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Looking to tie the knot soon, but you’re not sure what ring is the right fit for you? Don’t stress! James & Sons is here to help you out. Engagement Ring 101 is here to help you out! This is your ‘one stop shop’ blog series helping you determine the best engagement ring that’s just perfect for you! With information about center stones, metal colors and karats, engagement ring mountings, and so much more, you’ll figure out what ring you’re going to show off to all of your friends!
Choosing the Right Metal
When designing and choosing the perfect engagement ring, the metal color is a crucial component that should never be overlooked. From different gold colors to platinum, 10 karat to 24 karat, this is your guide to finding the right metal for you.
Metal Color
Engagement rings are typically crafted in different karats of gold. Whether it be yellow gold, white gold, or rose gold, these are the most popular choice among those looking to pop the question.
Yellow Gold
Yellow gold is a classic, timeless style that is exactly what it sounds like: yellow gold. This metal color is the easiest to maintain out of the three, and it is typically used for classic and vintage style engagement rings. This metal is made up of pure gold along with other metals like copper and zinc to create a beautiful hue while maintaining strength and durability.
White Gold
This metal color is similar to platinum, but not as expensive. It is made with pure gold and other metals like silver, nickel, and palladium to give a rigid structure and protect from scratches and markings. White gold is currently the most popular metal color for engagement rings, as many say it compliments the center diamond better than other colors.
Rose Gold
Rose gold is a big trend right now. Its popularity truly skyrocketed in the 2010s, and has remained a favored choice since. This metal takes a rosy pink hue and is made up of pure gold in combination with other metals like copper and silver. This mixture of metals gives rose gold the number one spot in durability, as well as affordability.
Metal Karat
Whether you’re looking for white, yellow, or rose gold, the metal karat plays a significant role in which engagement ring you choose.
10 Karat Gold
This composition of metals is made with approximately 42% gold, and 58% other metals like copper, zinc, or palladium. 10K gold is a great choice for a moderate budget as it still retains a beautiful color while remaining durable.
14 Karat Gold
This metal structure is made of the same percentages of materials, just switched! It contains 58% gold and 42% other metals. This is considered the ‘happy medium’ of gold composition since the structural integrity is maintained as well as color. It is seen as the compromise between quality and price.
18 Karat Gold
18 Karat gold contains 75% pure gold and 25% other metals. This is the best quality for an engagement ring due to the amount of gold used in its composition. The other metals provide strength for the ring, and the gold gives off the best color. If your budget allows, we recommend this metal karat!
24 Karat Gold
This is pure gold, 100% gold metal. Pure gold is not a great choice for an engagement ring, as well as many other types of jewelry. Since gold is naturally a soft metal, it isn’t able to hold up well on its own. That’s why other metals are used to make up 10, 14, and 18 karat mixtures. So, as luxurious as 24 karat gold may sound, it’s probably not the best option to hold your diamond.
We’ll Help You Find the Perfect Ring!
We understand that choosing an engagement ring is a big decision with many different factors to consider. That’s why we’re here to help! Visit our website or one of our locations in Chicago, Naperville, Orland Park, or Schererville and receive assistance from jewelry experts to find the most beautiful metal color and karat for your engagement ring.
Check out our first installment for help on choosing the perfect centerstone!