The engagement ring is usually made from gold or platinum or a combination of metals. When choosing an engagement ring, it is important to know whether she likes white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, platinum or a combination of any of these metals.
Pure 24k gold is very soft for jewellery and everyday use and has an orange yellow colour. It is alloyed with other metals for durability. The alloy also changes the colour and drops the purity from 24k to 18k, 14k or 9k with 18k being more suitable for engagement rings.
Yellow gold that you find in jewellery is pure gold alloyed with silver and copper. The variation in quantity of silver and copper in the alloy make the light-yellow, yellow-green or rose colour gold. Diamonds look slightly yellowish when set in yellow gold.
White gold is pure gold alloyed with nickel or palladium. When alloyed with nickel the metal turns in to a grayish colour with yellowish tint. When gold is alloyed with palladium it turns in to an off-white colour. At Joseph George Jewellery we use Palladium based white gold which is a better metal and non allergic. As a final finish white gold is rhodium plated to give it that bright white colour you see on white gold rings. Over time this plating wares out and the ring has to be re-polished and re-plated.
Platinum is another precious metal used for jewellery. It is more dense, strong, naturally silvery-white and its durability makes it ideal for diamond rings. Platinum does not need rhodium plating but over time will dull slightly which give it a white frosty look and a natural patina. If desired, it can always be brought back to its original lustre.
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Joseph George Jewellery
Shop 8a, 271 Collins St,
Melbourne CBD VIC 3000
Entrance between Lindt & Peter Sheppard
Inside the arcade opposite the Post Office
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