Whether you are a man preparing to propose to the love of your life, or a woman looking to add a new piece of jewelry to your collection, you have undoubtedly seen a wide selection of pieces offered in Yellow Gold, White Gold, Silver and Platinum. While aesthetically you may be drawn to one metal over another right away, you may be left in the dark when it comes to understanding the physical differences.
The staff at Amidon Jewelers never wants you to feel like you’re in the dark while contemplating a jewelry purchase. Below we’re happy to walk you through the differences between White Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver and Platinum, so that every jewelry purchase can be an educated jewelry purchase.
Yellow Gold
Gold is the most common of the metals used in the creation of jewelry. Measured in quality by carat, other metal alloys are mixed with pure gold to make the final metal. The higher the proportion of gold used in the final metal, the more valuable and expensive the metal will be. The gold carats normally used in men’s wedding rings are 9ct, 14ct and 18ct. 9ct gold contains 37.5% pure gold, while 18ct gold contains 75% pure gold. While 22ct and 24ct golds are used in different parts of the world, these golds are considered too soft to be used for ring production.
White Gold
Like yellow gold and rose gold, the color of white gold is determined by the alloys mixed with the pure gold to make the final metal. Thus, 18ct white gold contains 75% pure gold, the same as 18ct yellow gold. In the end, making a choice between white gold and yellow gold is left up to personal, aesthetic preferences.
Platinum
Indicated on the Periodic Table of Elements by the symbol “Pt”, the name Platinum is derived from the Spanish term platina which is literally translated into “little silver.” One of the rarest elements in the Earth’s crust, Platinum is the least reactive of the metals. Eighty percent of the Earth’s production occurs in South Africa, where it can occur in some nickel and copper ores.
Although platinum is more ductile than gold, silver and copper, gold is still more malleable than platinum. It does not oxidize at any temperature, but should be worn with caution around halogens, cyanides, sulfur and alkalis as they will corrode it.
The customer service team at Amidon Jewelers is always happy to assist you with any questions you may have during your purchasing process. While a ring on your finger may feel light, your metal selection should not be taken lightly. You will never be left in the dark with Amidon Jewelers.
