Brilliant Earth Men's Wedding Bands: Plain Platinum Wins
We read Brilliant Earth's men's wedding band listings on 20 October: metal medians, the gold worth buying, and the plain platinum band we'd pick.
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If you're shopping Brilliant Earth for a men's wedding band, we'd buy the Platinum Matte Comfort Fit 5.5mm. It listed at $1,450 when we looked on 20 October, which is below the $1,690 median for the 14k white gold bands we read. That's the denser, harder-wearing white metal for less than the typical white gold band. If platinum isn't the point, buy 14k gold in the color you like and skip 18k. If price is the point, the tantalum Drake at $490 is the one to look at, with a resizing catch we cover below.
Everything here comes from the men's wedding band listings Brilliant Earth's product feed returned on 20 October, a sample of its range rather than the full catalog, and these are listed prices, not what anyone paid.
Across those listings, the lowest price was $490, the median $1,990 and the highest $3,490. Platinum made up more than half of them, so if you want a wide choice of designs, platinum is where they are.
Key takeaways
- •Our pick: the Platinum Matte Comfort Fit 5.5mm at $1,450, which listed below the $1,690 median for 14k white gold.
- •Platinum was most of what we read, with a median of $2,090. The 14k gold medians ran from $1,690 (white) to $1,790 (rose).
- •We'd skip 18k for a men's band: its medians ($1,990 white, $2,020 yellow) sit close to platinum's, and 14k is the tougher alloy.
- •Tantalum is the low-cost route, with the Drake at $490, but alternative metals generally can't be resized the way gold and platinum can.
- •If you want a stone in a men's band, we'd take a channel setting over pavé.
Platinum, gold or tantalum: what do the medians say?
| Metal | Median listed price, 20 October |
|---|---|
| Platinum | $2,090 |
| 18k yellow gold | $2,020 |
| 18k white gold | $1,990 |
| 14k rose gold | $1,790 |
| 14k yellow gold | $1,740 |
| 14k white gold | $1,690 |
The order is what you'd expect. Every 14k median sits below every 18k median, and platinum tops the column. What's less obvious is how tight the column is. The distance from the lowest median to the highest is smaller than the step from a plain platinum band to the diamond-set Mojave further down. The gold medians also rest on only a handful of listings each, so treat them as a rough guide, not a price list.
Our view on gold: for a band that lives on a hand that grips steering wheels and gym bars, 14k is the one to buy. It has more alloy in it than 18k, which makes it harder, and it was cheaper in every median we read. 18k buys a richer yellow. In white gold the case for 18k is weaker still, because both karats are usually rhodium plated, so they look alike until the plating wears.
Platinum is a preference, not a necessity, for a plain band. You're paying for weight and for how it ages: it scuffs into a soft grey sheen rather than wearing thin, which some people love and some send back for polishing. Our guide to platinum patina shows what that looks like, and Platinum vs. White Gold: Which Metal is Best for Rings? covers the rest of the trade. The reason we still land on platinum here is one listing that undercuts the gold.
Which plain platinum band would we buy?
The one that surprised us is the Platinum Matte Comfort Fit 5.5mm at $1,450. It's the lowest-priced platinum band of the ten we show here, and it lists for less than the 14k white gold median. Brilliant Earth describes it as having "a matte finish, with a bright, polished, contemporary edge", then lists a "high-polish finish" among its features a few lines later. Read generously, that's a brushed band with polished edges. The photos will settle it; the name says matte.
It suits anyone who wants platinum and no fuss. A brushed surface hides small scratches better than a mirror polish, though the texture itself softens with wear and needs refinishing now and then. Skip it if you want a band that shines across a room.
- metal:
- Platinum
- finish:
- matte
Want the same brushed look with more definition? The Platinum Everett 6mm carries the most specific line in any of these ten listings: "Thin polished bevels run along both edges, framing the ring's brushed matte center." At $2,290 it sits above the platinum median of $2,090, and at 6mm it's the widest plain platinum band here, which reads well on a bigger hand.
- metal:
- Platinum
- finish:
- matte
Shine is the Platinum Beveled Edge 5.5mm's whole job. Brilliant Earth lists a "high-polish and beveled finish" at $2,050. Our only caution is the metal: polished platinum dulls faster than you'd think, so this band suits someone who likes the patina or doesn't mind a trip back for a polish.
