If you are wondering which is the best metal for your engagement ring, this article will help you decide. We explain the difference between gold, platinum, and silver, which includes their value, quality, and appearance.
Table of Contents
Platinum
What is platinum?
Platinium is a rare, silvery-white metal that feels heavy and luxurious to the touch.
Is platinum high quality?
Yes, it is the longest and toughest lasting of all precious metals.
Is platinum expensive?
Yes, platinum is the most expensive of all the precious metals.
Yellow gold
What is yellow gold?
‘Yellow gold’ is simply gold. Gold is a rare and valuable precious metal that occurs naturally and has a rich, yellow color.
Is yellow gold high quality?
Yes, gold is rare, valuable, and beautiful. Items made from the gold do not need to be coated with other metals. This means that your engagement ring will not fade from time to time.
9K gold VS 18K gold
Gold comes in many numbers of purities, but the two you will most often find in the British engagement rings are 9k and 18k.
While 18k gold contains 75% of pure gold, 9k gold contains 37.5% pure gold. The rest is a combination of alloy metals such as platinum, palladium, or zinc.
Why is gold mixed with alloys?
Pure gold on its own is extremely soft, and it can bend out of shape easily. Therefore, jewelers mix pure gold with harder metals like platinum, so that your engagement ring keeps its safe.
Which is better, 18K or 9K gold?
If you can afford it, 18k gold is the best choice because it is higher in value, feels heavy and luxurious to the touch, and offers a richer, more saturated yellow color.
Moreover, if you are on a tight budget, 9K gold is also a fine choice. While it is slightly paler, it still has a beautiful glow and is more affordable.
White gold
What is white gold?
White gold is actually yellow gold mixed with the silvery-white alloys like palladium or silver that makes it look whiter. Apart from that, it is coated with a precious metal called rhodium.
Does it come in different purities, just like yellow gold?
Yes, 18K white gold contains 75% pure gold, and 9K white gold contains 37.5% pure gold.
What is a rhodium coating?
White alloy metals alone are not enough to make yellow gold look totally white. Moreover, white gold pieces are given an additional coating of rhodium.
Rhodium is a hard, rare, hypoallergenic precious metal. It makes the surface of the white gold really white and lustrous and guards against scratches.
Is white gold high quality?
Yes, white gold is a high-quality precious metal suited to engagement rings.
What are the disadvantages of white gold?
Although the rhodium coating is very strong, it will wear away over time. Moreover, all the white gold jewellery eventually needs to be re-coated with rhodium. On the positive side, rhodium re-coating is simple and inexpensive, and you can get it done at any jewellery store anytime.
Which is better, 18K or 9K white gold?
18K white gold contains more pure gold than 9K white gold, so it feels heavier and more luxurious to the touch. Moreover, visually both look exactly the same.
Is white gold expensive?
White gold is considered an affordable white metal alternative to platinum. As compared to the yellow gold, though white gold is a little more expensive because of all the processing involved.
If you are on a tight budget, choose 9K white gold as it can be of around 15% cheaper than the 18K white gold.
Rose Gold
What is rose gold?
Rose gold is a beautiful precious metal with a rosy golden sheen. It has a vintage look which many people consider fashionable and romantic.
Is rose gold high quality?
Yes, rose gold is a high-quality precious metal suited to engagement rings.
What is rose gold made from?
Rose gold is made from the yellow gold mixed with copper and silver. Just like the white and yellow gold, it comes with two purities that is 9K and 18K, with 18K rose gold containing 75% pure gold, and 9K rose gold containing 37.5% pure gold. The rest is a mix of alloy metals, which includes the copper and silver. Copper gives rose gold its pink color, white silver tones down any excessive red hues.
Silver
Silver is a natural, white precious metal.
Moreover, white is very affordable; silver is not suited to engagement rings because it is a very soft metal that bends out of shape easily.
Silver is more suited to fashion jewellery that you wear occasionally. It simply cannot withstand a lifetime of wear and tear if worn daily on the hand.
FAQs
What ring of metal is most durable?
Tungsten, it is four times harder than titanium and the most scratch-resistant metal you will find for a wedding band. If you are looking for high scratch resistance with a comfortable price tag, tungsten is your best bet.
Will platinum gets scratch easily?
No, platinum is not coated or plated with any other metal, so it is scratches and chip-proof. Moreover, over time, the surface of the platinum gets pushed around, and it even develops the minuscule bumps and ridges. We call these tiny marking “the patina of age.” Patina is considered highly desirable in platinum jewelry because it gives the item a much loved antique feel.
Which is better, 18K or 9K rose gold?
9K rose gold can seem a little paler to look at than 18K rose gold. Also, when you pick up a rose gold item, then you will even notice 18K rose gold, which feels heavier and more luxurious to the touch than 9K rose gold. This is because it contains more pure gold.
What is the most popular metal for engagement rings?
Platinum is the popular choice for engagement rings and wedding bands. It’s considered the most precious of all jewelry metals and here is why.
The white metal showcases the brilliance and sparkle of diamonds naturally.
Its five times as pure and rare as compared to gold when used in jewelry.
Its doesn’t hurt the sensitive skin (it’s hypoallergenic)
Its elegance is forever.
Also Read: All you need to know about Promise Ring
