White gold is an alloy of gold and at least one white metal, usually nickel, manganese, silver, platinum or palladium. White gold is usually plated with rhodium to provide its distinctive mirror finish. Many people believe that the colour of rhodium plating is actually the colour of white gold. This plating can wear away, revealing the yellow-grey colour of white gold. When this happens, it can be re-plated with rhodium to restore the full brilliance of your jewellery.

Rose gold is a gold and copper alloy widely used for specialised jewellery. It is also known as pink gold and red gold. Although the names are often used interchangeably, the difference between red, rose and pink gold can be indicated by its copper content. The higher the copper content is, the strong the red colouration usually is. 

They are all very beautiful in their own right, but there are a few things that will help steer you in the right direction:

• Your skin tone;
• the colour of your other jewellery; and
• the gemstone you’ll be using in the jewellery piece.

If you’re still not sure which colour to go for, our design team will gladly advise you.

Platinum is one of the rarest and most expensive precious metals. Naturally white, platinum will not fade or tarnish, keeping its natural white colour forever. Platinum is also a very strong metal and while it does have a tendency to scratch it is much more durable than other softer metals. Its purity makes it hypo-allergenic and ideal for those with sensitive skin. Similar to gold, the purity of the metal is expressed in parts per 1000 and can be identified through its hallmark. The standard in South Africa for all platinum jewellery is 95% purity. South Africa is the leading producer of platinum.

Palladium is another metal in the platinum metals group and has similar properties and characteristics. It is a durable, naturally white metal that resists corrosion. Like platinum, palladium is also hypoallergenic. It is harder than gold, but softer than platinum, and can be used in its near pure form. Palladium is less expensive than its platinum counterpart and is easier to size and polish. 

Silver is a soft, white, lustrous metal and is used in currency, ornaments and jewellery. Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. Sterling silver is not likely to be used with diamonds or other precious gemstones due to its softer state. Sterling silver’s affordability makes it the perfect option for lower cost jewellery pieces on its own or with semi-precious stones.

Titanium is a natural element which has a silver-greyish-white colour. Titanium is the hardest natural metal in the world. It is three times stronger than steel and much stronger than gold, silver and platinum, yet is very light in weight. Pure titanium is also 100% hypoallergenic which means it will not react to your skin. 

Titanium cannot be soldered and thus cannot be resized. It is also very difficult to cut off of the finger in the case of an emergency. Titanium is not malleable enough to be formed into intricate patterns, therefore it is usually only used for men’s wedding bands. 

If you have any question about the quality, the uses, the pros and the cons of metals when used in jewellery please contact us at info@pearlanddiamonddesigns.co.za

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