Metals can be considered as the soul of the engagement ring as they form the base for the entire engagement ring. Choosing the right metal is very crucial as it holds the diamond and forms the base of your engagement ring. Deciding the metal you want for your diamond is quite easy once you know about the basic ring metals. Varied over ranges of white gold, yellow gold, and platinum, one can choose any metal as preferred or whatever fits the budget. The various types of metals available for engagement rings are:
Everyone is familiar with the traditional yellow gold engagement rings. The most common, yet a very lavish and appealing metal, yellow is the naturally occurring colour of gold and is typically alloyed with silver and copper in fine jewellery. Flexible and enduring, yellow gold is highly used in engagement rings due to its lasting beauty as it does not corrode, tarnish or rust. The higher the karat of the gold, the softer the yellow gold engagement ring is. One can easily identify authentic gold as it carries a ‘k’ or ‘karat’ mark on it. To keep the luster of gold everlasting, the ring should be cleaned with mild soap and warm water.
Bearing similarity to platinum diamond engagement rings in its looks, white gold is the most preferred option as the metal for engagement rings. White gold engagement rings are available in two variations; 1) 14K which consists of 55% gold and the rest is composed of other metals (zinc, nickel etc.) and 2) 18K white gold which consists of 75% gold. Cheaper than platinum, white gold is more preferred in engagement rings as it complements the sparkle of solitaire ring designs perfectly. Made with an alloy of nickel and zinc, white gold is coated with rhodium to keep the shine intact. However, radiant white gold requires thorough care to maintain the sparkle of your single diamond ring. The ring should be kept in a cushioned and scratch-proof box. It is also recommended keeping the ring away from harmful corrosives like bleach, ammonia, and chlorine.
The most valuable and finest piece of metal that complements diamond ring designs perfectly, platinum is found in limited quantities. Almost the similar tint as diamonds, platinum helps increase the brilliance and sparkle of the diamond engagement ring. ar tint as diamonds, platinum helps increase the brilliance and sparkle of the diamond engagement ring. The metal comes with numerous advantages like resilience and strength, it can withstand stress and platinum of purity grade between 90-95% and does not cause any allergic reactions. Due to its durability and magnificence, platinum has become a popular choice fo engagement rings in recent times. Metals such as white gold which are alloyed to get a platinum diamond ring colour turn yellow after a certain period. However, platinum is mostly made of 95% pure platinum which makes it more preferable. Platinum rings are also preferred as wedding bands.
Some people prefer a pinkish colour to go with their solitaires. Hence, they prefer an alloy of copper and gold which gives the metal a warm red colour and is known as rose gold. The shade depends upon the amount of copper used in the alloy. Preferred more by women, common rose gold diamond rings for women are composed of 75% gold and 25% copper.
