Cobalt Wedding Band Properties and Care?

by Mark
(California)

I recently purchased a cobalt wedding band. I was shopping for a traditional white gold band, but due to the current high cost of gold, I settled for cobalt.

Are there any drawbacks to cobalt? I noticed you didn't have a section for cobalt bands. Also, do I polish this the same way I do gold?

Hi Mark,

Check out EWR's page on Cobalt Wedding Bands, and here is some additional info below:

There are a lot of pros to cobalt wedding bands, the newest types of metal wedding bands which provide an affordable, durable and aesthetic alternative to gold, platinum and palladium.

The biggest pros to cobalt wedding bands are durability and color. Unlike titanium and tungsten bands which have light gray tones, cobalt bands have an unusually bright white color which is more similar to platinum and white gold.

Cobalt bands are also scratch resistant, and they are so strong that they will not bend or warp under pressure. But keep in mind that they are not scratch proof. Unlike tungsten bands, rings made solely with cobalt can scratch - although not easily. If scratches do occur, they can be buffed out with a professional buff treatment.

Cobalt bands are hypoallergenic as well. This can be a bit confusing, because cobalt-tungsten rings can cause allergic reactions - but the differences between these two bands has to do with how the molecules of the elements are bound together. Needless to say, you won't have to worry about any allergic reactions with a pure cobalt wedding ring.

Another huge pro to cobalt rings is that they can be resized - unlike tungsten, titanium or stainless steel wedding rings.

The only drawbacks associated with cobalt wedding rings are the limited styles currently available and the fact that these rings can be a little more difficult to remove in an emergency. They are not impossible to remove, but they are not removed as easily as gold or silver bands.

Regarding care, if your band could use a little clean and polish simply wash the band in warm water with mild dish soap and a soft cloth and then dry to a shine. Every few years, take the ring to a professional jeweler for a buff and clean treatment to maintain its original luster and shine.

I hope this info is helpful. We are always looking for reviews on different types of wedding bands - particularly newer wedding band metals and styles - so do write back to us again if you have a chance and let us know if you are happy with your purchase.

Thanks!

Suzanne Gardner
Everything Wedding Rings

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Brushed Cobolt Wedding Band
by: Anonymous

Be careful if you have a "brushed" look section on your ring that you do not let just anyone buff your ring. The brushed look can be buffed out, but not easily put back. Now I own a ring that is one toned, specifically bought it to replace my boring single tone ring...now I'm out $300...can someone suggest a cure?

- Thanks for sending in this informative comment!

It is true that the brushed look on some rings can be very subtle, and easily removed either with time or through an intense buff job. I'm surprised though that the brushed feature was eliminated with just one buff - either it was extremely light, or the person who buffed it did so with a higher than average intensity....or perhaps both of these causes came into play.

At any rate, it is possible to add the brushed feature back - but you'll need to find a jeweler who has experience working with cobalt wedding bands or contemporary metals. While it does take a skilled hand to add a two-tone brush to a wedding ring, an experienced jeweler should be able to perform this task quickly and for a fair price.

- Suzanne, Everything Wedding Rings

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Nice
by: Frank Greg

Very good article. It is true that the brushed look on some rings can be very subtle, and easily removed either with time or through an intense buff job. I'm surprised though that the brushed feature was eliminated with just one buff - either it was extremely light, or the person who buffed it did so with a higher than average intensity....or perhaps both of these causes came into play.

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Ion plating
by: Anonymous

Is it true that a black ion plated cobalt ring will chip and scratch? Is there a way to fix it if the ion playing does chip/scratch? Thank you!

Hello, yes this is true and there is really no way to fix it. Cobalt rings are relatively inexpensive and strong, and the right ones will last forever - but any type of plate on rings will eventually chip and scratch, this is why Everything Wedding Rings has a saying, "Avoid Plate Like The Plague" - except for rhodium plate on white gold rings which also needs to be replated every so often. Plated rings tend to chip and scratch more than other pieces of jewelry (like earrings or necklaces) because they are exposed to more wear. If you would like a black ring, currently we have not been able to find black cobalt rings that have the metal treated and not plated. If you are looking for a strong ring made with black metal, check out Titanium Kay's 2nd Generation Collection.
-Suzanne Gardner, Everything Wedding Rings

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