When it comes to finding your dream engagement ring, one of the first steps is deciding which precious metal suits your individual style preferences and personality.
There are plenty of factors to consider when choosing the precious metal for your ring. From classic and increasingly popular yellow gold, to romantic rose gold and ever popular white gold, each precious metal has something unique to offer.
Here’s a guide to help you choose the best gift for your loved ones.
Gold
People gravitate towards this precious metal the most. Due to its pliable and soft texture, pure gold must be mixed with other metals to make it practical for everyday wear. You may have heard of 8k, 14k and 18k gold on the topic of gold jewelry. This indicates the ratio of gold within the product. As such, the higher the number the more gold there is.
- Yellow Gold
Pure gold is naturally yellow. However, to make it durable it’s combined with copper or silver so it can maintain its natural yellow colour.
- White Gold
White gold is often mixed with silver or palladium to give it a radiant crisp colour. Often, this kind of gold is plated with rhodium to give it an extra shine. However, you may need to replate it after a while as the rhodium will erode over time.
- Rose Gold
Rose gold is mixed with copper to give it the soft pink colour many women love. The higher the copper content, the pinker it appears. Rose gold compliments paler skin tones and blends well with other jewelry.
Gold purity for the mostly used Karats:
24 Karat – 24K Gold with 100% purity
22 Karat – 22K Gold with 91.6% purity
18 Karat – 18K Gold with 75% purity
14 Karat – 14K Gold with 58.33% purity
12 Karat – 12K Gold with 50% purity
10 Karat – 10K Gold with 41.67% purity
Platinum
Platinum is the most durable precious metal. Unlike gold, platinum is naturally strong and heavy which allows it to withstand rigorous activities. Additionally, it is hypoallergenic. If you’re willing to put the extra money in for platinum jewelry, you can be rest assured that it will last you a lifetime.
Platinum is extremely long wearing and is very white, so it does not need to be rhodium plated like white gold does. It is normally not used in the full range of jewelry products due to its higher price and is mainly used in ladies engagement rings, ladies wedding rings and men’s wedding rings.
Palladium
Palladium is a newer precious metal. If you don’t want to invest too much of your money into expensive jewelry, palladium may be the best choice. Many will notice that palladium is similar in colour to platinum, but it carries a lighter weight. While it is cheaper in comparison to platinum, palladium is much rarer to find. As such, not many palladium styled rings are available in the market.
Now you can go ahead to buy precious metal jewelry with more confidence. So enjoy buying the best suitable precious metal jewelry by keeping the above mentioned buying tips in mind.