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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.