Home >> Education >> Metallurgy
Mettallurgy
We provide three main types of metal to choose from, all with their own individual characteristics.
| Character | Price | Care & Repairs | |
 |
18ct Yellow Gold |
||
| Traditional 18ct Yellow gold is the most common engagement ring setting. |
Least Expensive 18ct Yellow Gold is composed of 75% gold and 25% metal alloys to give it strength. |
More often/Easy Softer/Malleable Metal Will wear away over time. More easily damaged Easy to polish/repair Won't tarnish. |
|
 |
18ct White Gold |
||
| Understated Elegance White Gold is a wonderful alternative to yellow gold, giving the shiny white appearance of platinum. |
More Expensive Composed of 75% gold but uses white and silver alloys to give it a yellowish white colour in its raw state. It is plated to give a vibrant platinum appearance. |
Often/Easy Softer/Malleable Metal, More easily damaged Plating will wear off over time. It will require re-plating after polishing. Easy to get replated /repair. |
|
 |
Palladium |
||
| Light and Forever White Palladium is from the same element group as Platinum (PGM), is half the weight and will stay white without plating and is as pure and endurable as Platinum. |
Similar to White Gold Palladium 950 is 95% Palladium (rare, noble metal) and 5% Ruthenium. |
Infrequent/More Difficult White, lightweight, hypoallergenic, easy to finish and polish but requires more skill to work with than white gold, does not require plating and has desirable setting and forming characteristics. |
|
 |
Platinum |
||
| Enduring Platinum is the strongest, most pure metal. It will last a lifetime. Hand made Platinum rings will stand the test of time. |
Most Expensive Platinum Jewellery is composed of 90- 95% pure platinum. It is more rare than Gold. |
Infrequent/More difficult. Strongest Jewellery metal Resistant to Damage Won't wear away. Develops a satin finish Difficult to polish/repair Won't Tarnish. |
|
Ready to start designing your own engagement ring?
The Allure of Gold
The lustrous beauty of Gold has made it a rare and sought after metal since the beginning of time. Adding small amounts of other precious metals to create exquisite shades of pink, yellow and white further enhance is beauty. When combined in a single piece, these shades create a truly sensational effect.
Yellow Gold - gold, copper, silver
White Gold - gold, copper, zinc, nickel, manganese
White Noble Gold - gold, copper, platinum, white zinc
Pink (Rose) Gold - gold, copper
Green Gold - gold, silver, copper, zinc
The carat mark of gold refers to its purity. Pure gold is known as 24 carat. This is far too soft and breakable to be used in Jewellery and is therefore combined with other metals to increase its durability. 18 carat gold is commonly used in valuable Jewellery, as it retains the shine of pure gold while being sufficiently hardy to endure normal conditions.
White Gold is a wonderful alternative to traditional yellow gold. White gold in its raw state appears a yellowish white metal which is then usually plated with a hard, protective finish of rhodium (a silver white metal from the platinum family) to increase its white shine. The plating is very thin and may wear off over time. To remedy this, simply take your ring back to a jeweller for polishing and replating, at a minimal cost, and your ring will look as shiny as the day you bought it.
As well as looking sensational, white gold boasts yet another
advantage - its shiny colour can make your diamonds appear
larger, particularly when surrounded entirely with a rim
of white gold as in a bezel setting.
Palladium - White for Life
Fashionably Rare
More than 80% of the World’s palladium production is concentrated in just two countries, so Palladium is highly sort after. Palladium is whiter than Platinum or White Gold.
Palladium is from the Platinum Group Metals (PGM), which are classed as precious and rare noble metals. It does not require Rhodium plating, it stays white and bright after it is polished and it is durable and hard wearing, with 950 Palladium being 95% pure, with Ruthenium, also from the PGM making up the other 5%.
Palladium is the lightest of the Platinum group metals; it is approximately half the weight of Platinum. Both metals require specialised skills to work with, keeping the labour costs the same, due to the weight being less along with the lower price of the metal this allows us to create rings that are thicker and more substantial at more affordable prices. The finished prices of Palladium rings are similar to 18ct White Gold.
Another advantage of Palladium is that it is Hypoallergenic and nickel free.
The perfect alternative to Platinum jewellery at a similar cost to 18ct White gold, this enduring precious metal will stay white and beautiful for a lifetime.
Precious Platinum
Now known as the metal of the new millennium, platinum has become particularly fashionable in Europe and the United States. It is so rare that the entire world's supply would fill an area no larger than your living room. It is the epitome of quality and understated elegance. No wonder, then, that platinum, has been the metal of choice for the Jewellery of celebrities such as Madonna, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Courtney Cox. Similarly, some of the world's most famous diamonds, like the Star of Africa, the Hope and Koh-l-Noor, are set in platinum.
Unlike White Gold, Handmade platinum retains its white colour to perfection and will not deteriorate over time. Platinum is also 90 or 95% pure making it absolutely hypoallergenic - the ideal choice for allergy sufferers or those with sensitive skin. Platinum is a very soft malleable metal when it is dug out of the ground, in order for it to become Strong, dense and durable it requires to be drawn, rolled and kneaded. A cast platinum ring, which is when the metal has been heated up and put into a molding to cool will not be as strong as an 18ct White gold ring. You will be able to tell the difference in the weight of the finished product, as a handmade ring is a lot heavier. These properties greatly slow the wear and tear process, making it a superb metal for Jewellery, that, like your engagement ring, needs to last a lifetime. The hardwearing properties of platinum also make it a popular choice for the active groom.
Working with platinum requires slightly different skills and equipment to working with gold. It is harder to melt, solder and polish and for this reason you are likely to see less platinum pieces at Jewellery stores. Most platinum pieces are made-to-order; however, Platinum's superior appearance and durability make it well worth the expense.
Platinum Jewellery can be distinguished by precious metal
markings on the inside of the ring.
95% - 950, Platinum, Pt, Pt950, 950Plat and Plat 950
90% - 900Pt, Pt900 and 900Pt
Titanium
Titanium is currently the hottest trend in the Jewellery industry. It boasts a silvery white colour and, as the hardest natural metal in the world, is incredibly strong, yet very light and relatively inexpensive. Like Platinum, Titanium is hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin. Best of all, this metal can be coloured in an exotic array of shades including yellow, green, blue, purple and reddish-pinks. This colour is the result of oxidization of the metal's surface crystals produced by a heating process. The colour will never fade nor chip but it can be scratched off. Your jeweler, however, can re-oxidise your ring for a minimal fee.
It's a good idea to choose a ring design where the coloured titanium is protected, such as in a grooved section or patterned area of the ring. You can choose to have your ring made entirely from titanium or select the more traditional gold, platinum or silver with a titanium stripe, rib or pattern. Titanium is generally only found in wedding bands or dress rings, the equipment to manufacture these rings is very specialized. Titanium rings have to be ordered in your finger size, because your local jeweller can not resize them. Whatever you choose, your titanium ring is certainly to be exciting and distinctive.
<< Back to Diamond Education Homepage
Ready to start designing your own engagement ring?
Shopping | Gallery | Lifestyle | Education | About DFNZ | Contact Us | Sitemap | Home
