Choosing the Right Precious Metal

When you are buying jewelry such as diamond rings, eternity rings, engagement rings, wedding or anniversary bands, your first consideration is what type of precious metal you want. There are a few more things to consider when choosing a precious metal than most people realize. There is yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, platinum and silver to choose from.

First, ask yourself if this is a ring that will be worn every day, such as an engagement ring or wedding band. If so, then you want to make sure that the metal you choose will be strong and resistant to scratches and bending. Price can be a factor as well. Platinum is very popular and has very good points about it, but you will pay more for platinum. Silver may be great for jewelry that is not worn every day, but if you plan on wearing it for years to come, you may consider other metals.

Yellow gold is definitely the long standing most popular precious metal choice for many jewelers and buyers alike. It is easy to work with and strong enough for every day wear. Consider how many karats you want based on how often the ring will be worn. Ten and fourteen karat gold are strongest and most resistant to scratching and bending. They are popular choices for engagement rings and wedding bands. Rings sold in eighteen karat or twenty-four karat gold need to be taken care of to avoid bending and scratching.

Twenty-four karat gold is one hundred percent gold. Lower karat gold is mixed with other metals, such as zinc, copper and silver, to make it stronger. Some rings are gold plated or filled and will look beautiful for a while as long as they are not worn daily. The coatings can become discolored, tarnished and worn down over time, so if you are looking for something other than costume jewelry or special occasion jewelry, you probably want to choose a ring made with at least ten karat gold. White gold and rose gold are very durable, but they can discolor after a few years of wear. They sometimes can, however, be refurbished to restore their original beauty.

Platinum is the most sought after precious metal today. Unmatched in reflective beauty and strength, platinum is becoming as popular as gold. Platinum rings have more weight and durability than gold rings and the color will never turn. Where gold can be mixed with over forty percent of other metals, platinum is at least ninety percent pure. Platinum is very strong and is a great choice for jewelry such as diamond rings. Keep in mind that because of its strength, platinum is harder and more expensive to size.

About the Author: Ian Maher is the CEO of Maliere, a leading provider of diamond rings, eternity rings, platinum rings and gold rings. For more information, please visit www.Maliere.com.

Precious Metals in Jewelry

Precious metals are ideal for creating beautiful jewelry due in part to their resistance to corrosion. Since precious metals have an unreactive and oxidation-resistant nature, they fall into the category of noble metals. Such precious metals with which you may be familiar include gold, silver, and platinum, but palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium and ruthenium are other precious metals commonly incorporated into jewelry such as diamond rings, eternity rings, promise rings and right hand rings. The system of measurement for the weight of precious metals is troy weight, in which one troy ounce equates to approximately 1.1 standard ounces and twelve ounces make up one troy pound. Precious metals can be combined to form what are known as alloys, often for the purpose of reducing cost or producing a metal sturdier than any one element alone. Here we examine the major precious metals used in the crafting of fine jewelry:

-Gold: The most malleable and ductile of the precious metals, gold can be readily flattened into thin sheets and stretched into thin wire, which makes it a versatile and popular choice for jewelry creation. Gold is often alloyed with other metals for cost reduction and to increase the strength of the final product. In pure form, gold is measured in troy weight, but as an alloy with other metals its weight is measured in karats. For gold, the karat weight specifies the amount of pure gold present, with 24 karat being pure gold and smaller karat weights designating lower percentages of gold and higher proportions of other metals.

-Silver: Second to gold in malleability and ductility, silver is anther precious metal popular for use in jewelry. Silver is also commonly alloyed with other metals to create jewelry, with the popular sterling silver consisting of a combination of 92.5 percent silver with a relatively small 7.5 percent of another metal, typically copper. Being a superior conductor of heat and electricity, silver has numerous applications beyond jewelry making, such as coins, dentistry tools, silverware, film and electronics.

Platinum: Rarer than silver and gold, platinum is a durable precious metal common for eternity rings, engagement rings and wedding bands due to its resilience even with constant use. Iridium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium and osmium are other precious metals in the Platinum Group of Metals, which occur together naturally. Palladium is the metal often mixed with yellow gold to make white gold, and rodium is used extensively to plate white gold to give it that extra white brightness. The metals in the Platinum Group of Metals are resilient, tarnish resistant and stable, making them popular for use not only in jewelry but also in numerous industrial processes such as crude oil refining and automobile manufacturing.

The end price of jewelry that can be attributed to precious metals depends not just on the pureness and rarity of the metal, but also the craftsperson’s skill level, the intricacy of the piece and labor.

About the Author: Ian Maher is the CEO of Maliere, a leading provider of eternity rings, diamond rings, platinum rings and gold rings. For more information, please visit www.Maliere.com.