Gold wedding rings are the most traditional rings available. When men's wedding rings first became popular during the Second World War, gold was the metal of choice. Over the years, other metals have been introduced into the market. Nevertheless, gold has continued to have a strong presence as the preferred metal for wedding bands.

Pure gold is too weak to be used for jewelry purposes, so it is always alloyed with at least one additional metal to ensure strength and durability. Pure gold would be 24 karats, but most man gold wedding rings will either be 14 karats or 18 karats. When a ring is marked as being 14 karats, that means that it is approximately 58.3 percent gold, whereas an 18 karat ring is 75 percent pure gold. Obviously, an 18 karat gold ring would be more susceptible to wear and tear, as it is more gold, and thus weaker than 14 karat gold.

Some man gold wedding ring purchasers may prefer a more silver tone to their ring. For them, white gold is the answer. White gold is simply yellow gold that has been treated to look white (or silver).

In order to make the yellow gold appear white, elements such as nickel, palladium, or silver are added. While nickel itself can give a good white gold appearance, it is often allergenic and can cause skin problems to anyone who is sensitive to nickel. Gold that is alloyed with palladium and silver will not usually cause allergies, and most 18 karat gold is alloyed only with these two metals.

One problem with white gold is that, since it has the same properties as yellow gold, it will begin to look more yellow over time. In fact, many white gold rings have to be re-plated after several years in order to restore it to its original color.

Despite the fact that yellow and white gold does not have the durability has other metals, it is still a popular choice for man wedding ring buyers.