Metals for Jewellery and their differences

The choice of metal significantly influences the making of an engagement ring. In particular, metal contributes to the idea behind the ring, allowing its designer to choose such elements of the design as the settings of the ring, its center diamond, and overall style.

Thus, appropriate metal will highlight all the features of a diamond and make the piece of jewelry look unique. The result of the combination of these elements will be the creation of not just a jewel, but an artwork of high artistic value which will be a great symbol of love in the future during the proposal.

There are different metals used when designing engagement rings: white, yellow, and rose gold and platinum. Each of them interacts with diamonds differently and creates totally different visual effect. Consequently, before designing a custom ring or choosing the ready-made one with a definite diamond, it is recommended to select the metal in advance.

Gold

Gold is one of the most popular metal choices for engagement rings especially if there is a need to set a diamond. This material stands out thanks to its high durability, wide range of possible uses, beauty, and compatibility with many types of rings. In this case, gold serves as a reliable base for a diamond setting while the center stone remains the focal point of the jewelry. Different alloy options and colors may produce either a traditional, modern, or vintage look.

Another thing that makes gold so widespread among engagement rings is the versatility of this material. It is perfect with round, oval, princess, emerald, and cushion diamonds. Thus, while white gold will stress the colorless nature of a diamond, yellow or rose gold will add warmth and contrasting look. This material is good for Solitaire, Halo, Three Stone, and Pave settings so gold rings are ideal options for both ready-to-wear and custom engagement rings.

Gold engagement rings can be made of 14K or 18K golds. They differ in gold content, alloy composition, durability, and price. So, 14K gold consists of 58.3% precious metal while 18K consists of 75%. While 18K gold has higher gold content, 14K gold is harder and more durable. Both options are equally good when choosing the base for a diamond setting, especially if the ring is supposed to be worn often.

There are three most popular colors of gold used for engagement rings. Those are yellow, white, and rose golds.

Yellow Gold

Yellow Gold is the traditional metal for engagement rings, which is famous for its warm coloring and classic appearance. The rich color of this metal makes it stand out in combination with a white diamond, thus being perfect for Solitaire design.

The first reason why Yellow Gold is popular is that it is versatile enough to match any type of setting – Halo and Three-Stone design would look equally good. Moreover, Yellow Gold may be perfect for stones with more yellowish color grades because the contrast between the metal and the diamond would make slight differences in color almost unnoticeable. Finally, yellow gold does not need rhodium plating to preserve its natural color.

In addition to its qualities as a precious metal, Yellow Gold has grown in popularity among engagement ring buyers. Now it is 36.6% of engagement rings in 2025 have Yellow Gold, compared with 22.9% in 2021.

White Gold

White Gold is commonly used in engagement ring designs today. Due to its neutral coloration and silvery color, White Gold makes a seamless transition between the ring settings and the colorless diamond, highlighting the beauty of the stone.

White Gold is the preferred choice of metal for Solitaire, Pave, and Under Halo rings since its color goes well with the brightness of multiple diamonds. Besides, White Gold can provide harmony if the main diamond is complemented by additional ones around the ring. Thus, there is a lot of options for the buyers who want to have a modern engagement ring with an elegant white finish.

Contrary to the Yellow Gold, the White Gold is coated by rhodium in order to provide the white finish. Over time, the coating wears off and therefore, replating might be needed. According to the statistics of 2025, 34.6% of engagement rings are made of the White Gold and it occupies the second place among the types of metal. The market share of White Gold has decreased from 55.3% in 2021.

Rose Gold

Rose Gold features a unique color of pink that softens engagement rings and provides them with a warmer tone. This type of gold gets its pink coloring because of a blend of pure gold with copper, and the higher content of copper in the metal, the more pronounced the pink tint will be. Another feature of Rose Gold is a higher content of copper, which, in turn, results in the metal being more rigid than yellow or white gold of the same purity.

Rose gold is great for vintage or floral engagement rings, where the pink shade perfectly contrasts with colorless diamond and makes a nice base for the decoration like milgrain finish, filigree, or pave setting. In contrast to White Gold, the rose one does not require rhodium plating in order to retain its natural hue.

Despite Rose Gold being pretty distinctive, its market presence in the engagement ring market is relatively small. Currently, it takes up only 3.2%, compared to 6.4% in 2021.

Platinum 

Platinum is among the most common types of precious metals used in engagement rings, especially those with diamonds. As opposed to gold, platinum has a white color and therefore, no need for plating to retain its color. Due to its density and strength, platinum is highly suitable for diamond settings for daily use.

