Types of Metals
One of the first things we’ll talk about during the custom journey is metal types. We design in the following metals: platinum, palladium, and yellow, white, or rose gold. Lifestyle and style preference will play a significant role in deciding which metal to use.
| TYPES OF METAL | PLATINUM | PALLADIUM | WHITE GOLD | YELLOW GOLD | ROSE GOLD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APPEARANCE | Platinum is a naturally beautiful silvery white color, which means it will never tarnish. | Palladium has a lustrous silvery look very similar to platinum. | White gold has a lustrous silvery white finish similar to that of platinum and palladium. | Yellow gold has a beautiful and rich golden hue. | Rose gold has a blush color with a hint of copper. |
| WEAR | Platinum requires the least amount of maintenance and is extremely durable. | Since palladium is part of the platinum family, it will not tarnish and will always have a beautiful silvery finish that requires very little maintenance. | White gold is extremely durable due to the nickel that is typically part of the alloy, though we do offer nickel-free alloys in white gold if you are prone to metal allergies. Over time, white gold's rhodium plating will need to be replated in order to keep a bright silver finish. | Yellow gold is the softest of all of the metals listed. It does scratch easily and the higher the karat, the softer it is. The highest karat we recommend using for an engagement ring is 18k to ensure it is durable over time. | Rose gold is more durable than yellow, but it is still much softer than white gold, palladium and platinum. It will always maintain its beautiful coppery blush color. |
| PRICE | While platinum is currently less expensive than gold, the weight is 60% more. Therefore, it ends up being comparable or slightly more expensive than gold for a similar look. | It is less dense than platinum, but quite a bit more rare making it more expensive than platinum. | White, yellow and rose gold are all approximately the same price as they virtually have the same gold content. For comparison, referencing an identical piece of jewelry visually, palladium is the least expensive, then gold is slightly more and platinum is the most expensive. | White, yellow and rose gold are all approximately the same price as they virtually have the same gold content. For comparison, referencing an identical piece of jewelry visually, palladium is the least expensive, then gold is slightly more and platinum is the most expensive. | White, yellow and rose gold are all approximately the same price as they virtually have the same gold content. For comparison, referencing an identical piece of jewelry visually, palladium is the least expensive, then gold is slightly more and platinum is the most expensive. |
| FUN FACT | It takes five months to refine platinum before it can be used for jewelry. It is also the purest metal and therefore hypoallergenic, making it great for people who are prone to metal allergies. | Palladium is 15 times more rare than platinum! | White gold isn’t actually white! It is yellow gold with a rhodium plating that gives it a silvery finish. | Gold is actually edible (in small amounts of course!). It is popular in Asian countries and can be found in food and tea. | Rose gold was initially popular in Russia in the 19th century and it was called “Russian Gold.” It has become extremely popular in jewelry in the last decade. |
Ready to forge your dream design into metal?