PRECIOUS METALS

The metal you choose should suit not only your partner’s style but also showcase the diamond. Yellow Gold is a traditional choice and warming to most skin tones.

PLATINUM

Platinum has become one of the most popular metals to be used in engagement rings and wedding rings. Platinum is a naturally white-coloured metal, meaning it will not tarnish and lose its brilliance. Platinum is also a very rare metal that is only mined in a few select areas of the world, making it a more expensive metal in comparison to Gold and Palladium.

Platinum will also enhance the colour of a diamond and its natural sparkle.

Platinum is usually hallmarked at ‘950’, meaning it is 95% pure platinum with the remaining 5% usually being palladium, iridium ruthenium and other alloys. Platinum is also a great choice for those who have contact allergies, as the purity of the platinum reduces the likelihood of any irritation during wear.

As with all metals, Platinum can scratch. However, with proper care, the wear should be minimal and can be polished again to return the metal to its original look.

Silver

Silver is one of the oldest precious metals used for making jewellery and is known for its bright white colour. Like gold, 100% silver is too soft for creating jewellery. All our silver jewellery uses a blend of 92.5% silver and 7.5% metal alloy. The alloy we use for our silver diamond rings is copper and zinc. However, silver can be prone to tarnishing as it oxidises and you may find it will have heavier scratching with daily wear as it is softer compared to other luxury metals. Ensuring your silver engagement ring is regularly cleaned and plated with rhodium is essential to restore it from scratching and tarnishing which will occur over time.

18k White Gold

White Gold is an incredibly popular choice of metal for engagement ring settings. White Gold has the same overall appearance as Platinum, however, it has been said to have a brighter ‘white shine’ and is usually less expensive than Platinum.

White gold is naturally an off-white colour, usually with a slight yellow tint. This is because pure gold is usually mixed with at least one white alloy such as palladium or magnesium.

To give white gold the trademark brightness, it is plated with rhodium or iridium - this plating will wear over time and return to its natural yellow tinted colour. However, it can be polished and replated to return the metal to its former glory.

18k Yellow Gold

Yellow Gold is a classic and timeless metal choice for any engagement ring. For thousands of years yellow gold has been used in jewellery. It is known for its warmth in colour which suits many skin tones and its durability as it is resistant to erosion. The colour of the gold is determined by its mix of 75% pure gold and other alloys such as copper and zinc. It has always been a popular choice for modern dainty engagement ring styles to detailed vintage pieces, making it a great choice if you want a ring that can be passed down generations as a family heirloom.

18k Rose Gold

Known for its bright pink hue, Rose Gold originally gained popularity in the 1920s and was loved for its vibrant copper pink gold colour. Rose gold then made a big comeback in 2010 with different lighter shades of this popular pink gold in various jewellery pieces. The unique blush tone of Rose Gold is primarily composed of gold mixed with copper and sometimes silver. As our gold engagement ring mounts are 18k gold, the composition will be 75% gold, with the remaining 25% being copper and sometimes silver to adjust the pink colour. A Rose Gold Engagement ring and Wedding ring give a romantic elegant set that not all metals can achieve.

9K WHITE GOLD

Like 9k rose gold, 9k white gold diamond jewellery contains less gold in the metal. 18k white gold contains 75% pure gold and 25% white metal alloys (silver and palladium), whilst 9k white gold consists of 37.5% pure gold and 62.5% white alloys. A 9k white gold ring is more affordable than an 18k one with less pure gold in the mix. It is the perfect choice for couples who want a cost-effective wedding band or engagement ring.

9k Yellow Gold

Typically, 9k yellow gold has a slightly paler colour than 18k yellow gold - this is due to the amount of pure gold in the metal. While 18k yellow gold has 75% pure gold and the remaining 25% is made up of other alloy metals, 9k yellow gold contains half the amount of pure gold in the metal at 37.5%. The other 62.5% of the metal consists of different alloys, such as silver, nickel, and copper. 9k yellow gold jewellery is an excellent option if you want an affordable yellow gold ring or pendant.

9K ROSE GOLD

When browsing for your engagement ring, you may have found 9k and 18-karat gold options to select from. This refers to how much pure gold is in the alloy. While 18k rose gold has 75% pure gold and 25% alloy (copper & sometimes silver), 9k rose gold is made from 37.5% gold, 20% silver and 42.5% copper. The amount of copper in a 9k rose gold ring gives it a more reddish vibrant tone.

PALLADIUM

Palladium is a rare naturally white coloured precious metal and is part of the platinum group metals. This means that like platinum it is less resistant to scratching and it will not tarnish in colour like white gold, it also will not oxidise over time like silver, making it a great choice for jewellery. However palladium is a light weight metal and less dense than Platinum. Palladium also has its ups and downs in price variation as it is also a popular industrial metal and prices can fluctuate due to world events, supply troubles and changing demands between industries.

Palladium is usually hallmarked at '950' meaning it is 95% pure palladium with the remaining 5% usually being ruthenium, (there can be traces of other metals) which adds hardness and durability to the metal making it a great choice for harder wearing jewellery.

As with all metals, Palladium can scratch. However, with proper care, the wear should be fairly minimal and it can be polished again to return the metal to its original look.

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