- metal:
- Platinum
- finish:
- high-polish
The Platinum Mobius 5mm is the dearest plain band of the ten at $2,450. The listing says "high-polish and textured finish" and nothing that explains the name, so the photos are your spec sheet. Pay it if you love the look; there's nothing in the copy that argues for it.
- metal:
- Platinum
- finish:
- high-polish
Two textured bands sit near the middle. The Platinum Mojave Maverick 5mm, which Brilliant Earth describes as having "a textured finish", listed at $1,950, just under the overall median of $1,990. The 14K White Gold Everest 5mm, "a matte and textured finish" in the retailer's words, listed at $1,790. That's more than the platinum Comfort Fit, which is the clearest sign in these listings that metal alone doesn't sort the bands by price. Design does a lot of the sorting.
- metal:
- Platinum
- finish:
- polished
- metal:
- 14k White Gold
- finish:
- matte
Is a tantalum band worth the savings?
The Tantalum Drake 6mm was the lowest-priced listing we read, at $490. That's a fraction of anything in platinum or gold. The listing itself is the usual run of "versatile" and "everyday" that could describe any ring, so we'd work from the name, the 6mm width and the matte finish Brilliant Earth gives as its attribute.
Brilliant Earth's case for the metal sits on a sibling listing, where it says "Tantalum is a dense, hypoallergenic metal that doesn't corrode with everyday use." Fair enough. The catch is the one that applies to most alternative metals: they generally can't be sized up or down the way gold and platinum can. If your fingers are likely to change, a cheap band you can't resize can end up costing more than a dear one you can. Our guide to How Much Does It Cost to Resize a Ring? shows what resizing runs in the metals that allow it.
- finish:
- matte
👍 Pros
- ✓Lowest listed price we read, by a long way
- ✓Brilliant Earth calls tantalum hypoallergenic and corrosion-resistant
- ✓A 6mm matte band is about as low-key as a ring gets
👎 Cons
- ✗Alternative metals generally can't be resized like gold or platinum
- ✗The listing copy says almost nothing specific about the band
Stones in a men's band: why we'd go channel, not pavé
Three of the ten carry stones. Two are versions of the Apollo, both 4.5mm with a channel-set baguette at the center as Brilliant Earth lists them: the Tantalum Apollo Diamond at $1,690 and the Platinum Apollo Sapphire at $2,150. In a channel setting the stone sits between two walls of metal, flush with the band, so there are no prongs to snag and little to knock loose. For a man who uses his hands, that's the sturdiest way we know to put a stone in a band.
- setting:
- channel
- finish:
- polished
- metal:
- Platinum
- setting:
- channel
- finish:
- polished
The Platinum Mojave 6mm Diamond Wedding Ring was the highest-priced listing we read, at $3,490. Brilliant Earth lists a bordered pavé setting with 58 round diamonds totaling 0.26 ct tw. It's pretty, and we'd still say it: that's 58 small stones to catch, chip and lose. Skip it if the ring will see tools, weights or a rock wall. If you want sparkle on a hand that works, the Apollo Sapphire is the one we'd pick.
- metal:
- Platinum
- diamond weight (per feed):
- 0.26 ct tw
- finish:
- polished
Worth confirming before you pay
- Ask Brilliant Earth whether the tantalum band you like can be resized, and what it offers if your size changes.
- Confirm the return window for the exact band, and count it from the ship date unless the policy says otherwise.
- Look closely at the photos of any matte band, since several listings mention matte and high-polish in the same description.
What we'd do
We'd buy the Platinum Matte Comfort Fit 5.5mm at $1,450. It's platinum for less than the typical 14k white gold band we read, it's plain enough to wear every day, and a brushed finish forgives a lot.
If you'd rather wear gold, pick 14k in the color that suits your skin and don't pay for 18k. If the budget is tight and your ring size has been steady for years, the tantalum Drake is a sensible ring. And if you want a stone, take the channel-set Apollo over the pavé Mojave.
Still deciding on the store itself? Our Brilliant Earth review covers the retailer, 15 Best Men's Rings & Wedding Bands compares bands from other shops, and our guide to the best jewelry stores is the wider view.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Brilliant Earth men's wedding band cost?
Across the men's wedding band listings we read on 20 October, the lowest listed price was $490, the median $1,990 and the highest $3,490. Plain platinum bands mostly sat near the platinum median of $2,090.
Is platinum worth it over white gold for a men's band at Brilliant Earth?
