White Gold is proving to become more and more fashionable in recent times and is considered by most to be the best metal for an engagement ring.
There are several options for you to consider, including, white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, platinum and sterling silver. Important factors you need to consider are price, durability, quality, and of course, your personal taste and style.
White Gold
White gold is an alloy of yellow gold and other metals such as palladium or silver, to make the gold white in appearance. Because it is made from real gold, you will be able to select from different types of gold content. White gold is available in anything from 9 Karat, 10 Karat, 14 Karat and 18 Karat.
Karats refer to the amount of gold content in a ring. Everyone will have their own preference for the gold content of their ring. The most important factor about this to consider is that 9-karat gold will be much harder (less malleable) and less likely to get knocked out of shape from day-to-day wear. On the other hand, 18-karat gold will be much softer and more susceptible to bending, however, this is extremely unlikely with reasonable care taken with your precious jewelry.
Gold content of different alloys:
| Metal (yellow/white/rose gold) | Pure Gold Content |
| 9K | 37.5% |
| 10K | 41.7% |
| 14K | 58.3% |
| 18K | 75% |
| 24K | 100% |
The remainder of the ring metal is made up of zinc, copper, and nickel to increase the durability of the ring.
The higher the gold content, the higher the price will be for the ring. 18K white gold is stunning for an engagement ring; however due to the high price many people choose 14K white gold, which is proving to be the most popular. See how much a 14k gold ring costs.
White gold works with every type and colour of gemstone ā from diamonds to sapphires, rubies and emeralds, as the silver tones of the ring complement every colour of gemstone, as well as skin tone.
Yellow Gold
Yellow gold is also a great choice for an engagement ring. There is only one main difference between choosing yellow gold or white gold and that is personal preference for colour. The quality, durability and price will likely be the same between the two styles.
Yellow gold is also available in 9k, 10K, 14K, and 18K. However, unlike white gold, yellow gold is available in 24K (100% gold content) which is very expensive and very soft. 24K gold may not be the best option to wear each and every day. It is better suited for wearing on special occasions only.
Yellow gold will also be very versatile and complements all colour gemstones and skin tones.
Rose Gold
Rose gold or red gold gets its colour from the addition of copper to yellow gold.
Again, there will be no large differences between rose gold, yellow gold, or white gold in terms of price, durability and quality. One main point to consider is that while most colour gemstones go well with white and yellow gold, not all colours suit rose gold as much. Gemstones that are generally reddish-pink in colour are more suited to rose gold, such as pink diamond and morganite. A beautiful clear diamond will look stunning in a rose gold setting and this article should not deter you away from choosing rose gold in a diamond engagement ring.
Platinum
Other options include platinum. Platinum is more expensive than gold; however it can scratch more easily and require much more maintenance than gold. Platinum may provide an alternative for those who cannot wear gold products due to dermatitis or other skin issues.
925 Silver
If you are a fan of white metals in jewelry, 925 silver offers a fantastic option due to its shine, durability and value for money, especially when compared to gold. 925 silver essentially means that the metal is comprised of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloys ā usually copper and other trace elements. The benefit of adding these alloys to the pure silver is that is actually makes the silver slightly firmer (while staying soft enough!) and more durable to work with jewellers and much more comfortable to wear than pure silver (99.9%).
So there you have it. The best metal for an engagement ring is white gold, but it really is up to personal preference and choice.