Deciding on which precious metal to accompany the design or precious stone you have in mind for your wedding band or ring can be intimidating. It may well be that the precious metal alone is the focus of the band, and it is therefore important to make the correct decision. And yes, even though Uwe Koetter Jewellers are renown for our exquisite and bespoke wedding rings, practicality plays a very important role when it comes to choosing the correct metal for the ring that carries your heart.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
So let us start with aesthetics. Decide what it is you want your ring to look like. Do you want the band to have a high lustre, or a matt finish? Do you prefer a warm metal or cool and clean shine? And finally, of the cool and clean looks, how white do you want it to be? Do you want traces of warmth to be evident, or do you want crisp, blue flashes?
Warmth
Gold
Let us talk about gold: its lustre and gleam has captivated century upon century of man (and woman), and continues to do so. 24 karat (not the same as carat which is a measurement which denotes the size of a diamond or precious stone) contains 100% gold, 18k contains 75% gold and 10k contains 41% gold. The other metals and mixed with the gold in 18 and 10 karat gold are called alloys.
In the case of 18k, the other alloys are copper, silver, nickel and zinc, and how they are blended can change the gold’s colour and intensity varying it from yellow to rose to white. The alloys also strengthen the gold, which is too soft for everyday wear by itself. The warmth of yellow gold makes it a popular choice for setting diamonds into. The contrast created by the coolness of the diamond against the fiery setting of the gold often makes for a spectacular wedding ring.
Yellow gold is blended with copper, silver and palladium to produce white gold, which in turn is plated with rhodium for extra shine. Its white shine looks warmer than platinum and it is more expensive than yellow gold, but it costs less than platinum does.
Coolness
If the slight tinges of warmth found in white gold are still not to your liking, then chances are you will find your senses responding to the ethereal beauty of platinum or palladium. Arguably, these cool metals are equally beautiful, but in the case of platinum, beauty comes at a price.
Platinum
It is lustrous, with a silvery white colour and often has pearl-like sheen. It is the heaviest and most dense, most pure and most rare of any other metal used in jewellery. One can understand that it comes with a price, as its density ensures that (in layman’s terms), “more” of it is used to create the item of jewellery. There is an upside though! It is very hard-wearing which makes it an excellent choice for setting stones and for engraving fine detail. It is hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant making it very low maintenance. The ring will retain it allure (and the sentiment behind it) for much longer than other metals.
Palladium
Palladium too gleams cool and blue. Standing in opposition to platinum, it is the least dense of the metals falling in the Platinum Group Metals group (PGM) and the spinoff is that it rests lightly on the finger. Another plus point for this metal is that palladium is hypoallergenic making it a really good choice for clients who are sensitive to metal allergies.
Decisions lie in the Facts
Now that we have covered the aesthetics and some of the characteristics of the metals that we use, let us make things a little easier for you to decide which metal to use. Remember, in the end, this is your choice. Your budget, your heart, your life and your taste need to guide you. And at Uwe Koetter Jewellers, we honour all of those.
Did you know?
Our designs are available in wide range of metals.
Most items can be produced in any of the metals listed above.
Browse our range of jewellery here.
