Men did not suddenly stop wearing gold wedding bands; the trend just broadened over time. In Western culture, men’s wedding rings were uncommon until the 20th century, became much more common during and after World War II, and gold remained a classic option even as other metals gained popularity.

What changed

  • In the 1940s and 1950s, men’s rings were still not universal, but they were becoming more common.
  • By the postwar period, wearing a men’s wedding band had become a normal part of marriage in many Western countries.
  • From the late 20th century into today, many men started choosing alternatives like platinum, tungsten, titanium, and mixed-metal styles, so gold became less dominant rather than “stopped.”

Simple timeline

Period| What was happening
---|---
Before the 1900s| Men wearing wedding rings was rare in much of Western culture. 27
1940s–1950s| The practice grew, helped by World War II and changing social norms. 179
1960s onward| Men’s wedding bands became widely accepted, with more style variety over time. 127
Today| Gold is still common, but many men choose non-gold materials or modern designs. 257

Bottom line

If you’re asking about gold specifically, the answer is: men didn’t stop wearing gold wedding bands at a single point. They just started wearing many other kinds of bands too, so gold went from being the default classic to one option among many.