Everything you need to know about the ring: Metals

The ring; a symbol of eternity, love and commitment.  But there are so many different types of settings, metals, and decoration techniques to consider before buying the special gift – whether it be an engagement, eternity or wedding ring.  In this two part series we will give you an overview of the choices you face and tips to help you make the right one. Last week we gave you a rundown of the different aspects of ring settings. This week we explain the most popular metals used for rings!

Rings are created in many different metals;

Yellow Gold Wedding Band

Gold rings are one of the most popular and classic choices. Gold is malleable, durable, hypoallergenic, tarnish-resistant, and rare enough to be precious.  For jewellery, gold is often alloyed or melted with other metals such as copper, silver, zinc, and nickel to give the metal added strength. This combination creates the different karat measurements, for example 18-karat gold and 14-karat gold. 24-karat gold is gold in its purest form. The imprint of karat is called its quality mark and can be found on the inside of a ring band.

18K gold is considered to be the industry standard for high quality jewellery.  Higher karat alloys are softer and more flexible, and therefore found in very intricate pieces of jewellery; but these higher purity metals may not be suitable for every day wear as they’re prone to damage.

Yellow gold is the most common and traditional metal for both wedding and engagement rings. 24-karat gold is pure gold, while 18-karat is 1/4 alloy.

It's very difficult to tell the difference between White Gold and Platinum

White gold is measured by the same standards as yellow gold, but is treated to retain a white, silver-like finish. This finish eventually wears off and must be periodically reapplied.  It provides an excellent choice for a unique ring that will match any other jewelry.

Platinum wedding rings are increasingly becoming more popular than the traditional gold bands for many reasons. Platinum is distinctive, durable, and sophisticated, and a wide range of different ring styles are available for both men and women.  Principally mined in Russia and South Africa, platinum is far more rare than gold which is found in many locations. This rarity makes platinum an favourite choice for rings that symbolize the rare relationship between a couple in love.

Most rings are crafted from gold or platinum, however palladium is becoming a popular choice as a less expensive alternative. Aside from price, palladium has the added advantage of being naturally white so it does not need to be rhodium plated. It is also harder and lighter than platinum, making it less vulnerable to wear and tear. And if you're not convinced yet, not only is palladium tarnish resistant, but it is also hypoallergenic.

Tungsten (also known as wolfram) is growing ever popular, particularly for men as it boasts exceptional strength (ten times harder than 18k gold) and burnished white beauty.   It is a hard-to-find option, however, and couples need to decide whether the added characteristics are also worth the added cost.

Black Titanium Ring

A black titanium engagement ring is an elegant alternative to a traditional light-coloured ring, and is a versatile, durable metal which can be fashioned into many different, unique styles. A great way to reflect the uniqueness of a relationship.

Titanium can be infused with different colours, including brilliant shades of red, yellow, blue, purple, and green, but many people choose black titanium because of its simplicity, elegance and neutrality. Titanium’s natural color is a medium gray or grayish white hue but that colour can be deepened to a charcoal or ebony shade and the black shade can be matte or polished.

So there you have it. Those are the most popular metals used for engagement, eternity and wedding rings explained. Have you got a favourite metal that you swear by? Let us know what you think!