When you are looking to purchase fine jewelry, often the diamonds or gemstones are the main focus. However, the metal is equally important since it will complement the style, design and diamonds in your jewelry.
There are different metals that you can choose, depending upon personal style and, of course, your budget.
Similar to platinum, white gold is made from alloys with one or more white metals, like palladium or nickel. It is also a fairly popular choice for wedding and engagement rings.
There are several advantages to choosing yellow gold as a precious metal for your jewelry. Being a softer malleable metal, it can conveniently be repaired or re-polished, and it’s also resistant to tarnish and rust. Pure gold is too soft, which is why other metals are added to it in order to improve its durability and strength.
Sometimes referred to as pink gold, rose gold is a precious metal resulting from gold alloys with a greater copper percentage. It can vary in color depending upon the metal alloy’s composition. It is popular for many types of jewelry, from engagement rings to necklaces.
It is the most durable among all the precious metals and is known to last a lifetime. Platinum has a higher density than gold and its white sheen enhances the brightness of diamonds.
Gold is a naturally occurring element. Its malleability makes it an ideal choice for creating fine jewelry. 14K white gold is commonly used for engagement rings, pendants, eternity bands, earrings, and other such fine jewelry pieces.
It is a mixture of gold and other metals such as nickel, zinc, and copper along with rhodium plating which improves its durability. Gold on its own is soft so these alloy metals increase the strength of its composition. Moreover, 14K white gold is definitely real, contrary to popular belief. Jewelry is almost never made of pure, 24K gold as it is far too soft and could easily scratch or bend.
Despite an appearance similar to platinum, 14K white gold is quite affordable, offering great value for the money due to its durability and strength. The price of 14K white gold can vary depending upon the type of setting that is chosen, and how much metal is used in the piece.
14K yellow gold is composed of pure gold, amalgamated with alloy metals like copper and zinc. The most hypoallergenic of the three gold types, it has always been the most common choice for wedding and engagement rings. It also works well for those that want a vintage style for their jewelry. 14K yellow gold is the purest of all three gold colors.
This type of gold is the easiest to maintain over time as it is quite durable and doesn’t tarnish easily. It is also the most malleable, making it great for jewelers. It also matches easily with lower color-grade diamonds, but higher quality diamonds really pop in the yellow setting. It should be cleaned and polished on a regular basis to keep its luster and brilliance.
Unlike the popular belief that yellow gold is more valuable than white (just because it looks like gold!), the price of 14K yellow gold is similar to that of 14K white gold. The gold carats in both white gold and yellow gold have identical value and are treated the same in terms of liquidity. It is quite affordable and offers good value for the money.
Gold is a naturally occurring element. Its malleability makes it an ideal choice for creating fine jewelry. 14K rose gold is combined with other metals, most commonly copper, to achieve its pink color. It is commonly used for engagement rings, pendants, eternity bands, earrings, and other fine jewelry pieces.
Its durability is also similar to other colors of gold. The purer the gold, the softer it is going to be. This is why it is always mixed with other forms of precious metals to make it more durable and last longer.
The price of 14K rose gold doesn’t differ significantly from other colors. Pure gold is always a fairly valuable and precious material. The higher the gold content in your jewelry, the higher the price tag.
Platinum represents a natural white metal and is normally used in an almost pure form in jewelry. It is usually plated with rhodium for the brightest, whitest shine. It looks identical to white gold to the naked eye. You might not even be able to tell the difference between the two until told otherwise!
Platinum is quite durable. It will remain looking bright white for years, provided that you maintain and care for it regularly. Platinum is also one of the most hypo-allergenic metals available in jewelry.
Platinum jewelry can be a bit more expensive than 14K or 18K gold. Additionally, the price can really jump up if there is a lot of metal in the design of the jewelry. Even with the more expensive price tag, many discerning people insist on platinum jewelry, especially in engagement rings.
| Platinum | 14K Gold (White) | 14K Gold (Rose) | 14K Gold (Yellow) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | A naturally silvery white, platinum is reputed for its sparkling beauty and hypoallergenic status. | White gold has a similar appearance to platinum. However, it’s not recommended if you have nickel allergy. | A beautiful alloy of copper and gold, it gives off a blush-pink hue. | Boasting of a rich color for which gold is fairly well-known, the sheen is gorgeous. |
| Durability | Requires minimum maintenance due to its corrosion-resistant body. Its malleability is lower than gold as well. It is typically rhodium plated. | Sparkling white with a rhodium plating, it may have to be re-plated over time due to wear and tear. | Copper with the alloy strengthens 14K Rose Gold, making it a durable choice. | It includes 58% fine gold with 42% alloys included for strengthening the metal, which makes it resilient for daily wear. |
| Pricing | It is the priciest of all the precious metals due to its durability and sparkling appearance. | It is more affordable as compared to platinum. | It is more affordable as compared to platinum with nearly same price point as yellow and white gold. | It’s more reasonable than platinum, and has the same pricing as rose and white gold. |
Recycled Gold