The purity of platinum is among the main pros of using platinum in engagement rings. In fact, 950 Platinum is often used in platinum engagement rings because of its high content of precious metal. The natural property of platinum as a hypoallergenic metal could also appeal to customers that experience sensitivity.

Platinum is highly recommended in the making of Solitaire, Halo, and Three Stone engagement rings. As opposed to gold, platinum doesn't occur in different colors such as white, yellow, and rose. There are different grades of platinum based on purity as well as alloys and their combinations in jewelry making.

Pt950 Platinum

Pt950 is one of the most widely used platinum alloys for engagement rings. It contains 95% pure platinum and 5% other metals, commonly ruthenium or iridium. This high platinum content makes it particularly suitable for buyers who value precious-metal purity, a naturally white appearance and long-term wear. Pt950 is often chosen for premium engagement rings, especially when the central diamond is the main focus of the design.

Pt950 is suitable for buyers looking for a durable setting for everyday wear, particularly for Solitaire, Halo, Three-Stone and Pave engagement rings. Depending on the alloy, Pt950 can provide a good balance of hardness and workability, making it suitable for both classic and intricate custom designs. Its high density also gives engagement rings a substantial feel.

Another reason buyers choose Pt950 is its high platinum content and resistance to corrosion. It is particularly appealing to people who prefer precious metals with minimal surface maintenance and generally good skin compatibility. However, platinum is relatively expensive, and its surface can develop a patina from everyday wear.

Pt900 Platinum

Platinum Pt900 comprises 90% of pure platinum and 10% of alloying materials (iridium, ruthenium). The Pt900 alloy represents an alternative choice for customers interested in purchasing a platinum engagement ring. The Pt900 alloy has been used in Japanese jewelry for centuries, and it has also appeared in the vintage US and European jewelry items. The natural white color makes this metal appropriate for use in diamond rings without rhodium plating.

The Pt900 alloy may be recommended for the buyers who place special emphasis on the structural qualities of an alloy or need to reproduce the vintage design. Due to its composition, the Pt900 alloy can provide better hardness compared to some Pt950 alloys. This alloy is applicable to the Solitaire, Halo and certain Pave engagement rings. The security of a diamond setting, however, does not depend on the purity of platinum but on the quality of the ring construction and the jeweler's skills.

The Pt900 alloy is chosen by the buyers for custom-made and vintage-inspired engagement rings due to the need of using a particular alloy for reproducing a certain jewelry piece. Nowadays Pt900 is rarely used for engagement rings.

Pt850 Platinum

Pt850 consists of 85% of pure platinum and 15% of other alloys. Pt850 is acknowledged as platinum alloy and is used in jewelery, even though it is much rarer than Pt950 in current market of engagement rings. Alloy addition may lead to the improvement of hardness of the metal, depending on alloy type. Pt850 preserves typical platinum color and can be used for setting diamonds without rhodium plating.

Pt850 might fit customers who want a ring with certain vintage style, or who want to buy platinum alloy with other mechanical characteristics. The first argument to purchase Pt850 is that this alloy has less percentage of platinum and therefore, will have less platinum in the ring with the same weight. This does not necessarily mean that the price will be much cheaper, due to the influence of such factors as craftsmanship, brand of jewelers, quality of diamonds and manufacturing costs.

Gold vs. Platinum Engagement Rings

Gold and platinum are among the most commonly used precious metals when making engagement rings. Gold and platinum share many positive features including high durability, good looks, versatility when working with various diamond shapes and settings. The differences include purity, weight, maintenance needs and price. There are several varieties of gold including yellow, white, and rose gold that can be used to customize one's engagement ring. Platinum is naturally white in color and works great with colorless diamonds.

Composition and durability are the key features that differ between these metals. Most common alloys used to make gold engagement rings are 14K and 18K. The platinum engagement rings are often made of platinum alloy Pt950, that means 95 percent pure platinum. Platinum is heavier than gold and forms a distinctive patina over time. The gold especially 14K alloy is harder than many platinum alloys but platinum tends to accumulate metal around the setting with wear. Both materials are good for regular wearing provided the proper design and maintenance.

The cost and maintenance are the factors to consider while choosing metal. The platinum engagement rings cost more than those made of gold due to density, high purity and additional metal needed for manufacturing the same size of a ring. The white gold engagement rings are usually cheaper but require periodic rhodium plating in order to keep white color. It is unnecessary to perform for yellow and rose gold engagement rings. The choice depends on the preference and budget of the buyer.

* You can shop engagement rings in our collection to compare different styles and find the right option for your budget.