All About Metals

Choosing between white gold, yellow gold, or platinum is as much as matter of personal preference as it is of budget. Before you make a final decision, it is worth weighing the pros and cons of the various types of engagement ring metals.

Rose Gold

Rose gold is also known as red gold or pink gold. The difference between red, rose and pink gold is their copper content. The higher the amount of copper in gold, the more pronounced the red color. Pure gold is a deep yellow color and pure copper is reddish. The color of rose gold is between those two colors, depending on its individual composition.

Yellow Gold

Yellow gold is the most common, mainly because gold is yellow in its natural state. The yellow gold used in fine jewelry is typically alloyed with silver and copper; its color depends on the amount of pure gold in the alloy. The advantages of gold are that is does not corrode, tarnish or rust, so it can be counted on to provide lasting beauty. And even though it is strong, gold is more "flexible" than the other precious metals.

Pure gold, graded 24 karats, is too soft for use in making jewelry. The House of Bluestone Goldsmithing uses 22k – the purest gold that can still be used in jewelry. Similar to white gold, 22k yellow gold is comprised of 91.7% pure gold , with the remaining amount comprised of metals such as silver, zinc, or metal. The added metals make the texture of 22k gold harder and more durable.

White Gold

The House of Bluestone Goldsmithing offers white gold in 22K, which is made up of 91.7% pure gold with the remaining amount comprised of other metals (nickel, zinc, etc.) – This gives it its white color. The added metals make 22K white gold harder and therefore more durable for everyday wear. White gold also gives the overall look of platinum, but is notably less expensive. 

Platinum

Platinum has grown increasingly popular in recent years due to its beauty and durability. Platinum’s rich, even color and sheen makes it a popular choice for engagement ring settings, as these qualities magnify the sparkle and brilliance of diamonds that are set in the metal. An added bonus of platinum’s 90-95% purity grade is that it rarely causes any allergic reaction, and is therefore the ideal metal choice for people with metal or contact allergies. The annual worldwide production of platinum is approximately 160 tons, compared to 1,500 tons of gold. This is why platinum is more expensive than the other precious metals.