Which metal should you choose for your engagement ring?

Guide to Precious Metals

There are so many decisions that go into finalizing the details on your ring, and we’re here to help you through the process and make sure that you feel confident when the big moment arrives.

One of the decisions that you will have to make is which precious metal will hold your diamond. We’ve gone through all of the options with our experts and designers and we’ve curated the best metal options for your rings and bands. We’re dedicated to ensuring that everyone is well-informed when they make the decision to purchase a ring, so we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to the precious metals we use. This guide will provide you with information about the purity and durability of the metals so when you make your choice, you know exactly what you’ll see when you open the box.

We offer 4 precious metal options for your Couple ring:

• 18k White Gold
• 18k Yellow Gold
• 18k Rose Gold
• Platinum

Golds

We only use 18 karat gold in our engagement rings and bands. In reference to gold, karats measure the purity of the precious metal. This is not to be confused with carats, which measure the weight of gemstones.

The purest form of gold is measured at 24 karats, and every karat measurement below that means that the gold is diluted with other metals. There are two main reasons that gold is diluted: to strengthen it, or to reduce cost. Gold that is measured at 10k or 12k is diluted with other metals by 50% or more, which contributes to its lower value. We only use 18k gold, which is 75% pure gold. The reason that we don’t use 24k gold is that pure gold is soft and is easily scratched.

Colors

Yellow

Pure, 24 karat gold is naturally the rich, metallic ochre hue that most people picture when they think of gold.  That means Yellow Gold, at 18 karats, doesn’t need other metals in its alloy to help create its color. Our Yellow Gold is 75% solid gold which is then mixed with a silver and copper alloy to add strength and maintain the soft yellow color of pure gold.

White

In contrast to Yellow Gold, White Gold needs some help to achieve its color. The ratio of pure gold to other metals is equal in 18k White Gold and 18k Yellow Gold, but there are two main differences.

1. White Gold contains more zinc rather than nickel because it causes the gold to appear whiter.
2. White Gold is plated with rhodium in order to appear fully white. This does not affect the karat measurement of the gold, but it does make White Gold even stronger and more resistant to dents and scratches.

Rose

The process of creating Rose Gold is similar to that of Yellow Gold with one main difference: the metal used to create the rose color in Rose Gold is copper. Gold is mixed with silver, copper, and a very small amount of zinc to create our Rose Gold metal.

Source

All of the gold that we use for our rings is sourced in South Africa and Canada.

Platinum

Platinum is the most premium of our precious metals. Platinum is naturally white, so it looks similar to White Gold, but the metal itself has its benefits when considering long-term. The density of Platinum allows it to hold up well to everyday wear, with very little volume lost with scratches and regular upkeep like buffing and shining. This means that in 20 years, your platinum ring will look and feel almost exactly the same as it does on the day you receive it. Another benefit to Platinum is that because of its density, it takes more metal to create the ring which causes Platinum jewelry to be slightly heavier, and feel more substantial on-hand.

What’s right for you?

As you go through the process of choosing your ring, you’ll be faced with many decisions along the way. Our guide to precious metals is the first step in the learning process, but there will be a few more considerations before making your final decision. Take a look at your partner’s style, their interests, and lifestyle and that will help lead you in the right direction. We also have a 60-day exchange policy so if you’re second-guessing your decision, we will happily reset your Couple diamond in the metal of their choice.

Want to learn more about our precious metals? Contact our Ring Concierge now!