Wedding Rings

Wedding rings can be made of various metals, including yellow gold, white gold, platinum, and palladium. Each metal has its own individual qualities, as well as variations in pricing. Also, you may want to consider whether you want to complement the engagement ring with the wedding ring or to have a similar metal for both rings.


Yellow Gold
Yellow gold items, including wedding rings, can vary in quality because of the purity of the metal. Gold is measured in carats. For instance, a ring made with 18 carat gold is made of 18/24ths pure gold. As it's a soft metal and so cannot take hard wear in its pure 24 carat form, other metals are added to it. These could be nickel, silver, copper or zinc.


White Gold
White gold is produced by adding white metals, such as nickel or palladium. The proportions of the other metals used affects what characteristics the white gold has. With nickel there is an increase in strength and hardness; while with palladium, there is increased pliability, so making it more suitable for setting gems in it. The addition of palladium can be a good choice because some people are allergic to nickel.


Platinum
This is the most expensive metal for wedding rings, and it is very durable. The platinum metal used has a 95% purity, and greater strength than gold. For example, because of its hardness it can hold diamonds more firmly. Together with it being hard-wearing, if it develops a patina over time, it can be polished up by a qualified jeweller to look as good as new. Together with these advantages, it is a neutral metal, so that it is safe to use by those who are prone to allergies and have a sensitive skin.


Palladium
For a long time palladium was, and still is, used as a whitening alloy for white gold. It was limited for use by itself because of the manufacturing requirements. But now palladium is used as a white metal alternative. It belongs to the Platinum Group of Metals (PGM) or noble metals and is used in its almost pure form.


Palladium was first used in London in 1803 but is beginning to be seen as the new platinum. To the untrained eye, it's difficult to tell the difference between palladium and platinum. However, it is 44% lighter than platinum. This means it can be made into quite bulky items while remaining comfortable to wear. It may be lighter but it's also strong so that wearing a wedding ring made of this resilient metal allows for an active life style.


In addition, palladium is now hallmarked, which means it is recognised as a precious metal which can be used for making jewellery, including wedding rings.