Your jewellery collection is going to be with you for many, many years to come. A collection of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings really is one of the most personal things in your wardrobe, so knowing exactly what your precious pieces are made of should be a priority of yours! This metal guide will educate you on what jewellery is made out of, and what makes one different from the other.
Metal Types
There are lots of metals out there all used for countless different things, from mechanics to homewares and jewellery, you can’t go far without spying the stuff. When shopping for jewellery, you’ll find that there are a few predominate metals that you can find absolutely everywhere. This is because they are the most precious, wearable and beautiful options out there.
Gold
Gold is the most traditional jewellery metal on offer. It’s amazing to look at, incredibly wearable and tarnish-resistant, making it perfect for all your precious pieces. Now, gold on its own is actually incredibly soft, so pure gold is not really appropriate for jewellery and it’s very hard to find. To strengthen the metal, gold is often mixed with silver, copper, nickel and zinc. The quantity of other metal combined with gold is what determines it’s karat, with the purest gold option generally being 24-karat gold.
Gold’s appearance is altered by adding different amounts of other metals. Rose gold is a combination of gold and higher quantities of copper, giving it that signature pinky hue. White gold is achieved by mixing gold with silver or platinum, zinc and nickel, creating an elegant silvery effect.
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Silver
Silver is the most readily available metal on the market, meaning that you’ll find it’s more common and a little less expensive than a few other options. Silver jewellery is usually sterling silver, meaning it’s made up of around 90% silver and 10% copper. You do need to give silver a little more love than you would your gold or platinum, but tarnishing can easily be lessened or removed with a silver polishing cloth.
Platinum
Platinum is incredibly longlasting, strong and precious. This is one of the most expensive metals out there, but the price is easily justifiable due to its longevity and tarnish resistance. These qualities make it a perfect option for engagement or eternity rings. Platinum is often mixed with metals like copper and cobalt to alter its colour and appearance, and when mixed this material actually gets stronger!
Which Metal is Right for You?
Selecting jewellery is seriously personal, but if you need a hand for picking the perfect metal for your next piece, here’s what to consider:
Tone
The tone, or colour, of your jewellery, is all about personal taste, but you can always opt for particular metals that will flatter your skin. Choosing metals that pair well with your own colouring will bring out your natural beauty. If you suit reds, pinks and creams then yellow or rose gold will look amazing on you. Maybe you love your blues, whites and greens? If so, then you should opt for silver, platinum or white gold. Sometimes, we don’t really want to have to choose between all the gorgeous metal options out there, and that’s fine too! Mixing metals is very contemporary and stylish, so feel free to drape yourself in every metal that you love.
Durability
If durability is your key concern, you should absolutely pick a metal that meets your needs. Platinum is a really fantastic and resilient option, but if you want to take it one step further check out titanium. This is the strongest metal out there, however, it’s not actually appropriate for rings and bracelets because your fingers and wrists fluctuate in size and the metal does not adjust to this at all. So, for a perfect wedding band or high-end bangle, platinum is your friend.
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