The Metal Guide
The metal decides the ring's colour temperature, its weight in the hand, its care schedule, and part of its price. Here is the honest matrix. Our current bridal sets are cast in 14k gold in three colours; sterling silver, 10k and 18k options arrive with the wider collection.
Gold, by karat
Karat is purity: pure gold (24k) is too soft for daily jewelry, so it is alloyed for strength.
| Gold content | Character | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10k | 41.7% | The hardest-wearing and most affordable; slightly paler colour | Budget-smart daily pieces |
| 14k | 58.3% | The sweet spot — rich colour, excellent durability, sensible price. The American standard for bridal. | Engagement rings and daily wear |
| 18k | 75% | Deeper, warmer colour and a more luxurious weight; softer, scratches sooner | Occasion pieces, colour purists |
The three colours
- White gold — gold alloyed with white metals, finished with rhodium plating for a bright platinum-like surface. The plating softens with years of wear; re-plating is routine maintenance (quick and inexpensive).
- Yellow gold — the metal in its classic voice. No plating to maintain; it simply polishes back to life.
- Rose gold — warmed with copper. The romantic of the family and slightly the hardest of the three; no plating, ages to a gentle patina.
Sterling silver
92.5% silver, the entry point to real jewelry. Beautiful and bright, but softer than gold and prone to tarnish — it asks for regular wear (which actually keeps tarnish away) or occasional polishing. We recommend it for pendants and earrings over engagement rings.
Skin, sensitivity and colour matching
- Nickel sensitivity? Ask about the alloy — our white gold uses low-nickel alloys, and rose/yellow golds are typically friendlier. TODO: confirm final alloy specifications with the caster.
- Cool undertones flatter white metals; warm undertones flatter yellow and rose — but the modern rule is that there is no rule.
- Stacking bands? Match karat to karat: harder alloys slowly wear softer ones where they rub.
Care in one line each
Gold: warm soapy water and a soft brush. White gold: the same, plus re-plating when it warms. Silver: polish cloth, dry storage. Full routines live in the care guide.
Ready to look? Design your ring from setting to stone, or browse the bridal sets. Questions we haven't answered here? Read the FAQ or talk to us.