Metal Guide
While sparkling gemstones tend to take center stage in jewellery, the metals play a paramount role in not only the design and appearance, but also the durability and price.
Whether this is your first time making a jewellery purchase or you’re a seasoned veteran, it is important to have an understanding of the type of metal used.
There is an ever-increasing selection of materials available to create jewellery. We've created a list of the most popular metals used in jewellery today.
Gold
Gold is the most adaptable metal. You may be surprised to learn that in addition to gold being associated with jewellery it is also used in medicine and electronics. Gold has captured the hearts of men and women for over a millennium and can be found in all cultures. Gold is popular for its rarity and brilliance.
When creating gold jewellery it is important to balance the purity of the gold with durability. Below we have broken down each of the most common karat weights for gold.
Platinum
Platinum
Platinum dates back as far as the Egyptians (700BC). It is more precious than gold and is extremely rare. Platinum is a naturally white metal, and It did not gain modern popularity until the mid-18th century. The Spanish named the metal “platina” or little silver making people see it as inferior.
Platinum is often mixed with other metals, but for jewellery to be considered “platinum” is must have a purity level of 95% platinum.
Palladium
Silver
Silver’s role in jewellery making has a lengthy history similar to gold. The Greek God Apollo and his twin sister Artemis were said to carry silver bowls.
Pure silver is soft and can be damaged. It is common to mix silver with other metals to form a durable metal for everyday wear. The level of silver purity can vary depending on the maker, jewellery and style. Below we’ve broken down the most common varieties.