While most people think of a wedding ring as a traditional metal band and stone, not everyone wants to wear this sort of ring around on a daily basis. From fears of losing an expensive stone in public to concerns about comfort or even safety in certain settings, there are a number of reasons why some people, even those who own such rings, might prefer alternatives for at least some of the situations they regularly find themselves in.

At Enso Rings, we're proud to assist clients who have these needs and many others. We offer everything from silicone promise rings to a number of quality wedding ring options in this durable, affordable material, plus tips on when and how to wear these throughout your daily life. Due to their versatile uses and low prices, silicone rings have become enormously popular -- why is this? Here's a rundown on what they are, plus why they continue to grow in popularity.

Basics on Silicone Wedding Rings

For those just being introduced to this realm for the first time, silicone rings refer to rings made from a man-made silicon elastomer, which is a durable material that's also hypoallergenic. This makes them ideal for people with certain sensitivities to metal or stone jewelry.

For those who are regularly active -- whether in the workplace, outdoors recreation, sports, or other activities -- silicone bands are often seen as great alternatives because they're much less likely to get in the way or cause discomfort.

Silicone also has a number of aesthetic benefits, like the ability to be custom-colored and designed with patterns such as camouflage, snakeskin, lace, and more -- similar to various gels and other materials used for henna tattoos. These ring designs can even incorporate stones or other materials for more involved designs.

Are Silicone Rings Safe?

One of the first questions typically posed by those who are new to silicone rings is whether or not they're safe. Unlike certain types of metal jewelry, which can cause problems with nickel allergies or other sensitivities, you don't have to worry about irritation from wearing them for long periods of time.

The material is also hypoallergenic and non-porous, making it great for people who are highly-sensitive to other materials or simply prefer the look of a band but don't want to deal with the upkeep of metal bands on a daily basis. In addition, because silicone rings don't have any jagged or pointy areas like metal/stone rings often do, there's no risk of the ring snagging or catching on clothing, chairs, and other objects. If the ring does get caught on something, it will simply break off rather than risk major injury to your finger.

Silicone Rings vs. Traditional Wedding Bands

The initial key reason why silicone rings have become so popular is the fact they're an affordable, comfortable alternative to traditional metal bands -- especially if you need a wedding band but prefer something that's low-key or even invisible on your finger most of the time. Let's use a basic example to make this point.

Say you and your significant other have purchased beautiful diamond wedding rings for one another -- but you both work in fields where you use your hands regularly. For this reason, while you'd certainly love to display your expensive diamond ring on a daily basis, it may not be realistic.

This is where silicone rings come in -- they're affordable, comfortable bands that allow you to feel confident about your ring choice but able to wear it on a day-to-day basis without worrying about the safety of the stone. It's also helpful if you want something unique or need an especially small size -- silicone wedding rings are easily molded to almost any size imaginable, making them ideal for this use. You can continue to wear your more expensive ring in certain special settings where it isn't at-risk of breaking off or being lost, but can alternate back to your silicone ring for your more active daily activities.

Travel Themes

Another reason why silicone rings are popular: They're perfect for travel and other situations where both convenience and safety are important. This starts with their fit -- silicone rings fit snugly on your finger, meaning you never have to worry about them slipping off or getting lost in a setting like airport security, for instance.

In addition, many people wear them during travel to avoid any risk of losing their expensive metal rings -- the silicone ring can be put on before your airline travels as a precaution, and then taken off as soon as you leave the airport for the duration of your trip. They're also great because you don't have to worry about damaging or scratching them during strenuous activities like swimming, surfing, snorkeling, or others that you might take part in on certain trips.

Outdoor Enthusiasts

Another group among whom silicone wedding rings have become very popular in recent years is serious outdoor enthusiasts. For instance, climbing mountains or other high-altitude hikes can present a risk to both your metal ring and your life -- there's often no way to know how cold it will get during certain treks, making this type of weather an extreme danger for even the most expensive metals.

For this reason, serious mountain climbers have taken to using silicone rings when setting out on their treks. They're both hypoallergenic, meaning the risk of developing an allergic rash is very low compared to other materials, and non-porous, making them resistant to corrosion from sweat or other moisture. This means you don't have to worry about your finger being exposed to harsh treatment or chemicals, and can instead focus on making it to the top of your climb safely.

For more on why silicone wedding rings are so popular, or to learn which ring might be ideal for you, speak to the staff at Enso Rings today.