Choosing engagement and wedding rings is important. They will be worn every day for years to come, so it's critical to nail it. There are so many factors to consider - style, diamond cut and quality, and metal type.
In this post we are talking just about the metal type to choose for you rings. It's often overlooked and the style takes over - which is fine, but make sure you are well informed about metals before making any choices.
Here are the most popular metals that you may wish to consider when designing your engagement, wedding and eternity rings.
Yellow Gold
Yellow gold has been a popular choice for wedding and engagement rings throughout history. It is a classic metal which is practical both to wear and to repair or remodel.
Pure gold is too soft to be used for rings, so it is combined with other stronger metals to create an alloy for the purposes of jewellery making. The most common for rings are 18 carat and 9 carat.
18ct gold is an excellent metal for engagement and wedding rings since it is both durable and has a shiny yellow appearance and high gold content.
The best bits: Yellow gold is timeless and classic, has a lustrous shine, and contrasts well with white diamonds.
White Gold
White gold has a silvery tone and is made by alloying yellow gold with one or more white metals, such as nickel, magnesium or palladium. White gold became popular in the 1920’s with the increase in art deco style jewellery.
White gold is often used as a more cost effective alternative to platinum. However, in recent years the difference between the price of white gold and the price of platinum has narrowed such that they cost similar amounts.
White gold is enhanced with rhodium plating to make it more silvery and bright, and this can rub off over time, making it appear more yellow in tone over time, reflecting the content of yellow gold.
The best bits: White gold can be brought back to life with new Rhodium plating every few years.
Platinum
Platinum has a satin finish and is naturally hypoallergenic, making it one of the best metals for sensitive skin. It is also extremely durable and hard wearing, making it a classic metal for frequently worn jewellery such as engagement and wedding rings.
Platinum's strength and workability make it excellent for setting diamonds and other precious gemstones. Although platinum can scratch and become less shiny over time from wear and tear, it can also be easily re-polished.
The best bits: Pure, non-allergenic and hardwearing, platinum is perfect for wedding jewellery. It has also reduced relative to gold, so is now a more affordable metal compared to others.
Rose Gold
Rose gold has become more popular for engagement and wedding rings with its increased use in jewellery and popularity as a for mobile phones and fashion accessories. Rose gold contains copper to give it its warm pink hue.
It can also look very striking with mix of metals or as a stylish alternative to yellow or white gold. The colour of rose gold depends on the amount of copper compared to gold, so can vary quite a bit.
The best bits: A little bit different and very stylish, rose gold is an alternative to the more traditional white or yellow gold designs.
Alternative Metals
Titanium and Palladium are both being used more frequently in wedding jewellery, especially for men. They have are a little less silvery-white than platinum, but overall it can be difficult to tell the difference.
Titanium rings are lightweight but durable, whilst Palladium is even harder than platinum and much more affordable. However, the strength of these metals means they are more difficult to cut and resize, so are more suited to plain bands rather than detailed designs.
Whichever metal you choose, ask your jeweller for details of how best to maintain and refresh your rings over time, to keep them looking their best.
Head to the Niche Jewellery website to get inspiration for engagement, wedding or eternity rings for more inspiration or contact us in store for friendly, helpful advice.
Links to read
Links to read
