t have to break the bank.

Wedding Bands - Hand Crafted Wedding Bands

Today, millions of products are machine made. That includes many fine wedding bands. There is often some input by a superb craftsman to select and set a stone, for example. But much of the process is carried out by highly sophisticated systems.

But there remains no more sophisticated system than the skill in the mind, eye and hands of a master jewelry maker. That skill is much the same as it was centuries ago, but now brought to new heights with modern tools. Yet the careful focus, the precise direction and other attributes of the craftsman are still the essential elements when these master craftsmen design a wedding ring.

That craft, handed down generation after generation, may be less visible today. But it is still just as vital to making a fine wedding band as it ever was. The most sophisticated computer programs can barely begin to simulate even elementary human movements. And none come anywhere close to duplicating the creativity of expert jewelery makers.

Those skills are nowhere more evident than in the hand crafted wedding bands that are available today. For those looking for a truly unique engagement ring or wedding band, one that will never be found anywhere else, a hand crafted ring is your guarantee.

Imagine the delicate, complex scrollwork evident on a classic white gold band. The master’s hand is everywhere evident. The unique sworls, the individual petals and other touches could only have been created by that unique person. At the same time the level of skill is so high, that it might seem as if the ring was made by machine. That’s the mark of a true expert.

Picture a titanium ring in a contemporary design. The subtle sheen is the result of the master’s attention to detail. The dark cable running down the center was selected by careful thought with an eye to the design of the whole. This two-tone masterpiece could only have been made by a single person striving to create their best work just for you.

An 18kt yellow gold comfort fit band sports a delicate wave of rose gold down the center. Asymmetrically at one top corner is a small round-cut diamond. It was cut by the hand of one who has trained for decades to acquire the needed skill. It was mounted with equal care and attention to this unique creation.

A braided tri-color band shows clearly the hand of the artist. The design could only have been conceived by someone concentrating on the task at hand. It could only have been executed once. To create the same ring over again would violate the canon of artistic principles.

The result in each case is a one-of-a-kind work of art to be displayed as proudly on the hand as a fine sculpture is on the table. Consider a hand crafted wedding band and design a wedding ring that lifts the soul of the wearer as it did the artist.