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Choose Your Ring

Types of Precious Metals for Ring Settings

You already know you're creating the one-of-a-kind ring she'll wear for the rest of her life, so you want to be sure she loves it. She will likely have a preference of the type of metal and the colour for her engagement ring setting and we've created some guidance to help get you started:

Platinum

Characteristics

Enduring, strong, and lasts a lifetime Composed of 95% platinum and 5% other pure alloys

Price

A rare and expensive precious metal

Setting Metal

Centre diamond is set in platinum prongs

Performance

  • Strongest precious metal
  • Resistant to damage
  • Does not wear away
  • Develops a satin finish
  • Platinum is hypoallergenic
  • Highest level of purity

18k Gold

Characteristics

A classic metal with high gold purity Composed of 75% gold and 25% pure alloys

Price

Less expensive than platinum, yet highly valued

Setting Metal

Centre diamond is set in platinum prongs

Performance

  • Softer, malleable metal
  • Easy to polish and repair
  • Resistant to rust and tarnishing
  • 18k yellow gold is rich in colour
  • Has a distinct heritage

14k Gold

Characteristics

A strong metal that is popular in fine jewellery Composed of 58.3% gold and 41.7% pure alloys

Price

Less expensive than 18k gold, yet offers great value

Setting Metal

Centre diamond is set in 14k white gold prongs

Performance

  • Known for strength
  • Longer wear due to hardness
  • Easy to polish and repair
  • Resistant to rust and tarnishing
  • Moderate in colour compared to 18k yellow gold

Palladium

Characteristics

A rare metal with the highest purity Composed of 95% palladium and 5% other pure alloys

Price

Less expensive than platinum, yet offers great value

Setting Metal

Centre diamond is set in platinum prongs

Performance

  • Known for strength, yet lighter than platinum
  • Has a natural and permanent whiteness
  • Easy to polish and repair
  • Resistant to corrosion, oxidation, and tarnishing
  • Palladium is hypoallergenic
  • It is scratch-resistant
To get more guidance on what type of precious metal she prefers and the colour, see our Engagement Ring Guide.