TYPES OF METAL
YELLOW GOLD
Pure 24 karat gold, which is the brightest, richest, most yellow of all of gold tones, is too soft for practical jewellery making. Thus, gold is mixed with different alloys, such as silver, nickel and zinc, which make it stronger, and affect the hue of the metal.
Most jewellery is made of 18 Karat, 14 Karat or 9 Karat The Karat weight of the gold will greatly affect the appearance, particularly the colour, of the gold – lower Karat gold, like 9 Karat gold, will have a paler, cooler tone than the buttery richness of higher Karat, such as 18 Karat, gold.
ROSE GOLD
For an even warmer, softer and more romantic look, rose gold is a fabulous option. Achieved by combining yellow gold with a strong copper alloy, rose gold is an excellent choice for clients with lots of pink undertone.
WHITE GOLD
White gold gets its silvery white character from combining yellow gold with copper, zinc, nickel and palladium which results in a yellowish white colour. During finishing, jewellers plate white gold with a whiter metal called rhodium (a platinum group metal), which gives it a fully white look very similar to platinum.
Platinum
Platinum is a naturally white metal that is one of the hardest and most durable known metals. Its intense durability and natural strength make it an ideal candidate for an active lifestyle, and because it is naturally white, it does not require platinum and will not change in colour over time.
Sterling Silver
Similar to Gold, Sterling Silver must have other metals added to it to be strong enough for jewellery. While Sterling Silver is best known for its brilliant polished shine, it can also come in a matte finish,
Platinum vs. White Gold
Platinum is about 66% heavier and denser than white gold. For this reason it is stronger for diamond settings (especially for small stones), it lasts much longer over time and isn’t as susceptible to wear. A typical platinum setting may cost a bit more than white gold, but we believe the benefits that you get (especially spread over a lifetime) are well worth the extra cost.