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When starting out in your search for a engagement ring, a good first decision is whether metal - or metals - matter to you and be loved. At the beginning of the metal selection process, it is important to consider not only the aesthetics of the metal itself but also how it fits with the design of the ring, the center of the ring, and possibly adjacent stones, as well as the wearer's lifestyle.
Many choose the metal for their ring configuration based on existing jewelry preferences. Those interested in cooler tones and more elegant reflective surfaces prefer white gold or platinum, while those interested in warmer tones and softer looks prefer yellow or rose gold.
Of course, mixing metals is always an option, be it adding the two metals to the shaft or using a touch of white metal around the stone itself to increase its apparent size and sparkle or sparkle effect.
Silver: Silver is a softer metal, which makes it more prone to scratches and other damage. It is also more prone to oxidation than other metals, sometimes causing the silver in the rings to blacken. It should be noted, however, that if it oxidizes, silver can be easily restored with a simple silver jewelry cleaner. For these reasons, however, silver is more suitable for men's and women's fashion rings and other rings that are worn occasionally rather than daily. This limitation means that silver is not a common or wise choice for engagement and wedding rings for men and women. Its affordable price and eye-catching shine even make it an attractive option for other cocktail rings and rings on the right.
Sterling silver is often rhodium-plated to improve surface reflection and protect against stains that occur when silver reacts with sulfur in the air (sulfur is found in wool, elastic bands, certain colors, latex gloves, etc.). With rhodium plating and proper care, sterling silver jewelry can maintain a polished, shiny appearance for years before it tarnishes.
There are 2 types of Silver,
- 925 Sterling Silver
- 935 Argentium Silver
1.925 Sterling Silver:Sterling silver is a silver alloy containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper, by weight. Standard sterling silver has a minimum fineness of 925 mils. Pure silver, such as 99.9% pure silver, is relatively soft, so silver is often alloyed with copper to increase its hardness and strength. Sterling silver is prone to tarnish and elements other than copper can be used in alloys to reduce tarnish and porosity and fouling of cast iron. Such elements include zinc, platinum, silicon, germanium, platinum, and boron. Recent examples of such alloys include Argentium, sterling, sterilite, and silvadium.
2.935Argentium Silver: Argentium silver (originally patented in 1998) is a brand of modern tarnish resistant silver alloys containing 93.5% or 96% silver. Argentium alloys replace some of the copper (about 1% copper and other alloys are replaced with germanium) in the traditional sterling silver alloy (92.5% silver + 7.5% copper) with metalloid germanium. Argentium patents refer to the percentages of zinc and boron found in Argentium silver. Both Argentium alloys meet the required standard for marking as sterling silver and Argentium 960 meets the standard for marking as Britannia silver (95.84% silver).
Gold: Although gold can be any color in the rainbow, the most common metals for engagement rings are yellow, white, and rose gold. Recently, black and other colors have also gained popularity. The amount of pure gold in a ring is measured in carats. If you like diamonds, you've probably come across a similar term that describes the stone's weight. It's the carat with a "C". Carat with a "K" indicates how many of the 24 pieces are real gold.
A 24-karat gold ring, therefore, consists 24 of 24 pieces of gold or almost entirely pure gold. An 18-carat gold ring is made from approximately 75 percent gold and 25 percent other metals.
It seems that the more gold there is in a ring, the better. And this is certainly true if your partner has a metal allergy that can be triggered by a ring that contains nickel or another metal. But always remember that gold is known as soft metal. The more gold in your ring, the more likely it is to be scratched or dented. That's why 18k and 14k gold are popular choices - they're built to last. They are harder than 24-carat gold and still contain enough gold to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction.
Rose Gold: Rose gold is a mixture or alloy of pure 24-carat yellow gold, copper, and silver. Pure 24k yellow gold is the basis of all the colors and qualities of gold, but it is too soft to be worn on its own in jewelry.
It must be mixed or alloyed with other metals so that it is sufficiently wear-resistant. Various alloy formulations are used to color and identify all types of metals used in jewelry, including platinum, white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold.
White Gold: White gold was originally designed to mimic platinum (an inherently white metal). White gold is usually an alloy that contains about 75% gold and about 25% nickel and zinc. If it had the 18-carat stamp, it would be 75% pure gold.
White gold has a brilliant sheen that reflects light beautifully and enhances the sparkle of diamonds. However, like any jewelry, white gold requires some maintenance to make the most of its impressive properties.
Yellow Gold:In its purest form, gold is 24-karat gold.Non-gold coins are made of an alloy of other metals, such as copper, silver, palladium, and nickel. Pure gold is predominantly yellow, so yellow gold does not need additional elements to influence its color; however, it requires additional alloys to increase its durability.
Platinum: Platinum is a naturally white metal that is one of the hardest and most durable metals. Although platinum was discovered many decades earlier, it wasn't commercially available until around 1900 when the advent of the acetylene-oxygen burner finally made it possible to melt platinum for jewelry making.
The cool and elegant sheen of platinum has long been coveted and underlines the sparkle of white diamonds. Its intense durability and natural strength make it an ideal candidate for an active lifestyle, and because it's naturally white, it doesn't need platinum or change color over time.
Platinum is hypoallergenic and wear-resistant. It is greyish-white in color and this silver color can make diamonds look whiter. It is very similar to white gold and is often confused with it. But platinum is much precious than gold, so it's a more expensive metal for rings. It's also denser than gold, making a platinum ring feel heavier on your finger.