Run on Gold Drives Demand for Non-Gold Wedding Bands

In a nod to consumer demand, manufacturers have shown a lot of creativity by offering wedding bands and other jewelry made from a variety of non-traditional metals . Photo Mark Lincoln
In a nod to consumer demand, manufacturers have shown a lot of creativity by offering wedding bands and other jewelry made from a variety of non-traditional metals . Photo Mark Lincoln

AGOURA HILLS,-- The cost of gold wedding bands has more than doubled over the past couple of years, and consumers have responded by switching to lower-cost rings made of titanium, cobalt, tungsten and other alternative materials.

"In a nod to consumer demand, manufacturers have shown a lot of creativity by offering wedding bands and other jewelry made from a variety of non-traditional metals," says Michael Lebowitz, who has worked in jewelry retailing, wholesaling and consulting for more than 40 years. "

On the other hand, he cautions, uncertainties associated with some of these metalssuch as whether they can be resized, are prone to scratching or breaking, or have been designed in ways that are too fashion-forwardare a real concern. As a result, shoppers should ask hard questions about non-traditional rings, both in face-to-face meetings with trusted jewelers and by using the Internet to do their own research. PRNewswire

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