How would you describe your future partner? Do they love to thrill others and show off their knowledge, creativity and beauty? Are they more reserved and prefer to keep life simple? Do they fall somewhere between these two dynamics?
Your person is made of strong mettle, and you want to find the best metal to represent that for your engagement ring in Scottsdale. So what do you need to know? Here’s our best guide to finding the best metal for your engagement ring.
You used to only have to choose between white and gold, but now, with the advent of technology, the number of metals to choose from is as diverse as the personalities of people in the world. How do you pick the right metal?
That said, here’s what you need to know about the various types of metals you can choose from for your future partner, from platinum to gold.
Platinum has a cool tone as a natural white metal that sets off the brilliance of diamonds. You may not know this, but platinum is considered to be one of (if not the) most precious of metals for jewelry. It’s five times as pure and rare than gold when utilized in a jewelry piece. The density of the metal also holds gemstones and diamonds securely.
If your beloved has sensitive skin, know that platinum is hypoallergenic and won’t cause any pain or leave strange marks. Your beloved won’t adjust their ring one day, only to notice a rim of green around the edge and think they’re transforming into Elphaba from Wicked.
Platinum, given its strength and durability, will never need to be re-plated. This adds to the metal’s affordability and cost savings over time.
Your top pick may be gold since it’s the most common choice. It is a very versatile metal, and most people are aware of its measurement, which is in karats (K).One karat is divided into a total of 24 parts. Solid gold is 24 karats, so all 24 parts are made up of gold. However, pure gold is far too soft for use in gold jewelry by itself. So, how is a gold ring created?
Crafters combine metal alloys with gold to boost its strength and wearability. You can find 22K gold, but most gold is 18K (or 75% gold), 14K (or 58% gold) and 10K (nearly 42% gold). The rest is made of additional metals, such as copper, nickel, silver and zinc. As you may guess, these additional metals lend different colors to create various kinds of gold, such as rose gold vs. yellow gold. Here are the colors you’ll run into when shopping for or creating your engagement ring:
The race is still on between yellow gold vs. white gold, but currently, yellow gold is back in fashion. It is one of the top classic choices. The yellow hue comes from the red tone of copper and the green tone of silver. Yellow gold requires the least attention and maintenance of all the types of gold.
White gold feels more contemporary than yellow gold. It became a classic of its own in the last few decades. The silver-white hue comes from mixing yellow gold (that’s right) with copper, nickel (or palladium) and zinc. The plating used in a white gold ring is an element named rhodium, which is a type of platinum group metal but costs four times as much as platinum itself. This is what gives white gold its reflective quality and also resists scratching. However, it can wear down over time and require re-plating.
Rose gold is romantic and unique. Sound like a special someone? Good. The metal gets the pink hue from mixing yellow gold (it’s a classic, after all) with a copper alloy. This gives rose gold that warm tone. The percentages of metal alloys are basically the same for rose gold as for yellow or white gold. The mixture of alloys utilized is the only aspect that changes. Rose gold is also more affordable than yellow or white gold.
What? GREEN gold? Yes. It’s certainly not a common choice, but it’s a unique and nature-inspired one. Feel like you’re marrying a grounded or energetic earth elemental? Feel stuck on when shopping for men’s gold rings and want something aside from the typical yellow gold band? Here’s your metal.
Green gold itself consists of a pale, soft green hue that you get from combining yellow gold (yes, we know you know now) with copper, silver and zinc.Want to get even more experimental and wild to surprise your unique beloved? Combine green gold with white gold and rose gold to achieve a tricolor sensational piece that will blow their mind and make their heart sing a “Heck YES!.”
No matter what metal you pick for your beloved’s engagement ring, the birds and other woodland creatures will instantly search out flowers for the bouquet and help decorate for a pop-up wedding. (Talk about service!)
Gold coating is an aspect of jewelry composition that buyers don’t often consider. What kind of gold is used for the plating? Look on the band for the quality stamp. The different kinds of gold plating are gold layered, gold leaf, gold plated/electroplated, gold overlay, gold filled and vermeil:
There’s no U.S. federal standard for what gold-layered jewelry should technically mean aside from having a layer of gold. So, check the thickness of the gold layer.
Gold hammered by hand into very thin layers is known as gold leaf. On gold rings, it’s wrapped around the metal band. If you’re an artist, you may already be familiar with gold leaf. Typically, 22K or 24K gold is utilized as thin gold sheets to decorate both jewelry and art. Look for irregularities in the foil to identify gold leaf work.
What is gold plated or gold electroplated jewelry? They are the same thing. The base metal has been dipped in gold or “electroplated” to give it a gold-like look. The gold layer should be at minimum seven millionths of an inch thick with at least 10K gold quality. Be aware that electroplating wears away over time.
Gold overlay or rolled gold plated jewelry is more durable than other types of gold coated jewelry thanks to its thicker coat of gold. The gold count must be 10K but may also fall beneath 1/20 of the total weight. The base metal could be brass, copper or stainless steel.
Gold filled jewelry, unfortunately, is not filled with gold. The base metals are made up of brass or copper which are covered in gold sheets. The quality is at least 10K gold and the total should be at minimum 1/20 (or 5%) of the total weight. With care, the gold layer is durable and gold filled jewelry is typically safe for sensitive skin.
Pronounced “ver-may,” vermeil is sterling silver that’s gold plated, but the difference lies in a thicker gold layer being applied as well as having sterling silver as the base metal. “925” stamped jewelry is typical vermeil, where 92.5% is pure silver and the other 7.5% is made up of alloyed metals.
When searching for the best metal for your engagement ring, choose the metal that fits the mettle and personality of your beloved. Stop by Finer Custom Jewelry to purchase an unique or custom jewelry piece with the perfect metal for the perfect match.
Do you have a vision for your custom engagement ring, but aren’t sure how to make it a reality? Allow us to guide you through the process of how to create truly exceptional rings. Schedule your design appointment today and see how Finer Custom Engagement Rings and Diamonds will bring your vision of an engagement ring to life.
© Copyright Finer Custom Jewelry 2024