For a plain band, it's a preference: 14k white gold wears fine. But the Platinum Matte Comfort Fit 5.5mm listed at $1,450, below the $1,690 median for 14k white gold, so in that case we'd take the platinum.
Can a tantalum wedding band be resized?
Alternative metals like tantalum generally can't be resized the way gold and platinum can. Brilliant Earth's tantalum listings don't address resizing, so ask before you buy if your size might change.
Does Brilliant Earth sell 18k gold men's wedding bands?
Yes. 18k yellow and 18k white gold both appeared in the listings we read, with medians of $2,020 and $1,990. We'd buy 14k instead: it's harder and its medians were lower.
Which Brilliant Earth men's bands have diamonds?
Among the ones we show, the Tantalum Apollo Diamond 4.5mm has a channel-set baguette diamond at $1,690, and the Platinum Mojave 6mm Diamond has bordered pavé diamonds, 0.26 ct tw as listed, at $3,490. We'd pick the channel setting for everyday wear.
Sources and dates checked
Every figure in this article comes from one of these pages, read on the date shown. Check the retailer before you buy.
- Brilliant Earth listed price of Tantalum Drake 6mm Wedding Ring: $490. Tantalum Drake 6mm Wedding Ring at Brilliant Earth, checked .
- Brilliant Earth listed price of Platinum Matte Comfort Fit 5.5mm Wedding Ring: $1,450. Platinum Matte Comfort Fit 5.5mm Wedding Ring at Brilliant Earth, checked .
- Brilliant Earth listed price of Tantalum Apollo Diamond 4.5mm Wedding Ring: $1,690. Tantalum Apollo Diamond 4.5mm Wedding Ring at Brilliant Earth, checked .
- Brilliant Earth listed price of 14K White Gold Everest 5mm Wedding Ring: $1,790. 14K White Gold Everest 5mm Wedding Ring at Brilliant Earth, checked .
- Brilliant Earth listed price of Platinum Mojave Maverick 5mm Wedding Ring: $1,950. Platinum Mojave Maverick 5mm Wedding Ring at Brilliant Earth, checked .
- Brilliant Earth listed price of Platinum Beveled Edge 5.5mm Wedding Ring: $2,050. Platinum Beveled Edge 5.5mm Wedding Ring at Brilliant Earth, checked .
- Brilliant Earth listed price of Platinum Apollo Sapphire 4.5mm Wedding Ring: $2,150. Platinum Apollo Sapphire 4.5mm Wedding Ring at Brilliant Earth, checked .
- Brilliant Earth listed price of Platinum Everett 6mm Wedding Ring: $2,290. Platinum Everett 6mm Wedding Ring at Brilliant Earth, checked .
- Brilliant Earth listed price of Platinum Mobius 5mm Wedding Ring: $2,450. Platinum Mobius 5mm Wedding Ring at Brilliant Earth, checked .
- Brilliant Earth listed price of Platinum Mojave 6mm Diamond Wedding Ring: $3,490. Platinum Mojave 6mm Diamond Wedding Ring at Brilliant Earth, checked .
- Brilliant Earth Men's wedding bands: lowest listed price in the sample: $490. Brilliant Earth product feed (via Impact), checked .
- Brilliant Earth Men's wedding bands: median listed price in the sample: $1,990. Brilliant Earth product feed (via Impact), checked .
- Brilliant Earth Men's wedding bands: highest listed price in the sample: $3,490. Brilliant Earth product feed (via Impact), checked .
- Brilliant Earth Men's wedding bands: median listed price in the sample (Platinum): $2,090. Brilliant Earth product feed (via Impact), checked .
- Brilliant Earth Men's wedding bands: median listed price in the sample (14k White Gold): $1,690. Brilliant Earth product feed (via Impact), checked .
- Brilliant Earth Men's wedding bands: median listed price in the sample (14k Rose Gold): $1,790. Brilliant Earth product feed (via Impact), checked .
- Brilliant Earth Men's wedding bands: median listed price in the sample (14k Yellow Gold): $1,740. Brilliant Earth product feed (via Impact), checked .
- Brilliant Earth Men's wedding bands: median listed price in the sample (18k Yellow Gold): $2,020. Brilliant Earth product feed (via Impact), checked .
- Brilliant Earth Men's wedding bands: median listed price in the sample (18k White Gold): $1,990. Brilliant Earth product feed (via Impact), checked .