Material Options
Precious Metals Guide
Yellow gold
The traditional option for wedding rings. Gold rings are available in a variety of carats which indicates the proportion of gold in the ring. The higher the carat the more gold in the ring, therefore the higher the cost. The higher the carat the softer the ring. We usually offer a choice of 9ct or 18ct. Pure gold is too soft for daily wear, so it is mixed with metals like silver, copper, palladium, and zinc to give it strength and durability. 9ct yellow gold includes 37.5% gold, whilst 18ct yellow gold includes 75% gold, with the rest mainly a mixture of silver, copper and Zinc. 18ct yellow gold is yellower in colour than 9ct due to the higher percentage of gold, 9ct is a paler yellow.
rose gold
Gold is naturally yellow in colour but its colour can be changed depending on the % of other metals in the mix. 9ct rose gold includes 37.5% gold, whilst 18ct rose gold includes 75% gold, with the rest mainly a mixture of silver, copper and Zinc. The % of copper used in rose gold is higher than that used in yellow gold in order to create the rose colour. 9ct rose gold is pinker in colour than 18ct due to the higher percentage of copper.
white gold
Gold is naturally yellow in colour but its colour can be changed depending on the % of other metals in the mix. 9ct white gold includes 37.5% gold with the rest mainly being silver. 18ct white gold includes 75% gold, with the rest mainly palladium and a little silver. The inclusion of palladium makes 18ct more resilient to wear and tear. White gold has a rich warmth to it, 18ct is slightly darker and creamy in colour than the paler white of 9ct. As standard, white gold is plated in a layer of rhodium metal in order to produce a white finish, similar to palladium/platinum. The rhodium plating will however wear off, allowing the natural darker colour of the gold to appear, It will need to be re-plated regularly. Rhodium plating is a choice, white gold does not have to be rhodium plated. White gold used to be cheaper than Platinum however its price has increased dramatically in recent times.
silver
Silver is a soft metal (softer than gold) that scratches very easily and also tarnishes (looses it’s lustre). It is usually used to make fashion jewellery and not recommended as a long lasting option. However, silver is on the less expensive side of the scale and therefore more affordable. If you often loose or damage rings it may be a good option as it won’t be too expensive to replace! Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% percent copper. Copper is used to improve silver’s hardness and durability.
palladium
Palladium is in the platinum group of metals and has similar properties. It is similar in colour, doesn’t require plating and is relatively hard-wearing. Palladium however is much less dense than platinum therefore is a great choice for those who prefer a light weight ring. Palladium will show some scratches over time, as with all precious metals. Palladium can be re-polished to bring back it’s shine. Palladium was a popular choice for budgets that didn’t quite stretch to Platinum. It used to be a less expensive option to Platinum but it’s cost has increased dramatically in recent times.
platinum
The most pure and precious metal. The hardest wearing and therefore the longest lasting, however it can still incur scratches as with all precious metals. Platinum can be re-polished to bring back it’s shine. It has a naturally bright white colour, that does not require plating. It is a very dense metal meaning that it is the heaviest. It is 95% pure platinum, usually with 5% iridium, palladium and ruthenium. This purity makes it hypoallergenic and ideal for anyone with sensitive skin. All these quality characteristics means that it’s on the more expensive side of the scale.
Diamond Guide
Characteristics
Diamonds are the most popular and traditional choice for engagement rings. There is a universal standard used to differentiate and grade every diamond. This standard is called the 4 C’s: Cut, Carat, Colour and Clarity. The difference between some of these characteristics can only be identified by a trained professional.
Cut
Diamonds are rough cut when they are mined from the ground. They are cut and polished into different shapes by skilled stone cutters. Cut refers to the shape of a diamond, The most common shapes, starting with the most popular, are brilliant (round), princess (square), emerald, oval, pear, heart, cushion, baguette, marquise, asscher, trillion, and radiant.
Carat
Carat refers to the weight of a diamond which is relative to its size. However, for example one of two round diamonds of the same carat can be smaller in diameter than the other because of its depth. Popular sizes are 0.5 carat or 1 carat. However, it might be possible to gain more value for money if a carat just under these is considered e.g. 0.4 or 0.9 carat.
Colour
A diamond that is colourless is considered to be most valuable. Diamonds are graded on an alphabetical colour scale, starting from the letter D up to Z. The letter D identifies the diamond as colourless. The lower the letter on the alphabet the yellower the diamond becomes. On the flip side, there are coloured diamonds which are considered to be extremely valuable. These are called fancy diamonds and are available in colours such as blue, pink, champagne, green and yellow.
Clarity
Clarity refers to the inclusions within a diamond. These inclusions are tiny imperfections within the diamond caused during their creation process under the Earth’s surface. The fewer inclusions a diamond has the higher it’s value. Diamond clarity is graded on a scale; flawless, internally flawless, very very slightly included, very slightly included, slightly included and included. Flawless is the most valuable clarity grade. Most inclusions can only be seen by a trained professional.
Certification
There are independent gemological laboratories such as the Gemological Institute of America that grades diamonds against these 4 C’s. Certificates aren’t available with every diamond e.g. not with a diamond under a specific size or specific quality. Certificated diamonds have a specific code laser engraved on their girdle (edge) in order to match them to the certificate. This laser engraved code is tiny and can only be seen via magnification.
Coloured Gemstone Guide
Alternative
Not a fan of diamonds? No problem. There’s a wide variety of alternative gemstones that can be used to create an alternative engagement ring. The usual reason for not choosing a diamond is the preference for a bit of colour. Coloured gemstones can also be more affordable than diamonds, providing more value for money.
Hardness
The hardness and durability of coloured gemstones are assessed on the Mohs Scale of Hardness 1 - 10. Diamonds are at 10, meaning that coloured gemstones aren’t as durable as diamonds. However, there are coloured gemstones high on the scale e.g. sapphire and ruby at a 9, topaz and morganite at an 8 and tourmaline and amethyst at a 7. Consider your lifestyle when making the choice.
Colour
Sapphires are extremely popular alternative gemstones due to their durability and they’re availability in a variety of colours from blue to pink to green. If you’re drawn to blues and greens; tourmaline, aquamarine, emerald or topaz can be good options. If you’re drawn to red and pinks; ruby or morganite can be good options. Amethyst is available in purple or green.